ANAIMALAI
History- Anaimalai is considered to be one
of the eight sacred Jaina hills. Situated a short distance from the village is a
natural cavern which measures roughly twenty-two feet in length. eighteen feet
in width and approximately three feet in height at its entrance. The height
diminishes towards the interior. The cavern contains three carved double-berths,
one single berth which is slightly lower than the others, and four other
consecutive berths covered with earth. Eight more berths are found outside the
cavern. Above the cave entrance, the overhanging rock is cut to a depth of two
feet three inches in width and fifteen feet in length. Below this
drip-line cutting is a solitary Bramhi inscription which can be dated to the
first to second century It records that the stone berths
found in the palli were the gift of Nathan of Kunrattur and that
they were made for the merit of the monks Eri Aritan, Attuvay and Arattakayipan.
Although the relics, in the form of stone berths and
Bramhi inscription, indicate an earlier date for the establishment,
Anaimalai did not become a prominent lama centre until the
ninth century. It was during this latter period that the first in a
number of stone sculptures representing Tirthankaras, yakshas
and yakshis were carved near the cave on the vertical surfaces of
the rock-face by a number of pious devotees from several of the
surrounding villages.
Guidance- Anaimalai is a village about five miles from Madurai.