TAMIL NADU NATIONAL LAW SCHOOL

( A STATE UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHED BY ACT NO.9 OF 2012 )

Navalur Kuttapattu, Srirangam (TK), Tiruchirapalli 620009, Tamil Nadu

PROJECT ON

"JAIN CAVES IN AND AROUND MADURAI

SUBMITTED TO
Mr.M.Britto Stalin
(Assistant Professor in History)

BY
SAHA A.V
I year B.A.LL.B (Hons)
(RegNo.BA0150038)

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

At the outset, I take this opportunity to thank my Professor Mr.M.Britto Stalin from the
bottom of my heart who has been of immense help during moments of anxiety and
torpidity while the project was taking its crucial shape.
Secondly, I convey my deepest regards to the Vice Chancellor Arun Roy and the
administrative staff of TNNLS who held the project in high esteem by providing reliable
information in the form of library infrastructure and database connections in times of need.
Thirdly, the contribution made by my parents and friends by foregoing their
precious time is unforgettable and highly solicited. Their valuable advice and timely
supervision paved the way for the successful completion of this project.
Finally, I thank the Almighty who gave me the courage and stamina to confront all
hurdles during the making of this project. Words arent sufficient to acknowledge the
tremendous contributions of various people involved in this project, as I know Words are
Poor Comforters. I once again wholeheartedly and earnestly thank all the people who
were involved directly or indirectly during this project making which helped me to come
out with flying colours.

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DECLARATION

I, A.V. SAHA (Reg No:- BA0150022) do hereby declare that the project entitled
JAIN CAVES IN AND AROUND MADURAI submitted to Tamil Nadu National law
school in partial fulfilment of requirement of award of degree in undergraduate in law is a
record of original work done by me under the supervision and guidance of Professor
Mr.M.Britto Stalin, Department of History , Tamil Nadu National law school and has not
formed basis for award of any degree or diploma or fellowship or any other title to any
other candidate of any university.

A.V.SAHA
1ST YEAR B.A., LL.B (Hons)
ROLL NO: - BA0150038

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This Project is done with the use of Secondary data Utilized from the Newspapers,
Magazines, Books and Website sources. This project focuses on the aspect of
understanding the Jains with the help of the Jain caves in and around Madurai who lived
there in bygone era. It also focuses on the fall of Jainism in Madurai.

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INDEX
S.N

CONTENTS

PAGE NO

O
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

INTRODUCTION
JAINISM IN MADURAI
ETHICS OF JAINISM
IMPALEMENT OF JAINS IN MADURAI
DESCRIPTION OF JAIN CAVES
SAMANAR MALAI OR JAIN HILLS OF

6
7
10
12
15
16

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

KEELAKUYILKUDI
JAIN CAVE OF YANAI MALAI
KEELAVALAVU JAIN CAVE
THREATS TO JAIN CAVES IN MADURAI
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY

19
23
25
26
27

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INTRODUCTION
Madurai because of its historical, religious and cultural significance has been
the subject of many learned thesis and works. Many of them have shed a lot of light
on the life and times of people who lived in an era when recorded history was not
known. Madurai is the linguistic capital of Tamil Nadu, the Anaipatti Tamil Brahmi
scripts show the name Madurai as Mathirai or a city of walls. Madurai ranks top
among other historical places in Tamil Nadu for its confluence of art, literature and
culture. But many important historical sites have been wiped away by march of time.
Jain abodes are perilously surviving in Madurai among Granite quarries. Jainism was
the peoples religion in Madurai for almost 1300 years, Jains were impaled and
persecuted by the later Pandyan Kings at the instigation of Hindu clerics. The fall of
Jainism and Jain abodes were described as a triumph of Hindu Gods and described as
a defeat of evil forces in Hindu texts. Several trips to Jain sites revealed some hidden
secrets of the impact of Jainism in Madurai. It would be wonder, if the Jain caves
which survived for more than 2000 years remain as such for another century in the
vision for our future generation.1

JAINISM IN MADURAI

Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai 2008.

