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Tirunathar Kunru (Sirukadambur) Temple - Tamil Nadu
Tirunathar
Kunru is just 2-km away, north of Gingee town, Viluppuram. The
Archaeological Survey of India protects the site. On the western
side of the road there is a hillock on which one can find two
Jain caverns and a huge boulder containing sculptures of all the
24 Tirthankaras. The sculptures found here exhibit 9th century
style. It is the only place where all the 24 Tirthankaras are
shown in a single large composition. There is an open rock
nearby, which was the place where monk Chandranandi observed 57
days of fasting and died (5th - 6th Century AD). Another monk
Ilayabhattara observed 30 days of fasting and died in the 10th
century AD. Visitors can see an image of Adinatha and a figure
of Mahavira in the pathway leading to the caves at the ground
level.
HOW
TO GET THERE
Road: Tourists can access Tirunathar Kunru from
Gingee town, which is well connected by road.
WHERE
TO STAY
There are no proper accommodation facilities, but few
small hotels and lodges are available at Gingee where tourists
can stay for a night or two.
JAINS SITES NEAR GINGEE:
Ennayiramalai: 30 KM: rock sheltered rooms for 8,000
munis, with inscriptions from 3rd century BC. You can see carved
rock surface where the munis used to sleep in ancient times.
Melasittamur: 11 KM: ancient seat of the Lakshmisena Bhattarakas
of Tamilnadu. There is a rathotsava in Chaitra (April). The
gopuram of Lord Neminath is 7 stories. There are ancient
tada-patra manuscripts and many glorious images of Tirthankaras.
There is a Dharmashala.
There are many other ancient Jain sites nearby.
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Information Courtesy: Mr. Yashwant Malaiya, Email: ymalaiya@yahoo.com
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Mail
to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
R090503
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