Yanaimalai Explained

9.9675°N 78.1925°WYanaimalai (Elephant Hill) is a protected monument and tourist attraction in Tamil Nadu, India.[1] It has Jain sculptures, a Shaivite temple, and a Vaishnavite temple, namely the Narasingam Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple.

Etymology

The hill derives its name from the Tamil word yaanai, meaning "elephant", and malai, meaning "hill". The hill looks like an elephant in a sitting position.[2] The site has had this name for over 2000 years.[3]

Location

Yanaimalai is located in Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated from 10 km from Madurai Mattuthavani bus stand. The hill stretches over and is high.[1]

About

Yanaimalai is considered a sacred place by the Tamil Jain.[4] Jain monks lived here during the Pandyan Dynasty.[5] At the top of the hill can be found caves containing Jain bas relief sculptures of Mahavira, Gomateshwara, and other tirthankaras fashioned by Jain monks. There are also stone beds used by the monks for resting.[6] Tamil-Brahmi and Vattelettu inscriptions can be found on the hill.[6]

Two Hindu temples are present in the foothills, one being the Ladan cave temple (Ladan koil), a Shaivite temple dedicated to Muruga, and the other being Yoga Narasimha temple, a Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Vishnu.[5] Both are rock-cut temples constructed by the Pandyas, belonging to the 8th century. The place where the Ugra Narasimha temple is situated is known as Narasingam.[7] Tamil-Brahmi and Vattelettu inscriptions in the temples shows their history.[5] [7] The Jain temple has been declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.[8] [9]

The hill is rich in granite, and has been damaged by illegal quarrying.[10] In 2010, the government of Tamil Nadu tried to set up a sculpture garden on the hill, but backed out after locals and activists protested against the idea.[3] [11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : PIL against proposed alterations to Yanaimalai . https://web.archive.org/web/20100215044359/http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/11/stories/2010021158600300.htm . dead . 15 February 2010 . 11 February 2010 . . 31 January 2014.
  2. News: Sculptor moves HC for setting up art city on Yanaimalai . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202221339/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-02/madurai/30466982_1_madurai-elephant-bench . dead . 2 February 2014 . 2 December 2011 . . 31 January 2014.
  3. News: Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Proposed alterations to paanaialai irk activists . https://web.archive.org/web/20140204040319/http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/09/stories/2010020955950500.htm . dead . 4 February 2014 . 9 February 2010 . . 31 January 2014.
  4. Web site: Anaimalai . Jainheritagecentres.com . 31 January 2014 . 2 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202122102/http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/index.php/jainism-in-india/tamil-nadu/458-anaimalai . dead .
  5. News: Metro Plus Madurai / Travel : Of caves and temples inside . https://web.archive.org/web/20080506225843/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/05/03/stories/2008050350470400.htm . dead . 6 May 2008 . 3 May 2008 . . 31 January 2014.
  6. News: Metro Plus Madurai / Travel : Monumental mount . https://web.archive.org/web/20050523113909/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/02/05/stories/2005020501130400.htm . dead . 23 May 2005 . 5 February 2005 . . 31 January 2014.
  7. News: The cave temple at Yanaimalai . https://web.archive.org/web/20040117024550/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/08/22/stories/2003082201690600.htm . dead . 17 January 2004 . 22 August 2003 . . 31 January 2014.
  8. Web site: List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Arunachal Pradesh . Archaeological Survey of India . 31 January 2014.
  9. Web site: Monuments – Temples -Ladan Koil (Rock-Cut)- Anaimalai . Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu . 31 January 2014.
  10. News: Plea to keep Yanaimalai intact . The Hindu . 23 December 2011 . 31 January 2014 . Karthikeyan, D.
  11. News: No order issued to set up sculpture park . The Hindu . 12 February 2010 . 31 January 2014.
  12. News: PIL to establish 'Art Sculpture City' in Yanaimalai dismissed . The Hindu . 4 April 2013 . 31 January 2014.

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