Since the first week of February this year when phots of a DMK MLA and others appeared in the social media and twitter showing them consuming nonvegetarian food near the dargah on the holy of Thiruparankundram near Madurai, the first abode of God Murugan / Karthikeya has become a subject of serious debates. The matter is not yet settled down despite protests by the Hindu devotees in South tamil Tamil. Now, another issue has come up before the Madras High Court, Madurai Bench seeking direction.
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| Thiruparankundram Jain hills, Madurai, Tami lnadu |
This time Swasthi Shri Laxmisena Bhattarak Bhattacharya Maha Swamigal of Sri Jina Kanchi Jain Mutt in Villupuram filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, The jain Swamiji has requested the court to declare the Thiruparankundram Hill in Madurai as ‘Samanar Kundru’(in Tamil Samar meaning Jain, Kundru meaning small hill) and forbear any activities in the hill that are against Jain principles.
The petitioner, based on historical evidences has pointed out the caves in the hill have several inscriptions and images indicating that the hill was used by Jain ascetics, before it was attributed to the Hindu shrine proving the predominance of Jain community in the hill way in the past.
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| Thiruparankundram sacred hill Madurai tripadvisor.com |
Attempts by by Muslim and Hindu communities to ascertain the full control of the sacred hill are equal to desecration of sanctity of the Jain structures on the hill an, obviously they hurt the sentiments of the people of the Jain community who are living all over India. The petitione mentioned.
The petitioner invokes Section 3 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and says the hill should be protected and maintained as an ancient monument of national importance. The petition was brought before a bench of Justices J Nisha Banu and L Victoria Gowri. They adjourned the plea and other similar cases pending in connection with the issue for three weeks, for filing of counter affidavit by all stakeholders.
The eastern parts of the same rocky hillocks of Samanar Malai encompasses other important sites such as the Kanjamalai with the Thiruparankundram Jain cave and Hindu monuments (Umai Andar), the major rock cut Subramaniya Swamy temple (Kandan) dating back to several centuries as back as 2nd BCE to 12th CE. The 17th to 18th-century Islamic dargah was built for Sikandar Shah – the last Sultan of the Madurai Sultanate (1372–1377 CE).[4] The Samanar hills contain many Jain and some Hindu monuments and inscriptions at several levels. From about 2nd century BC to 5th century AD Jainism saw its heyday and glory in these parts.
Tit bits:
In the Tamil language ''Samanar'' means Jain and is derived from the Sanskrit shramana, which refers to all hermits; it does not specify just Jains, Nor does it mean those saints or sadhus who prefer meditation and follow austerities to Vedic rituals in all matters spiritual. The Samanar hills (part) stand in the village of Keezh Kuyil Kudi, just 15km outside Madurai,
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| tirthankar’ Mahavir, Samanar Hills, Madurai Wikipedia Commons |
Above image: The carving of Jain ‘tirthankar’ Mahavir in the Samanar Hills. Photo: Wikipedia Commons........
ASI records show that the caves on the Thiruparankundram hill carry several inscriptions and images implying that centuries ago Jain saints or muni used them ( presumably for prayer and stay) before the Hindu shrines had come up..
https://www.navrangindia.in/2025/02/thiruparankundram-jain-caves-near.html)
https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/TXhGNbzFGhz6jqKcZyQ6gI/The-hermits-of-Samanar-Hills.html