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Jainism is one among the ancient religions in the world. It was believed to have
been founded by twenty four Theerthankaras from Athinatha to Mahavira. Historians
believe that Mahaviras period was 599-527 B. C. Jainism was accepted as the
religion of the people and kings in South India much earlier to the spread of
Buddhism, Vedic Hinduism, Islam and Christianity in these parts.
According to Jaina tradition, Bhadrabahu, a Jain saint foretold a famine of
twelve years which made the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta to give up his throne
and settle at ShravanaBelagola along with the other saints and ended his life by going
on a fast called Sallekhanaor Starvation. There is ample proof of religious interactions
between the Jains in Madurai and ShravanaBelogola and it is astonishing that Jainism
had taken roots so deep in Madurai during the days of poor communication and travel.
There are 14 popular Jain abodes for Jain monks in Madurai Viz.
Thiruparankundram,

SamanarMalai,

Kongarpuliyangulam,

Vikkiramangalam,

Anaipatti, Anaimalai, Meenakshipuram (Mangulam), Arittapatti, Alagarmalai,

Karungalakudi,

Keelavalavu,

Thiruvadhavoor,

Kunnathur

(Varichiyoor)

and

Thirumalai, the nearby villages of Madurai city.2

Numerous Jain temples in these places were converted into Hindu temples. The
Jain temple behind Tiruparankundram was converted into a Hindu Saivite Temple in
1216 A.D, and the altered temple is now called as Umaiyandavar Temple, a temple for
Shiva.

Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai 2008.

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In Tamil several literacy works owe their existence to Jainism. Many historians
authoritatively claim that poet Thiruvalluvarwas a Jain monk describe as
Kunthaakuntharamong Jains. It is a well-established fact that Thiruvalluvar was not a
Hindu but either a Buddhist or Jain.
The prosperity of Jainism for well over 1000 years suffered a setback after the
infamous impalement of Jains. Though some historians differ on the number of
killings, a few including K.A. NeelakantaSastri in his A History of South India
brushed it aside merely as a legend without historical foundation. However, he
recorded the fact that there is a festival in Madurai Temple, which is supposed to
commemorate the gruesome event of impalement of Jains. The festival celebrated in
Meenakshi temple called SamanarMadamadakkal-(the overthrow of the pride of the
Jains) is celebrated with merriment every year.3
Sekilar a Saivite poet mentions the horrifying practice of impalement in his
Periyapuranam. The quartet Viz. Pandya King, Queen, Minister and Sambandar
were honoured with sculptures erected for them in Meenakshi Amman temple in
MangaiyarkarasiMandapam for their role in Hindu revival.
There were close ties between Jains of Shravanabelagola of Karnataka and
Jains in Madurai during 1st to 13th century A.D. An eleventh century stone inscription
in SamanarMalai describes the presence of Kannada speaking Jains in Madurai who
were visitors to Madurai Jain caves.4
3

Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai 2008.

Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai 2008.

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ETHICS OF JAINISM
The abhorrence of meat by Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu was a habit
evolved following the Philosophy of Jains. The five duties of a Jain common man or
five small vows or Anuvratas are
1. Ahimsa: not to kill or injure a living being intentionally. Animals were not
allowed to be sacrificed for meat or religious purposes.
2. Satya: to say the truth and not lie.
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3. Asteya: not to steal.

4. Brahmacharya: to live in celibacy and not to covet others wives.
5. Parigrahatyaga: not to desire more and to impose self-restraint for earning
wealth. 5
There are three more Gunavratas
1. Dig vrata: A common man restrains himself not to travel beyond a specific
point.
2. Upabhogaparibhoga-vrata: He vows to make use of only a definite number
of things necessary for life and to avoid the others.
3. Anarthadandavrata: Not to do or wish to do any harm for others.
There are four more Siksavratas
1. Samayika-vrata: He meditates daily for one or several times in morning, noon
and evening.
2. Desavaakasika-vrata: He vows not to use certain things and not to leave
certain boundaries.
3. Posadhavrata: He vows to fast for 24 hours on certain days.
4. Athithisamvibhaga-vrata: He vows to offer to guest, what he has.
If the above 12 vows do not satisfy a common man, he can resort to 11 more
Pratimaswhich would be near asceticism.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Darsana: Belief in the Thirthankaras.

