The Spread of Jainism in Agasteeswaram Taluk

Abstract

Agasteeswaram taluk is a taluk located in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India The headquarters of the taluk is the town of Nagercoil. Agastheeswaram taluk was transferred from Thiruvananthapuram District of the Travancore-Cochin State to Kanyakumari district. The origins of Jainism can be traced back to the Indus River valley civilization of 3000 B.C. Jains believe that there were 24 great teachers. These twenty-four teachers are called Tirthankaras-people who had attained all knowledge while living (Moksha) and preached it to the people. They believe in reincarnation. From a very early date Jainism flourished in Agasteeswaram taluk. The Jains believe that their religion is as old as Vedic religion. The religion of Jainswas probably founded by Parsvanath known as the twenty-third Jain Tirthankara. The Jains paid due attention to the excavation of caverns, cave temples and buildings of structural temples with sculptures of Tirthankaras and their attendants such a Yakshas and Yakshis. There are no hills except the Maruthuva Mala (Medicine hill) which is noted for the numerous medicinal herbs which grow there. Maruthuvamala attracts spiritualists seeking solace in solitude. Further, the paper focuses on the spread of Jainism within Agasteeswaram taluk