Jina Kanchi Jain Math, Melsithamur, is a

Jain Matha A ''matha'' (; sa, मठ, ), also written as ''math'', ''muth'', ''mutth'', ''mutt'', or ''mut'', is a Sanskrit word that means 'institute or college', and it also refers to a monastery in Hinduism.

that is located near

Gingee Gingee, also known as Senji or Jinji and originally called Singapuri, is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Gingee is located between three hills covering a perimeter of 3 km, and lies west of the Sa ...

Villupuram district Viluppuram, Villupuram or Vizhuppuram is one of the 38 districts that make up the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It was founded on 30 September 1993, prior to which it was part of the Cuddalore district. Vizhuppuram district lies in the way of the ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is the primary religious center of the

Tamil Jain Tamil Jains (Tamil Samaṇar, from Prakrit '' samaṇa'' "wandering renunciate") are Tamils from Tamil Nadu, India, who practice Jainism (Tamil ). The Tamil Jain is a microcommunity of around 85,000 (around 0.13% of the population of Tamil Nad ...

community. It is headed by the primary religious head of this community, Bhattaraka Laxmisena Swami.

History

The Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram areas have been an important centre of

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...

since ancient times. Historically, there was a Jain Math at Kanchipuram but it was shifted to its current location here. Venkatappa Nayak (1570-1600) is said to have given permission during his reign to build this Sittamur Jain Temple. Later, in 1860 CE, a

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

official in the Madras Provincial Services, Sri Baliah, dismantled several stone-pieces including the great stone elephants from the

Gingee Venkataramana Temple The Gingee Venkataramana Temple, built in the 16th century is the largest temple in Gingee. It was built by Muthialu Nayakan (Muthyala Nayaka) (1540 - 1550 CE) and dedicated to Venkateshwara. History The ruins of the Venkataramana temple is loc ...

, to make edifices in the Sittamur Jain temple. Among them the great stone elephants placed at the foot of the Termutti (car-stand), are noteworthy.

Overview

There are two temples and one of them is dedicated to Parshvanatha. The other temple is dedicated to Malinatha and it was originally a boulder containing rock-cut images of

Bahubali Bahubali (), a much revered figure among Jains, was the son of Rishabadeva (the first ''tirthankara'' of Jainism) and the brother of Bharata Chakravartin. He is said to have meditated motionless for a year in a standing posture (''kayotsarg ...

Parsvanatha ''Parshvanatha'' (), also known as ''Parshva'' () and ''Parasnath'', was the 23rd of 24 ''Tirthankaras'' (supreme preacher of dharma) of Jainism. He is the only Tirthankara who gained the title of ''Kalīkālkalpataru ( Kalpavriksha in this "Ka ...

Adinatha Rishabhanatha, also ( sa, ऋषभदेव), Rishabhadeva, or Ikshvaku is the first (Supreme preacher) of Jainism and establisher of Ikshvaku dynasty. He was the first of twenty-four teachers in the present half-cycle of time in Jain ...

, Mahavira and Ambika yakshi. These images were carved in the 9th century CE. Parshvanatha temple or Raja Gopuram is a seven storeyed tower with a total height of more than 70 feet. Images of tirthankaras are carved on temple walls. Main idol of Parsvanatha temple is a black colored 14 feet idol of Parsvanatha in Padmasan posture. The 52 feet manastambha in temple is a monolith. Malinatha Temple is also known as Thiruvooram Palli or Kattam Palli. The carvings of Tirtankaras Bahubali, Parshvanatha, Adinath bagavan, Mahavira and Yakshi Dharma Devi belonging to the 7th century sculptured on a single rock here is a testimony to the workmanship of those days.

Other Temples

*Gingee Jain Temple : Gingee Jain Temple is a very ancient and famous temple. This temple is dedicated to Adinatha. *Vilukkam Temple : This is a small temple dedicated to Adinatha. *Thayanur Temple : This temple is built more than 1000 years ago. This temple is dedicated to Mahaveer Swami.The other deities you can find in this temple are Yakshi Padmavati, Yakshi Dharmadevi, Brahma Devar and Navagraham mandap. *Kolianur Temple : The presiding deity in this temple is Adinath Bhagwan who is seated in a Padmasana posture. Stone carved idols of other deities in the temple include Padmavathi Yakshi and Navagraham.

Location

The Math is located 20 km off

Tindivanam Tindivanam is a town and a municipality in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the second largest town in Villupuram District after the headquarters town Villupuram. Important roads from north to south (NH 45) Tami ...

and 10 km east of

Photo gallery

Mel_Sithamur_Jain_Math,_Tamil_Nadu.JPG, Mel Sithamur Jain Math Bhattaraka Laxmisena, Mel Sithamur Jain Math, Tamil Nadu.jpeg, Bhattaraka Laxmisena resides at this Math Residence of Bhattaraka Laxmisena, Mel Sithamur Jain Math, Tamil Nadu.JPG, Residence of Bhattaraka Laxmisena at the Mel Sithamur Jain Math Courtyard of the Mel Sithamur Jain Math, Tamil Nadu.JPG, Courtyard of the main temple during a religious festival Primary idol of Parshwanath, Mel Sithamur Jain Math, Tamil Nadu.JPG, Mulnayak of

Parshva ''Parshvanatha'' (), also known as ''Parshva'' () and ''Parasnath'', was the 23rd of 24 ''Tirthankaras'' (supreme preacher of dharma) of Jainism. He is the only Tirthankara who gained the title of ''Kalīkālkalpataru (Kalpavriksha in this "Kal ...

within the main temple at the Math Festival, Mel Sithamur Jain Math, Tamil Nadu.JPG, During a festival morning at the Math Gingee_Jain_Temple_11.jpg, Gingee Jain Temple near Mel Sithamur Jain Math

References

External links

Mel Sithamur Jain Math imagesBlog on the Mel Sithamur Jain MathMel Sithamur Jain Math imagesRath Yatra celebrations during Mahavir Jayanti at the Mel Sithamur Jain Math
{{Villupuram District Viluppuram district Jain temples in Tamil Nadu Archaeological monuments in Tamil Nadu 9th-century Jain temples