Vrata: Strict observance of 12 vows.
Samayika: Three meditations every day.
Posadhopavasa: Fasting on full moon and new-moon days.
Sacitta-tyaga: Abstinence of meat and fresh vegetables.
Ratri-bhukta-tyaga: Avoiding eating between sunset and sunrise.
Brahmacarya: Avoiding sexual pleasure
Arambhatyaga: Giving up all worldly activities.

http://www.jaina.org/?page=FiveMahaVratas

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9. Parigrha-tyaga: Giving up possession to others and doing their own personal

work without employing servants.
10. AnumatiTyaga(Anumodana): Living on left-over food provided by others.
11. Udistatyaga: Acceptance of monks dress and meditate in solitude.6

IMPALEMENT OF JAINS IN MADURAI

Samanatham a corrupt version of samanarratham or blood of Jains is situated
about six kilometres from Madurai and a winding path among acacia bushes and
thorns lead to a place worshipped as Mayandi temple the place is isolated and located
in an eerie environment but for the ten foot trident and stone pillars with a hanging
bell, there is nothing to suggest that it is a temple.
The villagers and the local boys are acquainted with the history of this place. They
describe the place as samanarratham or blood of Jains where Jains were persecuted en
masse after having been defeated in the fire and water debate with Thirunavukarasar
the place where the pogrom by impalement took place is called as samanarmedu in
Samantham
Jains where carried to the place forcing and placed on the wooden staff which
sharp iron tip and they were left to die on the stakes piercing through their bodies by
hunger , thirst and shock. Many Jains who agreed to convert themselves as Hindus by
smearing them with sacred ash were allowed to go free. The frescoes in
MeenakshiAmman temple and Avudaiyarkovil in Pudukottai also describes the

Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai 2008.

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impalement. Periyapuranam describe the persecution of Jains and many Nayanmars

have attained their status by killing Jains.7

Even during the twentieth century a festival was celebrated in Madurai Meenakshi
Amman temple where an effigy of Jain is impaled in a painted staff to remind the
impalement. The said festival was stopped in due course of events.
A popular temple in Madurai Chinthamani, not very far from the Samanatham
where Jains where impaled is called as Kazhuvudayan temple where a replica of
impalement stick is worshipped as deity, it is made of teak with iron tip totally
measuring about ten feet.
As per the account of Mr K. V. SubramaniaIyer, the king Koon Pandiyan
having the Jaina faith suffered a virulent fever and Jain monks were not able to cure
the king and ultimately Samanthar a saivite Brahmin was called by the queen and the
minister who are staunch supporters of saivite cult. Samanthar and Jain monks have
divided the body of the patient into two portions and the half allotted to Samanthar
was cured and not the half treated by the Jain monks.
Jain monks agreed to prove the merits of their teaching and Samanthar
suggested the fire debate where thecadjan books(palm books) on jaina faith and
philosophy were thrown into the fire which were reduced to ashes but not the books
thrown by Samanthar and the voluminous books of Jains were tested in the water

Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai 2008.

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debate by throwing them in the floods of Vaigai river and Samanthars books swan
against currents but not the books of the Jain monks.8
It was allegedly agreed that the victorious party would become the master of the
defeated party,Samanthar declared that the converts to Hinduism would be allowed to
go free. The conversion was so massive resulting in the short supply of holy ash.
The Jains who stood firm on their faith were impaled on stacks resembling a
Sula or trident.it is not out of context that in Mahabharata, rishi Mandaviar is said to
have been impaled on stake on a false charge of theft and Ramanuja, the guru of
vaishnavites is also said to have impaled heretics on stakes in Mysore province.
The events recorded in the narrative of Samanthar are displayed in the
five of the twelve festivals of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. On the
occasions, which are known as impaling festivals and image symbolising a Jain
impaled on a stake is carried in procession

