‘Jain monuments in Tiruchy need ASI attention’

A group of self-motivated individuals who came to Tiruchy on Saturday found six stone beds, medicine pits for treating the sick for free and steps used by Jain monks. They also found a few Jain inscriptions, projected sculptures, foot prints of Jain monks. 

“But they are covered with thick garbage discarded from the Rock Fort hills and it will take at least weeks to clear off,” said Sridharan. He said many monuments in and around Rock Fort were evidence for the Jains’ era in Tiruchy and in dire need of protection in order to enlighten the future generation about the simple lifestyle Jainism followed. 

Noted Epigraphist C Veeraragavan said they had found Samayiga Triyavati inscriptions that were used by the Jains. He also said that the similar evidences were available in Lalgudi, Ariyalur, T-Pettai and Tiruvellaradai in Tiruchy and the surrounded areas. Sridharan said that presence of Jainism in Tamil Nadu is traced to 2000 years ago when its followers lived in more than 200 hilly areas along with nature. “They used to sleep on stone beds as a mark of self-sacrifice which is one of the main teachings of Jainism.”

 Sridharan quotes evidence from Silappathikaram , one of the five great epics in Tamil that tells the story of Kannagi and Kovalan who went to Madurai from Kaveripoompattinam (the present Poombuhar). They reached Woraiyur, the capital of Cholas and met Gownthi Adigalar. “This shows Jainsm was widely spread in Tiruchy during second century and the traces are available at Mettu theru in North Veedhi behind Dhayumanaswamy temple in Rock Fort,” Sridharan said.