Polal Tirth - Tamil Nadu

The history of Sri Adeeswar temple of Polal is interrelated to the birth and development of traditional Jainism in Tamilnadu. The original temple is believed to be of hoary antiquity and its sanctity is beyond doubt. Among the temples of antiquity, sanctity, historical and religious importance of the Jains of Tamilnadu, the Adeeswar temple of Polal occupies an unique position in the annals of sough Indian Jainism. This temple is situated about nine miles away from Madras City in the village of Polal near the Redhill lake lying a few yards away from the grand trunk road linking the city of Madras with its neighboring towns. This ancient shrine is dedicated to Adi Bhagwan, Adeeswar, Adinath, Adi Jain, Rishabhadev, the first Teacher of Jainism. Polal temple is mentioned in literature, inscriptions and legends current among the people of Tamilnadu. They provide substantial evidence in support of the antiquity and sanctity of the temple. It was a noted center of worship and religious studies in days of yore, and the village was a flourishing town inhabited by a large number of Jains adhering to traditional way of religion and also by Vaishnavas for their worship. The people of Polal followed their respective religions and lived in bonds of brotherhood. In the neighbouring suburbs of Polal are several villages, inhabited by Jains even today. One would see in these villages the vestiges of Jainism in ruined temples and images. All these facts go to prove that Polal was once a noted religious and cultural center, and the premier town of the area known as Kotalam, celebrated for its sanctity of religious worship and scriptural studies, for its Jain ascetics and scholars, its Brahmin pandits and priests who guided the people to live in brotherhood and peace.

The original temple is believed to have been built in the first Century B. C. According to a legend Valluvar who lived at Mylapore in the closing years of the first Century B. C. or in the early years of the first Century A. D. was a constant worshipper of this image of Adi Bhagwan installed in the Polal temple. The first couplet in the Kural opens with adorations to Adi Bhagwan the first omniscient teacher of Jainism.

Another view is also expressed by the archeologists and scholars that the temple belonged to the Pallava Period from the 4th to 8th Century A. D. Some inscriptions found in the temple as well as some adjoining Hindu Temples go to show that the renovation of the Adeeswar temple had taken place in the twelfth or 13th Century A. D. and that some lands were gifted by kings for its maintenance. After the trunk road was opened, the temple attracted many pilgrims and tourists from different parts of India.

This temple was in a ruined state and needed renovation and also amenities for worship and facilities for accommodating the pilgrims and providing them with food and other needs of religious life.

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