A Jain heritage site in TN battles the elements

A Jain heritage site in TN battles the elements

Subject : Art and Culture

Context : With much of the art vandalized in sittannavasal, Archaeological Survey of India has undertaken conservation measures and also introduced digital checks to track public access. Concept :

About Sittanavasal Caves

• Sittanavasal Caves is a 2nd-century Tamil Ramaa cave complex located in Sittanavasal hamlet in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukkottai district. A rock-cut monastery or temple serves as a monument. It is known as the Arivar Koil.
• Sittanavasal is a north-south running rock-cut cave located on the western side of the middle part of a hill.
• The Sittanavasal village dates from the 1st century BC to the 10th century AD, when Jainism was prevalent in the region.
• There are also Jain stone beds (Eladipattam) on top of the hill, indicating that this area was a pilgrimage site during the Jain era, which lasted until the 9th century AD.
• This cave temple was built by Pallava King Mahendravarma (580–630 AD) prior to his conversion from Jainism to Hinduism.
• An inscription, however, credits its restoration to a Pandyan king, most likely Maran Sendan (654–670 AD) or ArikesariMaravarman (670–700 AD).
• The Ramaa beds on the hilltop are thought to have belonged to a Jain pilgrimage center that lasted until the 9th century AD.
• However, many megalithic burial sites from much older have been discovered in the Pudukkottai region, where the monuments are located.
• Sittannavasal literally translates to “abode of the great saints” in Tamil. It has relics of important frescoes from the seventh century.