# Karanthai > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Karanthai > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Karanthai.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karanthai > Source revision: 1345916708 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Kanchipuram). They host historically important [Jain](/source/Jain) temples containing historical inscriptions.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 There is a population of local Jains in these and nearby villages.{{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}} Thirupanamoor village has a Jain temple dedicated to Lord [Pushpadanta](/source/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](/source/Akalanka) Deva. The temple has footprints of Jain munis Dharmasagar, Sudharmasagar and Gajapati Sagar, who attained ''[sallekhana](/source/sallekhana)''. The village is the ancestral home of Wing Commander [Abhinandan Varthaman](/source/Abhinandan_Varthaman) and his father, retired Air Marshal Simhakutty Varthaman. thumb|Thirupanamur Digambar Jain Temple thumb|Karandai Digambar Jain Temple complex The Samadhi of Acharya [Akalanka](/source/Akalanka) Deva: Between Thirupanamoor and Karanthai lies a memorial with ''chhatris'' with footprints of ancient Jain sages including the samadhi of [logician](/source/logician) and [Sanskritist](/source/Sanskritist) Acharya Akalanka Deva, who is known for his discussion of [Anekantavada](/source/Anekantavada). He was the founder of the Deva Sangha order of Digambar monks. Karanthai has a complex of well known Jain temples.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 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](/source/Akalanka) (720-780), and hence is also called Akalankabasti.Tamilnadu Digambar Jain Tirthakshetra Sandarshan, Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Tirtha Samrakshini MahaSabha, 2001, p. 51-52 The Jain complex has three temples. The main temple is dedicated to Lord [Kunthunath](/source/Kunthunath), believed to have been established by [Pallava](/source/Pallava) ruler Nandivarma circa 806-896 AD. The Mahavira temple to the south is from the 12th century. The [Adinath](/source/Rishabhanatha) temple, and the adjacent shrine of Goddess Kushmandini ([Ambika](/source/Ambika_(Jainism))) is from the 15th century. A [Brhmadeva](/source/Brahmadeva) shrine lies to the southwest.{{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}} A ''[panchakalyanaka](/source/panchakalyanaka)'' was conducted there in 1991 and in 2017 to install new Jain images.{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} Karandai was the village of the author of classic Tamil text ''[Naṉṉūl](/source/Na%E1%B9%89%E1%B9%89%C5%ABl)'', 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](/source/Abhinandan_Varthaman).{{fact|date=November 2025}} ==See also== {{Portal|Religion}} *[Jainism in Tamil Nadu](/source/Jainism_in_Tamil_Nadu) * [Kanchipuram Jainism](/source/Kanchipuram) *[Mandalapuruder](/source/Mandalapuruder) *[Mel Sithamur Jain Math](/source/Mel_Sithamur_Jain_Math) *[Trilokyanatha Temple](/source/Trilokyanatha_Temple) in Thiruparthikundram, [Kanchipuram](/source/Kanchipuram) *[Thiruvannamalai](/source/Thiruvannamalai) ==References== {{reflist}} {{Jain temples}} {{Jainism Topics}} {{coord missing|Tamil Nadu}} Category:Jain temples in Tamil Nadu Category:Historic sites in Tamil Nadu Category:9th-century Jain temples --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Karanthai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karanthai) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karanthai?action=history)). 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