Monday 18 September 2017

Ayirai Malai / Ivar Malai / Gugaikoil Chinna Ivar Malai, The remains of Jainism in Kongu Mandalam, near Udumalpet, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu.

10th September 2017.
This Ayirai malai is about 1400 feet above mean sea level without vegetation. Now the hill is called a Ivar malai. There is a pond with sweet water at the middle of the hill.  As per the legend the Panchapandavar stayed here during their vanavasam, hence called as Ivar Malai. The hill was praised by many poets in sangam literature Pathitrupathu. Once this place was busy with activities of the Jain monks and students.
 
The Ayirai malai has a longest cave of 140 feet lengths and 15 feet high. It was told that there were many beds for the Jain monks. At the entrance of the cave top there are 16 jain Tirthankaras reliefs with Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions with names of the person who was responsible for making these reliefs. The inscriptions belongs to 09th to 10th century. Some of the tirthankaras are Achanandhi, Indrasenar, Mallisena of Veerasangam and Avvanandhi. It is worth to note there is a lady also. It was understood that a big educational institution was functioning here between 08th to 10th century. Some of the students from Pandiya Nadu also took training at Ayirai malai Jain’s institution.

The Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions also helped the historians to arrive the year of Varaguna Pandian's 8th year rule as 870 CE and his starting of rule as 862 CE.

THE PRESENT CONDITION
The beds used by the jain monks were concreted in the name of renovation, and there is no bed now. The Iyaki (might be ) is being worshiped as Draupadi Amman and new statues like Nagars, Hanuman, Man & Women in worshiping posture were also installed. There must be some rock arts one the ceiling of the cave, But the ceiling was completely covered with ash and soot of the fire used for cooking pongal  for the Throwpathi Amman.

The Ayirai malai is under the control of Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE :CLICK HERE










 Varaguna Pandiyan’s inscription The Tamil vatteluttu inscriptions helped the historians to arrive the year of Varaguna Pandian's 8th year rule as 870 CE and his starting of rule as 862 CE.

 Jain's beds completely concreted 

 Jains beds completely concreted 

a  sweet water pond on the middle of the hill
recent additions - Hanuman
recent additions 
recent additions 
recent additions
Installed in recent years 
Installed in recent years ( a replica of the above at the base of the hill ) 

Installed during recent years

 View of the cave from a long distance


---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---     

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