Religious Conflicts and Conversion of Jain Temples in Tamilnadu

Summary

A. Ekambaranathan’s article “Religious Conflicts and Conversion of Jaina Temples in Tamilnadu” examines the turbulent relations between Jains and dominant Hindu sects in southern India. He explains that the 7th century CE marked an era of intense religious conflict in Tamilnadu; the bhakti movement, led by the Saiva Nayanmars and Vaisnava Alvars, fuelled rivalry with “heretical” sects like Jainism and Buddhism. Jaina monks and laypeople, though committed to ahimsa, were portrayed as opponents in Saiva hagiographies and literature. Ekambaranathan details how, during this period, numerous Jaina temples were appropriated or converted into Saivite or Vaisnavite shrines. For instance, the cave temple at Tirupparankunram near Madurai, originally dedicated to Jaina teachers, was transformed into a Murugan temple; at other sites such as Sittannavasal, Jaina murals were painted over as Hindu worship replaced earlier practices. The article recounts incidents of persecution, such as stories about Pandyan kings forcing Jains to convert or leaving them to be trampled by elephants—legends preserved in Saiva texts. Ekambaranathan notes that although Jains were champions of non‑violence, sectarian disputes led to the composition of retaliatory verses in late medieval Jaina hymns that criticised Hindus. He analyses how political patronage shifted from Jains to Saivites and Vaisnavites; rulers seeking legitimacy supported dominant sects, resulting in the neglect or destruction of Jaina institutions. Despite this, many Jaina archaeological sites in Tamilnadu survived because local communities continued to venerate the images as part of syncretic rituals. Ekambaranathan emphasises that the conversion of Jaina temples cannot solely be interpreted as intolerance; socio‑economic factors, royal politics and the adaptability of local communities also played roles. In conclusion, the article argues that while the bhakti movement invigorated Saivism and Vaisnavism, it marginalised Jains, leading to the appropriation of their temples and texts. Nevertheless, Jaina contributions to art, architecture and philosophy persisted, influencing Tamil culture long after open conflict subsided.