The Chitharal Jain Monuments; also known as Chitharal Malai Kovil, Chitharal Cave Temple or Bhagwathi Temple, Chitral; are situated on the Thiruchanattu Malai near Chitharal village, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India. Chitharal hills are locally known as Chokkanthoongi Hills.
History
There are two monuments. The earlier rock-cut Jain structure of beads with inscriptions and drip-ledges is the earliest Jain monument in the southernmost part of India which was from first century BC to sixth century AD. The temple monuments were likely built by Digambara Jains in the ninth century when the region was under influence of Jainism. Jain influence in this region was due to the KingMahendravarman I. According to T. A. Gopinatha Rao who visited the monuments in 1920-21, the inscription on the southern side says a Jain priestess called Gunandagi- kurattigal, the disciple of Arattanemi - Bhatariyar of Peravakkudi, presented Bhatariyar of Tiruchchanam malai with a metallic lamp stand and a golden flower during the 28th year of reign of Vikramaditya Varaguna Pandya. It was a Jain training centre for both males and females in past. The inscription is in old Tamil script known as Vatteluthu. The Travancore Archaeological Series says that Tiruchcharanattu malai, the name of the hills, means the hill of the Charanas. Charanas means Jain ascetics which were living on the hills. The votive images on the rock with inscription under each of it names an ascetic or person who carved it. It is a centrally protected monument maintained by Thrissur Circle of Archaeological Survey of India since 1964. It is inscribed as Bhagawati temple and Jaina bas-relief.
Description
A natural cavern formed by overhanging rock has a bas-relief sculptures of Jain Tirthankaras which were carved in later phase. The relief of Parshwanatha and Padmavati is standing figures canopied by multi-hooded cobra and with attendant figures of Yaksha. The figures seated in ardha-padmasana pose in each niches with three tiered parasol is that of other Tirthankaras. there are three standing figures of Tirthankara in on of the left corner. The central niche has a figure of Mahavira with three tiered parasol, chhatratrayi chaitya with a tree above it and attendant figures. There is another female figure of Ambika in a niche next to it. It has attendant figures including two children and a lion mount. All major niches has flying figures of Vidyadharas or worshippers. Each of this figures has a short inscription below the seat mentioning a name of donor and place in Vatteluthu Tamil script. Based on these inscription, it is known that the site was under control of Jains at least till middle of thirteenth century. The monuments are reached by roughly hewn steps in rocks and the narrow entrance between them. On the top of the hill, there in a cave temple with mandapa, a varandah corridor and a balipeetham with a kitchen which is carved into a natural overhanging rock facing the west. It has three sanctums which houses the Tirthankara in middle, goddess in the right and Parshwanatha on the left. The gopuram of the central shrine is destroyed possibly due to lightning. The temple was built in medieval period. There is another temple-like structure on the top of the hill which is reached by climbing few steps. There is a natural pond few steps downwards. Around 13th century, the cave temple was converted into Hindu temple of Bhagavati. It is known by the Tamil script inscription on the entrance of the mandapa dated to 475 KE which says Narayanan, Tamil Appalla Varaiyan of Rajavallapuram in the Kil Vembanadu donated some money for the expense of Bhagavati temple.
