Nayanar Temple
By T. S. Sripal
Summary
Nayanar Temple Summary: T.S. Sripal’s article recounts a visit to the ancient Nayanar (Thiruvalur) temple, a site revered by both Jains and Hindus. The author describes a carved stone temple with intricate pillars and traces its history to the Chola period, noting that it was once a flourishing Jain centre. Archaeological evidence such as inscriptions and images of Tirthankaras suggest that the temple originally housed Jain idols; yet over time it became associated with Shaivite worship, reflecting the syncretic culture of southern India. Sripal highlights a pair of footprints carved into stone which local tradition attributes to a Tirthankara; he points out that pilgrims still revere these footprints and that the site retains vestiges of Jain ritual, such as the practice of circumambulation and an emphasis on ahimsa. The article also notes that literary references in Tamil hymns call the temple "Nayanar Padukai" and that local legends recall Jain monks living there. Sripal concludes that the temple is an important reminder of the region’s pluralistic religious history and urges preservation of its Jain heritage.
Conclusion
By examining architecture, inscriptions and local traditions, the article argues that the Nayanar temple was originally a Jain shrine later appropriated by Shaivites. Sripal underscores the cultural intermingling of Jain and Hindu practices in Tamil Nadu and calls for greater awareness of this shared heritage. The site’s surviving footprints and rituals exemplify how Jainism once influenced the region and highlight the need for preservation and study of such monuments.