Tirumalai
Engunavirai-Tirumalai (Tamil) Arhasugiri
Peak of Tirumalai
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Deity	Neminath
Festivals	Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
Location
Location	Tiruvannaamalai,Tiruvannamalai district,Tamil Nadu
Interactive map of Tirumalai
Coordinates	12°33′24″N79°12′21″E / 12.556675°N 79.205946°E /12.556675; 79.205946
Architecture
Established	9th century CE
Temple	2

Tirumalai (lit. "the holy mountain"; also laterArhasugiri, lit. "the excellent mountain of the Arha[t]";TamilEngunavirai-Tirumalai, lit. "the holy mountain of the Arhar" is a Jain temple and cave complex dating from at least the 9th century CE that is located northwest ofPolur inTamil Nadu, southeastIndia.^[1] The complex includes three Jain caves, twoJain temples and a 16.25-foot-high (4.95 m) sculpture ofTirthankaraNeminatha thought to date from the 12th century CE that is the tallest Jain image inTamil Nadu.^[2][3]Arahanthgiri Jain Math is also present near Tirumalai complex.^[1]

Tirumalai has been an important Jain center since ancient times. It is believed that 8,000 Jain monks who accompaniedBhadrabahu did the penance and attainednirvana here. The footprints of four great saints - Vrishabhsenachrya, Samanatabhadracharya, Varadattachrya munivar and Sri Vadeepa Simhasuri are also present here.^[4] An inscription dating back to 1024 CE is present mentioning the name Kunthavai Jinalaya temple.^[5] This inscription mentions the list conquest done byRajendra Chola I and the offerings made by him to Kunthavai Jinalaya temple.^[6]

The large cavern at the base of the site is thought to have been built around the 9th century. In the 10th century it was converted into 30 separate chambers, possibly to accommodate figures ofTirthankaras and ayakshi. Similar to theEllora caves, the representation of celestial being performs a ritual on tirthankara is present.^[7]

An inscription found on a buried rock in front of the gopura at the base of the hill from the late 10th century refers to the site as Vaigai-malai or “the mountain of Vaigai.” Two other inscriptions found on a piece of rock at the top of the hill and buried on a piece of rock underneath the steps between the gopura and the painted cave refer to it as Vaigai-Tirumalai or “the holy mountain of Vaigai.” The name Vaigai is thus thought to be connected with Vaigavur, the historic name of the village at the base of the rock.^[6]

The Kunthavai Jinalaya temple is a 10th-centuryJain temple, said to have been commissioned by the PrincessKundavai of theChola Dynasty. It is one of two such sites commissioned by her, though the other site,Dadapuram, has not survived.^[8][9]

This temple is situated on top of the Tirumulai hill with engraving ofMahavira flanked by two lions. This temple is partly excavated and partly built within caverons of the rock. This temple is rich in sculptures and base-relief. This temple contains the 16.25 feet (4.95 m) monolithic sculpture ofNeminatha.^[10] This idol is tallest Jain idol in Tamil Nadu.^[3] There are footprints of Jain monks to commemorate theirnirvana near the temple.^[11]

In the 16th century, a second temple forMahavir was built to the west of the Kunthavai Jinalaya.^[3][12]

In the 17th century, a third temple forParshvanath was constructed.^[3]

Paintings are thought to have been added to the site between the 15th-17th centuries. Some of these still survive. These painting are considered comparable to that of present inEllora caves.^[13]

The painting ofParshvanatha with hood of five snakes^[14] venerated by monks, nuns and others is one of the most notable paintings in Tirumali complex.^[2] Kuntahavai Jain Temple features a painting with depiction ofSamavasarana similar to that of present inShravanabelagola.^[15] The paintings ofAmbika,Parshvanatha andBahubali are also noteworthy.^[12]

Arahanthgiri Jain Math is aJain Matha that was established near the site in August, 1998.^[1][16]

These caves are protected by theArchaeological Survey of India.^[17]

• 
  The 16.25 feet (4.95 m) statue ofNeminath
• 
  Detailed carvings at Tirumalai
• 
  Shikhara with detailed carving, Kuntahavai Jain Temple
• 
  Arahanthgiri Jain Math
• 
  Paintings on ceiling
• 
  Cave structure

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