Jain Temple at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Post No. 12,952

Date uploaded in London – –   24 JANURARY 2024                 

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan

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Kanchi is considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.There are about 100 temples.

Of the Pancha Bhuta Shrines, Kanchi represents Earth/ Prithvi Sthala.

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Tiruparutti kundram area of Kanchi has two Jain temples . Chandraprabha temple and Varthamana Mahavira temple are unique in many respects.

The sthala vriksha of Mahavira temple is Kura tree (Bottle Brush tree) and there is an interesting inscription about the tree. A verse in praise of it is engraved on a stone built into the platform of  the temple. It says that the tree neither grows tall nor becomes short, protects the sceptre of the king, represents dharma and stand in front of the eternal abode of Trailokyanatha.

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Five Alvars, Four Great Saivite Saints and several minor poets have sung about the gods in Hindu temples. Sangeetha/ Music Trinity and the Father of Carnatic music Purandaradasa did not lag. They also composed songs about the gods at Kanchi.

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Lot of sculptures are in Kailasanatha Temple

Kailsanatha temple is the oldest temple according to available records. Pallava king Rajasimha and his consort Queen Rangapataka (Miss Colour Flag or Colour Banner)  built the temple. There are beautiful sculptures, inscriptions and some paintings.

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Kanchi Shankaracharya Mutt raised the profile of the town. It was shifted to Kumbakonam during Muslim invasion and then shifted back to Kanchi by Paramacharya (1894-1994) . He, Chandra Sekaraendra Sarasvathi as the head of it delivered scholarly lectures. A lot of politicians and VIPs sought his blessings.

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Kamakshi temple here is unique because it enshrines Lord Vishnu and Aroopa Lakshmi as well. Adi Shankara installed Sri Chakra in the temple. It was so powerful, that no major temple has shrines for Sakti Devatas except Kamaksi  temple.

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Buddhism  was practised during post Sangam period according to Manimekalai, one of the post Sangam Tamil epics. Pali texts also mentioned Kanchi. Chinese pilgrim Yuwang Chwang  saw Asoka stupi in Kanchi. He has given a detailed account of Buddhist activities in and around Kanchipuram.

Five images of Buddha were found in and around Kamakshi temple. Buddhists occupied Hindu temples a one time. Later they were reconverted as Hindu temples.

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Kamakshi  Temple at Kanchi

Dr Nagaswami eminent historian , has written an article about the Sanskrit comedy drama MATTA VILASA PRAHASANA written by Pallava king Mahendra Varman in 600 CE. It shows the downfall of Buddhism. No where the 2000 year old Sangam literature mentioned Gautama Buddha, because it was imported into Hindu Tamil Nadu . Only post Sangam Tamil epics give some details.

— Subham—

Tags- Amazing Facts, Kanchipuram,  Jain temples, Kura tree, Mahavira