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai_massacre

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DESCRIPTION OF JAIN CAVES

Jain caves are located among picturesque places
not easily accessible to the common man but not far from villages. In the abodes
for Jain monks, stone beds are carved. The cave shelter is protected from rain
water by cutting a drip ledge on the brow of the boulder at the entrance to the cave.
At all caves, post holes are available to provide a canopy of thatched roof in front
of the entrance. Jain caves have regular supply of water from springs and rock
pools which providing drinking water to the persons staying in the abode. The
abodes are like missions involved in the well-being of the society, the word Pallito
denote Jain abode is used for Schoolin Tamil because in Jain abodes education was
provided to the common man irrespective of their communities.
Row of Jain beds numbering about 10 to 100 is
an important feature of Jain caves. The beds and pillows were hewn out of hard
granite stone which are polished and made smooth by the Jain monks to provide a
minimum comfort. The choice of location of the caves is astonishing. In a dry and
water starved places there are perennial springs and they are strategically located
to identify any visitor to the cave from a distance.9

Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai 2008.

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SAMANAR MALAI OR JAIN HILLS OF KEELAKUYILKUDI

In Madurai south of NagamalaiPudukottai village, south of Madurai there is a
small hamlet called Keelakuyikudi. Where an important Jain hill is located. An old
damaged Jain Temple is located at the top of the hill. Jain figures and stones have
been used for the construction of MuniyandiTemple at the base of the hills. The
figures of Yakhsiwith their flywhisks used for sweeping the pathway free of ants
and insects can be seen in the Muniyandi temple.
Local villagers are protecting a huge sprawling
banyan tree with affectionate care at the banks of the small pond teeming with
huge cat fishes.
The steps leading to the top of the hill terminate
in a small spring called Petchipallam. The hills at Keelakuyilkudi have several
important feature, it boasts of an eight feet Mahavir figurine carved at the cave
locally called as Chettipudavu and a row of beautiful Jain figures at
Petchipallam with vatteluthuinscriptions.10
Archaeologists have also found 2000-year-old Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and
Vatteluthuwritings. The inscriptions reveal thehundreds of Jain monks took
Sallekena (fast unto death) there. There are flat rocks, called stone beds, used by
the monks to take rest.

10

Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai 2008.

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The findings through the Tamil and Kannada inscriptions show that there was a
Jain Monastery at the top of the hill known as MaadeviPerumpalli. The
MaadeviPerumpalli was an educational academy in which both Jain monks and
nuns studied. The kings from the Pandyan Dynasty, who ruled Madurai visited the
academy. The Kannada students and senior monks from Shravanabelagola also
stayed here.
A Jain abode is situated in the northern side of the hills lying in a state of collapse.
The entire hill needs to be preserved since it has a vital role in the religious and
linguistic history of Madurai. It is also the connecting link between Madurai and
Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, an important Jain centre.11

11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samanar_Hills

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Jain Sculptures in Petchipallam.

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Eight feet Mahavirsculpture.

JAIN CAVE OF YANAI MALAI

YanaiMalai is a solid block of gneiss almost three kilometres in length and about
90 meters in height, it derives the name from its resemblance to a massive figure of
a reclining elephant. The diversity of YanaiMalai surpasses any other rock in
Madurai. It shelters a Jain abode with first century A.D Tamil Brahmi inscription
describing the hill as Ivankunramor elephant hills, a Hindu temple called
Narasingaperumaltemple, a rock cut memorial called Ladumanitemple, Jain relief
and paintings, and carved stone poles.

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According to the inscriptions seen inside the main Sannidhi of the temple,
YanaimalaiSriNarasingaperumal cave temple may date back to 770 A.D. It was
built by Madurakavi alias Marankaari who was the minister of the Pandya king
JatilaVarman, also known as KomaranSadaiyan.
It

was

believed

that

during

Madurai

ThiruvalaiyadalPuranam(64 sacred sports of Lord Shiva), Lord Indra sent his

white elephant to Madurai. At the end of the event, it is believed that they found a
huge elephant in a sleeping posture. This is said to be the elephant rock we see
today.12
According to the SthalaPuranam of Madurai KoodalAzhagar Temple, known as
KoodalManmiyam, published 80 years ago, sage Romasa had installed the
Narasimha idol in a cave in the hill. And the 87th chapter of the UtharaKandam of
the BrahmandaPuranam says Sage Narada asked him to take bath in the
ChakraTheertham(temple tank) and did penance at Padma Thadagam(a place
filled

completely

with

flowers).

