Onampakkam#Kurathimalai

Onampakkam is located {{convert|14|km|mi}} east of Melmaruvathur, {{convert|8|km|mi}} west of Cheyyur and {{convert|21|km|mi}} northwest of Marakkanam.

File:Kurathimalai 1.JPG

All buses depart from Madhuranthagam and Melmaruvathur bus stand to Cheyyur go via Onampakkam. To reach the Jain hillocks, one has to align at Ayyanar kovil bus stop. From here, the site is at a one km distant.

Onampakkam has more than 1200 years of heritage. It was a Jain centre during 8th century C.E.Dr. Sitaram Gurumurthy, "Kanchipuram Mavatta Thollial Kaiyedu 2008", pp. 68, Tamilnadu Archeology Department, Chennai There are four hillocks namely Kurathimalai, Koosamalai, Pattimalai and Venmanimalai seen. Among these hillocks, Kurathimalai and Koosamalai have historical importance and were extensively used by Jain Monks and Tamil Jains.

File:Onampakkam Parshvanathar.JPG

This hillock is located northeast of Onampakkam and is very near L. N. Puram village. Parshavanthar (Parshva) image facing east, is nicely carved on a small rock and was built like a small temple. An image of a five headed snake which is covering the head of Parshavanathar and yakshan & yakshi (yakshini) on the either side are also seen. On the right side, an inscription in grantha and Tamil characters is seen. This inscription states that Vasudeva Siddhantha Padarar, a Jain monk who governed the "Irupathi Irandu" ({{langx|ta|இருபத்து இரண்டு}}) branch of Tamil Jains, had built this temple.Dr. Sitaram Gurumurthy, "Kanchipuram Mavatta Thollial Kaiyedu 2008", pp. 69, Tamilnadu Archeology Department, Chennai Rock carved images of Adhinathar (Adinath) and Mahaveerar (Mahavira) are also seen in two places at a few feet distance. These sculpture belongs to 8th Century AD.{{Cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/8thC-artefacts-threatened-by-granite-mining/articleshow/54489011.cms | title=Artefacts: 8thC artefacts threatened by granite mining | Chennai News - Times of India | website=The Times of India | date=23 September 2016 }}

Ten stone beds are seen in two places on this hillock. One group of five stone beds are seen on the top of the hill. These beds are carved on a rock facing east. Above these beds, on a rock, a long narrow line were carved to protect the beds from water inflow. On the east of this hillock, another group of five stone beds are seen facing north. A dried pond is also seen on the hillock.

File:Koosamalai 1.JPG

This hillock is located exactly west of Kurathimalai. A place in this hillock called "Pandhakal" where five stone beds are seen. Near to these beds, two ponds are seen. On the south of this hillock, a deep cave is seen. In the entrance of the cave, a stone which is worshipped as goddess "Kodi Aathal" by the villagers. Another dried pond is also seen a few feet above this cave.

Recently, some group of Tamil Jains mainly belonging to Kanchipuram district started worshipping and have built steps to reach the top of the Kurathimalai Hillock. The presence of a stone quarry near to these hillock is a threat to this valuable place and also to the local people.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/District_Detail.asp?Nid=37738&cat=504|title = | - Dinakaran}}

File:Onampakkam Adhinathar 1.JPG|Adhinathar

File:Onampakkam_Parshvanathar_1.JPG|Parshvanathar

File:Onampakkam Mahaveerar.JPG|Mahaveerar

File:Onampakkam Grantha inscription 1.JPG|Inscription with Tamil and Grantha characters

File:Kurathimalai Jain beds 1.JPG|Kurathimalai Jain beds 1

File:Kurathimalai Jain beds 2.JPG|Kurathimalai Jain beds 2

File:Koosamalai jain beds.JPG|Koosamalai Jain beds

File:Koosamalai pond.JPG|Koosamalai pond

• Jainism in Tamil Nadu

{{reflist}}

Category:Villages in Chengalpattu district

Category:Jain temples in Tamil Nadu

Category:8th-century Jain temples

Category:Jain rock-cut architecture