Karanthai

{{short description|Pair of villages in Tamil Nadu, India}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}{{Infobox settlement | name = | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | settlement_type = | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | etymology = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | coordinates =  | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Tamil Nadu | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Thiruvannamalai | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | governing_body = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | legislature = | upper_house = | lower_house = | unit_pref = Metric  | area_footnotes = | area_urban_footnotes =  | area_rural_footnotes =  | area_metro_footnotes =  | area_magnitude =  | area_note = | area_water_percent = | area_rank = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank2_title =  | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_urban_km2 = | area_rural_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank2_km2 =  | area_total_ha = | area_land_ha = | area_water_ha = | area_urban_ha = | area_rural_ha = | area_metro_ha = | area_blank1_ha = | area_blank2_ha = | length_km = | width_km = | dimensions_footnotes = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | population_demonym = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | website =  | footnotes = }} '''Thirupanamoor''' and '''Karanthai''' are twin villages about 19 km from Kanchipuram. They host historically important Jain temples containing historical inscriptions.<ref>R. Umamaheshwari, Reading History with the Tamil Jainas, A Study on Identity, Memory, and Marginalisation, Springer/Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 2017 p. 153-165</ref> There is a population of local Jains in these and nearby villages.<ref name="NX1">{{cite news | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/feb/28/tamil-nadu-village-prays-for-safe-return-of-pilot-abhinandan-1944821.html | title=Tamil Nadu village prays for safe return of pilot Abhinandan | newspaper=The New Indian Express | date=28 February 2019}}</ref>

Thirupanamoor village has a Jain temple dedicated to Lord Pushpadanta that houses a rare gilded plaster image of him, with hundreds of brass images and a library. It is believed to have been the home of Acharya Akalanka Deva. The temple has footprints of Jain munis Dharmasagar, Sudharmasagar and Gajapati Sagar, who attained ''sallekhana''. The village is the ancestral home of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and his father, retired Air Marshal Simhakutty Varthaman.<ref name="NX1" /> thumb|Thirupanamur Digambar Jain Temple thumb|Karandai Digambar Jain Temple complex

The Samadhi of Acharya Akalanka Deva: Between Thirupanamoor and Karanthai lies a memorial with ''chhatris'' with footprints of ancient Jain sages including the samadhi of logician and Sanskritist Acharya Akalanka Deva, who is known for his discussion of Anekantavada. He was the founder of the Deva Sangha order of Digambar monks.

Karanthai has a complex of well known Jain temples.<ref>R. Umamaheshwari, Tiruppanamur-Karandai Revisit: Late February and Early March 2015, Community Narratives, Inscriptional Records: A Chronicle of Journeys Through Tamil Jaina Villages, Springer, 2018 p. 172</ref> This was once a site where Jain munis resided, and hence it is termed Munigiri. This is also the site associated with famed Jain logician Acharya Akalanka (720-780), and hence is also called Akalankabasti.<ref>Tamilnadu Digambar Jain Tirthakshetra Sandarshan, Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Tirtha Samrakshini MahaSabha, 2001, p. 51-52</ref> The Jain complex has three temples. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Kunthunath, believed to have been established by Pallava ruler Nandivarma circa 806-896 AD. The Mahavira temple to the south is from the 12th century. The Adinath temple, and the adjacent shrine of Goddess Kushmandini (Ambika) is from the 15th century. A Brhmadeva shrine lies to the southwest.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/kunthunathar-jain-temple-karanthai.html | title=Kunthunathar Jain Temple, Karanthai | date=12 February 2017 | publisher=tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com}}</ref>

A ''panchakalyanaka'' was conducted there in 1991 and in 2017 to install new Jain images.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/jains-celebrate-life-of-tirthankara-through-pancha-kalyana-fest/articleshow/57242182.cms | title=Jains celebrate life of Tirthankara through 'Pancha Kalyana' Fest | newspaper=Times Of India | date=20 February 2017}}</ref> Every year in Falguna month, a ''brahmostavam'' is celebrated. Special worship is conducted on Akshaya Tritiya, Mahavir Jayanti, Diwali, Jinaratri and Vasant Panchami.

The Karanthai complex is famous for its Vijayanagar period murals.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Directive-to-Endowments-department-on-renovation-of-temples/article16855158.ece | title=Directive to Endowments department on renovation of temples | newspaper=The Hindu | date=25 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/targets-of-destruction/article2109633.ece | title=Targets of destruction | first=T. S. | last=Subramanian | newspaper=The Hindu | date=16 June 2011}}</ref>

Karandai was the village of the author of classic Tamil text ''Naṉṉūl'', Pavanandi. The Dharumasagar library contains historical manuscripts. It was set up by Jeevabandhu T. S. Sripal in 1930s who was from Thirupanamoor.{{fact|date=November 2025}}

This is also the hometown of Abhinandan Varthaman.{{fact|date=November 2025}}

==See also== {{Portal|Religion}} *Jainism in Tamil Nadu * Kanchipuram Jainism *Mandalapuruder *Mel Sithamur Jain Math *Trilokyanatha Temple in Thiruparthikundram, Kanchipuram *Thiruvannamalai

==References==

Category:Jain temples in Tamil Nadu Category:Historic sites in Tamil Nadu Category:9th-century Jain temples