Tamil Jains are ethnic-Tamils from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, who practice Jainism. The Tamil Jain is a microcommunity of around 85,000. They are predominantly scattered in northern Tamil Nadu, largely in the districts of Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Villupuram, Ranipet and Kallakurichi. Early Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions in Tamil Nadu date to the third century BCE and describe the livelihoods of Tamil Jains. Samaṇar wrote much Tamil literature, including the important Sangam literature, such as the Nālaṭiyār, the Cilappatikaram, the Valayapathi and the Civaka Cintamani. Three of the five great epics of Tamil literature are attributed to Jains.
Kuzhithurai is a town and a municipality in Kanyakumari District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Vilavancode Taluk. It is located 26 km (16 mi) north of the Nagercoil city and 42 km (26 mi) south of Kerala's capital city Thiruvananthapuram along NH66. It has a historical seaport where ancient merchants came from across the Arabian sea in ancient times. It is mentioned in ancient Indian maps. As of 2011, the town had a population of 21,307.
Vallalapatti is a panchayat town in Melur Taluk in the Madurai District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Sholavandan is a panchayat town in Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located on the left bank of the Vaigai River, sixteen miles north west of Madurai. It is one of 12 "town- panchayats" of Madurai district.
Thiruparankundram, also spelled Tirupparankundram or Tiruparangundram, is a neighbourhood in Madurai city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Periyar Bus Terminus, the centre of the city and constitutes the southwest part of the Madurai city. The town's landmark and fame is the huge monolithic rock hill that towers to a height of 1,048 feet (319 m) and has a circumference of over 2 miles (3.2 km). It is a home to many ancient and historic monuments including Jain caves, some protected as India's national monuments.
Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Lord Murugan at Thiruparankundram, Madurai, Tamilnadu, India. It is regarded as first of the six temples of Murugan in Tamilnadu. The temple uses rock-cut architecture and is believed to have been built by the Pandyas during the 6th century. According to legend, Murugan slayed the demon Surapadman and married his consort Devasena at the temple. Murugan is also said to have worshipped his father Shiva at the site as Parangirinathar.
Choultry is a resting place, an inn or caravansary for travelers, pilgrims or visitors to a site, typically linked to Buddhist, Jain and Hindu temples. They are also referred to as chottry, choultree, chathra, choltry, chowry, chawari, chawadi, choutry, chowree or tschultri.
The Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival, also known as Chithirai Tiruviḻa or Meenakshi Kalyanam, is an annual Tamil Hindu celebration in the city of Madurai during the month of April. The festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chithirai, is associated with the Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati and her consort Sundareshvara, a form of Shiva.
Tirumalai (lit. "the holy mountain"; also later Arhasugiri, lit. "the excellent mountain of the Arha[t]"; Tamil Engunavirai-Tirumalai, lit. "the holy mountain of the Arhar" is a Jain temple and cave complex dating from at least the 9th century CE that is located northwest of Polur in Tamil Nadu, southeast India. The complex includes three Jain caves, two Jain temples and a 16.25-foot-high sculpture of Tirthankara Neminatha thought to date from the 12th century CE that is the tallest Jain image in Tamil Nadu. Arahanthgiri Jain Math is also present near Tirumalai complex.
Jainism has an extensive history in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, although practiced by a minority of Tamils in contemporary times. According to the 2011 India Census, Jains represent 0.12% of the total population of Tamil Nadu, and are of the Digambara sect. Tamil Jains are primarily concentrated in northern Tamil Nadu, in the districts of Madurai, Viluppuram, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Thanjavur.
Samanar Hills, also known as Samanar Malai or Amanarmalai or Melmalai, is a rocky stretch of hills located near Keelakuyilkudi village, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of Madurai city, Tamil Nadu, India. They stretch east–west over 3 kilometers towards Muthupatti village. These rocky hillocks are home to many Jain and Hindu monuments. The hill has been declared as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Mangulam or Mankulam is a village in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Madurai. The inscriptions discovered in the region are the earliest Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions.
Keezhavazhavu is a village in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Madurai. It is known for two hillocks called Panchapandavar Malai or Panchapandavar Padukkai which contains ancient Jain sculptures and stone beds, and another is Sakkarai peer oliulla Mountain. It has a cave.
Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram temple also called Stambeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the town of Seeyamangalam, Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is constructed in Rock-cut architecture by the Pallava king Mahendravarman I during the 7th century. The cave temple had later additions from the Chola and Vijayanagar Empire.
Sivasailanathar Paramakalyani Amman Kovil, popularly known as Sivasailam Temple, is a Hindu temple in Sivasailam village of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 3 miles from Alwarkurichi in Tenkasi District. It is "an old Siva temple of large size, well sculptured and containing inscriptions." Sivasailam is surrounded by Velli Malai, Western Ghats and Mulli Malai, and is located beside the Gadananathi River. It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams.
Vallimalai Jain caves are located in Vallimalai village in Katpadi taluk of Vellore district, Tamil Nadu.
Thirupparankundram Rock-cut Cave and Inscription, also known as Umai Andar or Umaiyandar temple, is a rock cut cave temple with inscriptions at the foot of the Thirupparankundram rock hill's south face. It is located in the town of Thirupparankundram, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of Madurai city, Tamil Nadu, India. It consists of several layers of construction, the earliest is dated to the 8th-century early Pandya period, and the last to the 13th century.
Sri Vengdajalpathi Perumal Temple is located in Kuppalnatham Village, Peraiyur taluk, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple was 400 years old and built in the period of MADURAI NAYAK DYNASTY. It houses the shrines of vengdajalpathi, Arulmigu Sridevi and Bhudevi.
Kuppalnatham is a village in Sedapatti Panchayat Union in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, India. This municipality falls under Usilampatti Legislative Assembly Constituency and Theni People's Assembly Constituenc. It has a total of 7 panchayat constituencies. 7 Panchayat Council members are elected from these. According to the census, the total population is 2071. Among them there are 1010 females and 1061 males. The size of the area is about 2.84 square kilometres