RomasaMahaRishi

performed

SathraMahaYagna to invoke the blessings of Lord Narasimha, who pleased with

his prayers appeared before him in a Gigantic form in an UgraKolam (angry
appearance or mode).
Worried about the presence of Lord Narasimhain UgraKolam (angry
appearance or mode); all the Devas (Gods) went to Brahma for a solution. Brahma
transformed Shiva into a Saraba form. This SarabaPakshi had Brahma as the
12

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanaimalai

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head, Surya (sun) and Chandra (moon) as the eyes and small boys as the legs.
However, Lord Narasimha refused to cool down. In fact his anger grew after
seeing this form, leaving the Devas running for protection. They invited
Prahalada (son of Hiranyakashyap) to come to this place and try to cool down
Lord Narasimha.
Finally the story goes that it was the presence of Goddess Lakshmi that cooled
Narasimha down and the two of them are said to have blessed Romasi Rishi with a
child.
According to another legend, Lord Shiva was cursed by BrahmahathiDosha
after he cut off one of the five heads of Lord Brahma. He was relieved of it after he
took bath in the holy water source here, known as Chakra Theertham (temple
tank), and he worshipped Lord Narasimha. It is believed by the locals that taking a
dip in the ChakraTheertham (temple tank), which is near the temple, relieves from
all the sins.
The ThiruvilaiyadalPuranam (64 sacred sports of Lord Shiva), written first by
PerumbatrapuliyurNambi and later by ParanjothiMunivar, says that the Chozha
king, who could not win the battle against the Pandya ruler, sought the help of
Jains.
They made a giant elephant using their mystic powers and guided it to kill the
Pandya king and destroy his capital. But the Pandya king worshipped Lord Shiva
to save him and his capital. Then Lord Shiva sent to him the 'NarasingaAsthram'

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(a divine power), which turned the elephant into a hill.To celebrate this event, a
stone elephant was installed in Madurai near the Vaigai facing north direction,
which is found near the Yanaikkal Bridge even today.
Inscriptions in the cave temple say that Marankaari, the minister of the Pandya
king, started 5the construction of the temple in 770 A.D., which remained
unfinished, either due to his death or due to some other calamity, and was
completed by his brother MaranEyinan later. He also built the MukaMandapam
and consecrated the temple.13

Jain sculptures carved in rocks of YanaiMalai.

http://www.hoparoundindia.com/Tamilnadu/Narasingam-attractions-historyof/Yanaimalai-or-Aanamalai-Sri-Narasingam-Perumal-Temple.aspx
13

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A stone sculpture located in top of the hill.

KEELAVALAVU JAIN CAVE

Keelavalavu is one of the earliest Jain caves found in and around Madurai.
Somehow, the village has managed to preserve the Jain beds that testify to its
association with a 2500-year-old religion. The other caves belonging to the same
period are at Mangulam, Arittapatti, Thiruvadavur and Varichiyur. The cave has a
drip-ledge on the brows that keeps rainwater out. On the brow, there are deeply cut
rectangular holes that provided space for erecting thatched sheds whenever necessary.
One unique feature of the Keelavalavu cave is the presence of Tamil Brahmi letters
which are upside down. The inscription says that a person hailing from Thondi made
these beds. Similar upside-down message is found written at Kundrakudi beds,
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says C. Santhalingam, retired archaeological officer. These letters are deciphered

