Deepanayakaswamy Jain Temple is a Jain temple dedicated to the deity Jain, located near Arasavanangadu in

Kumbakonam Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum) or Kudanthai is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the headq ...

- Tiruvarur road in Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, India

Other Jain Temples

This temple is situated in Deepankudi near Arasavanangadu. There are also Jain temples in

, Mannargudi, Thanjavur and other places in Tamil Nadu.

Structure of the temple

The temple has sanctum sanctorum, Rajagopura, artha

mandapa A mandapa or mantapa () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture. Mandapas are described as "open" or "closed" depending on whether they have walls. In temples, ...

, front

.maha

and vimana. The gopura has three tiers, with the stucco figures of Tirttankaras. In the Vimana, Upapeeta, Peeta, Kumudha, Patti and Prastara are found. At the entrance of the arthamandapa, guardian deities are found on either side. Near to them bronze sculpture of Tirttankara is found. In the entrance of the Mahamandapa also guardian deities are found. On the right side of the mandapa Sruthaskanda, Sasanadeva, Sasanadevi, Kshetrabalar and Tirttankara are found. Shrimes of Dharmadevi, Adhinatha, Jwalamalini and Brahmadevar are also found. Near the Rajagopura, Mutt is found.G.Thillai Govindarajan, Jainism in Thanjavur District Tamil Nadu, Nehru Trust for the Indian Collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum, New Delhi, 110 001, May 2010

Presiding deity

The presiding deity is known as Deepanayakaswamy and Deepanathar. As the presiding deity is called as Deepanayakaswamy the place was to be known as Deepankudi.

Inscription

During renovation of the Kailasanatha Temple near the Jain Temple an inscription of

Rajendra Chola II Rajendra Chola II (997 CE - 1064 CE) often referred to as Rajendradeva Chola was a Chola emperor who reigned from 1052 CE to 1064 CE. He was made Rajendra succeeded his brother Rajadhiraja I after his death at the Battle of Koppam.''The H ...

was found, in September 2009. It notes about the donation offered. In the first part of the inscription one Nandhian has been referred. This Nandhian belonged to Jainism.

Festivals

Festivals are held regularly in this temple. For some years, during the last Sundays of December Tamil Jains celebrate Gnana Deepa Festival, lighting 1008 lamps.சமணத் திருத்தலங்கள் (சோழ மண்டலம்), ஆதிபகவன் சமணர் சங்கம், 53/22, ஜவுளிசெட்டித்தெரு, தஞ்சாவூர் 613 009, 2009

References