Vallimalai Jain caves

Vallimalai Jain caves are located in Vallimalai village in Katpadi taluk of Vellore district, Tamil Nadu.

Vallimalai Jain Beds
Vallimalai Jain caves
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Location
Location	Vallimalai, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	13°04′24.6″N 79°15′50.9″E
Architecture
Style	Dravidian architecture
Creator	Rachamalla II
Date established	2nd century BCE
Completed	870 CE
Materials	Rock cut

History

Vallimalai Jain caves contains natural caverns that were inhabitted by Digambar monks in early historic period.[1][2] The monks from Bihar used to come here during the late-maurya period. The smooth and polished beds were carved during the rule of Satavahana dynasty.[3] A total of five inscription are found[4] with one of the inscriptions dating back to 8th century.[5] The Jain carvings were created during the reign of Ganga King Rachamalla II in c. 870 CE after conquest of this region from Chola kings.[6][7][8] Vallaimalai was an important Jain center during 8th-9th century.[7]

Architecture

Vallimalai is an important Jain site with several carvings of sculptures of tirthankara. The caverns is 40 by 20 feet (12.2 m × 6.1 m) with height varying between 7–10 feet (2.1–3.0 m). There is also a temple in the region which was converted to a Hindu temple.[9] The caves consist of three chambers, two of the these chambers contain images of Jain tirthankar. Above this group there are the remains of a wall, believed to have been a small fort occupied by Jains.[10] A torana is found above Jain images similar to carvings of Badami cave temples.[11]

There is an image of Ambika in sukhasana position wearing a necklace, armbands and crown.[12] Ambika is depicted sitting on a lion with carvings of her two sons below her pedestal.[13] There is also image of Padmavati with 4 hands, holding goad and noose in upper right and left hands.[7]

Conservation

These caves are protected by Archaeological Survey of India.[14] In 2014, "Ahima Walks" was organised in the region to promote the place.[8]

See also

• Kalugumalai Jain Beds
• Seeyamangalam

Reference

Citations

1. Ramaswamy 2017, p. 384.
2. The Hindu, 2018 & Vallimalai.
3. Ramaswamy 2017, p. 52.
4. Umamaheshwari 2018, p. 38.
5. Subramanian 2002, p. 36.
6. Aravamuthan 1992, p. 30.
7. Chennai museum & Vallimalai, p. 59.
8. The New Indian Express, 2014 & Vallimalai.
9. Chennai museum & Vallimalai, p. 138.
10. Sewell 1882, p. 156.
11. Owen 2012, p. 60.
12. The Hindu, 2012 & icons of grace.
13. Chennai museum & Vallimalai, p. 105.
14. ASI & Vellore sub-cirle.

Sources

• Subramanian, K. R. (2002), Origin of Saivism and Its History in the Tamil Land, Asian Educational Services, ISBN 9788120601444
• Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2017), Historical Dictionary of the Tamils, Historical Dictionaries of Peoples and Cultures (2 ed.), Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 9781538106860
• Sewell, Robert (1882), Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras, Historical Dictionaries of Peoples and Cultures, 2, E. Keys, at the Government Press
• Umamaheshwari, R. (2018), Reading History with the Tamil Jainas: A Study on Identity, Memory and Marginalisation, Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures, 2, Springer, ISBN 9788132237563
• Aravamuthan, T. G. (1992), Portrait Sculpture in South India, Asian Educational Services, ISBN 9788120608009
• Owen, Lisa (2012), Carving Devotion in the Jain Caves at Ellora, Brill's Indological Library, 41, Brill Publishers, ISBN 9789004206298
• "Vellore sub-cirle". Archaeological Survey of India.
• Murthi, V Narayana (5 August 2014). "'Ahimsa Walks' to Save Jain Monuments at Vallimalai". The New Indian Express.
• "On a walk to explore lesser known heritage spots". The Hindu. 20 November 2018.
• "Icons of grace". The Hindu. 15 June 2012.
• "ICONOGRAPHY OF THE JAIN IMAGES IN THE GOVERNMENT MUSEUM". Government Museum, Chennai.