using a mirror.
In total there are nine sculptures in the cave belonging to 9 th and 10th century A.D:
three in the centre and sic on the left side. The 24thThirthankaraMahavir is sculpted in
a sitting posture and Parsuvanathar is in a standing posture. There is a sculpture of
Bagubali, also known as Gomatheeswarar. Green, red, yellow and black paint colours
the sculptures, and the fresco technique has been used. Bas relief sculptures are
covered with well-ground lime coating. Paintings are drawn on the coating before
getting dried.
According to Madurai MavattaTholiyalKaiyedu, the Vattezhuthu inscription
found here reads that one Sankaran Sri Vallabhan made one of the sculptures, donated
50 goats for lighting a perpetual lamp and served food offerings while performing
pujas at the cave. The hillock also has some geometrical shapes drawn with red ochre.
These paintings indicate that the hill might have been a residential area of ancient
tribes.
The other part of the hillock has a 10th century Vattezhuthu inscription
referring to SriKatti and Sri KaalanAratti and the grinding stones (kalural) donated by
them. TheKeelavalavu cave lies on the CholaPandya trade route. The connecting
trade route is Alagarmalai, Mangulam, Arittapatti, Keelavalavu and Kundrakudi. 14

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/namma-madurai-history-hidden-inside-acave/article4051011.ece
14

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Bas- relief sculptures in Keelavalavu.

THREATS TO JAIN CAVES IN MADURAI

An aggressive quest for blue gold in Madurai and its suburbs, rich in granite
deposits, is posing a grave threat to ancient monuments in the region. The Jain
monument in Thiruvadavur in Madurai, for instance, withstood the ravages of time for
nearly 2,000 years. But the two Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and prehistoric paintings on
two concentric circles engraved on a wall and the floor of a rock cave, dating back to
the 2nd century BC, now face threat from dynamites and cranes.
Jainism was present in the region for over 1,300 years and its relics have
survived till now, providing evidence of a rich civilization, culture and academic
excellence of a bygone era. But their survival is threatened and they may disappear in
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the next 100 years due to the quest for granite. The Tamil Nadu State Archaeology
Department has under its control 16 such monuments, including four Jain caves and
four Brahmi culverts in Keelavalavu near Melur, Perumalmalai in Karadipatti and
some

other

places

in

Madurai

including

the

one

in

Thiruvadavur.

Government says no quarrying should be allowed near these ancient sites. Even if
they dont directly break or damage the monuments, extensive quarrying will
definitely result in the weakening of rock structures which hold them. The entire
region should be declared a protected area as the surroundings of these structures are
very important for their survival and also understanding them. If just the monuments
were to be merely protected they could always be removed and kept in a museum. 15
CONCLUSION
Whenever we hear the name Madurai a multitude of things come into our mind,
pictures of Jigarthandas and mutton Dosas materialise in our minds the instant we
hear the name and not to mention the famous Meenakshiamman temple never fails to
penetrate inside our imagination . Throughout the history of Madurai we have always
considered it to be a city with a glorious past eversince its creation as the capital of the
Pandiyas to the time in which it fell into the hands of the Marathas. This glorious city
has always taken the centre stage for its historic and cultural attributes. But apart from
the things that we have heard about Madurai in our history textbooks and travel guides
there is a lot more that we ought to know. This city has proven itself to be a Pandoras
Box to historians always leaving space for much to be explored. One such major issue

15

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/TOINEW/ArtWin.asp?

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that has always been pulled away from the spotlight is the fate of Jains who
contributed to the population of Madurai in the ninthcentury. It may be surprising for
us to even know the existence of Jains in such large numbers in the city of Madurai.
The large scale extermination and the mass conversions that took place made sure that
therewas no evidence of the existence of such a community. But some monuments and
artefacts did survive to tell us the tales of the unfortunate Jains. The infamous
impalement of the eight thousand Jains which led to the birth of the term
kazhuvethalgives us a glimpse of the gruesome past of Madurai.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Lajapathi Roy, Madurai Mathirai, M/s Ramji Folk Research Centre, Madurai
2008.
2. Field visit to Jain Caves in Madurai

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samanar_Hills
4. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/jaincaves-of-madurai/article2234625.ece
5. http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/namma-madurai-history-hidden-insidea-cave/article4051011.ece
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanaimalai
7. http://www.hoparoundindia.com/Tamilnadu/Narasingam-attractions-historyof/Yanaimalai-or-Aanamalai-Sri-Narasingam-Perumal-Temple.aspx
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai_massacre
9. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/TOINEW/ArtWin.asp?
From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH

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%2F2010%2F04%2F20&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar00600&AppName=
1
10. http://www.jaina.org/?page=FiveMahaVratas

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