Ennayiram, a village in Vikravandi taluk in Villuppuram district is 20 km from Villupuram,and 16 km of Gingee town. The site is on the Villupuram Gingee road and is close to Nemur Koot road bus stop Unlike other villages of Tamil nadu, what is unique about this place is it is 1000 year old heritage site. An inscription in the Jain cave dated 1025 CE, belonging to the Rajaraja Chola mentions the name "Ennayiram". Hence the name "Ennayiram"
This ancient village was a prominent place for Jain merchants. Also present were a subsect of Tamil Iyer Brahmins called Ashta Sahasram. Near Kumbakonam city, there some villages like Thippirajapuram, etc where this subsect community lives, but in small numbers.
Jain community flourished in this village during the Chola period and is confirmed by the presence of ancient Jain cave and beds,in Ennayiram hill which is now called as Kodalur hill.
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| Jain Muni, Ennayiram village, TN, Facebokk.com |
In the ancient natural cave are found as many as 35 stone beds, with five Tamil stone inscriptions. Among them one dates back to the period of Pallava Dynasty - during the rule of king Nirubathunga Varman (850 to 882 CE). As for the rest, four inscriptions go back to the period of the Chola Dynasty - presumably King Parantaka Chola I (907 to 953 CE) according to the researchers.
The 23rd Thirthankarar of Jainism, Parshavanathar, was nicely carved on the rock. About the stone beds and pits in the ancient cave,they could have been used by the Jain saints for sleeping, taking rest, doing meditation, besides preaching Jain Philosophy. Researchers claim the stone pits were to meant grind herbal medicine to treat the local people there.
Also found near the hill in large numbers are black and red painted pots from 1st to 2nd centuries CE.
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After the arrival of the great Vaishnava Hindu saint/ philosopher and proponent of Vishishtadvaita Sri Ramanuja ( c. 1017-1137), it is believed 8000 Jains became converted to Vaishnavites here through his religious discourses and philosophy. Sri Ramanuja observed the devotion to a personal God (Vishnu in Ramanuja's case) as a means to spiritual liberation.
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| Sain Sri Ramanuja .kinchit.org |
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| Jain caves, Ennayiram village,TN facebook.com |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ennayiram