Subramanya Swamy Temple, Vallimalai – Jain Caves
Vallimalai
had been one of the important Jaina centers during the early medieval period.
There is another way to climb down from Vallimalai Murugan Temple and half way
through that, there are caves, where Jain saints stayed and Jain Sculpture are
present in the rocks which are also being maintained by ASI. The Jain Caves has
three groups of Jain images at different places.
First
group has Parsvanatha, Adinatha, Sruta Devi and Matanga Yaksha. Second group
contains Adinatha and Mahavira flanked by Matanga and Siddhayika. Third group
has a row of 6-seated images except for the third image; others represent monks
of the Mulasangha at Sravana-Belagola in Karnataka. A separate boulder has Ambika and a Tirthankara. They
exhibit western Ganga styles. Best examples of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Jaina relations.
According
to the inscriptions found in the lower cave, King Rajamalla of Eastern Ganga
dynasty and a Vana dynasty King together spent money to carve the caves for
Jain monks in 890 AD. The famous Jain preceptor Ajjanandi also visited this
place and requested the Kings to carve several Thirthankar statues on the walls
of the lower caves.
