Thread by @Jainismrevival

Impalement of #jains in Madurai & around in 7-8th Century CE

This hidden piece of history is seen in paintings & sculptures in temples & literary sources in Tamil Nadu. Annual festivals are celebrated for victory against Samanars. Impalement sticks are found in some places.
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It occurred during the time of a Jain Pandya King & Shaivite monk Sambandar who converted him. His queen Mangayarkkarasiyar & minister Kulachirai Nayanar both were staunch Shaivites. Koon Pandiyan had ordered the impalement of 8000 #Jains.
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Although the legend is still debated, temples have customs, sculptures & paintings of the massacre. During the annual festival of Meenakshi temple, effigies were impaled on sticks & taken around as part of a ritual called Samanar Madam Adakkal. The ritual was stopped in 1974.
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IMPALEMENT: The condemned person’s body was pierced lengthwise through a sharp stake (Kazhumaram) & the victim was left to die a slow & painful death. The impalement devices were made of stone, wood & metal, usually sharpened to the length of the condemned person.
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This instrument Kazhumaram is found in temples between Madurai & Kamudhi Ramnad dt - in Kannankudi, Govindanenthal, Mandalamanickam & one found in sanctum sanctorum of the temple in Kalari village. Engravings were found in Kazhuvanpottal near Mandalamanickam & other places
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The impalement of #Jains was depicted on the wall frescoes of the Golden Lily Tank of the Meenakshi temple, Madurai, #Tamilnadu

Now replaced with new paintings. And no historian nor state archaeological dept nor @ASIGoI has questioned it.
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Avudiyar temple, Pudukottai dt, #Tamilnadu
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Than Thondeeswara Temple, Sivaganga dt, #Tamilnadu
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Virudhachaleshwarar temple, Venganur, #Tamilnadu
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A stone carving found installed outside Pechiyamman Temple in Tirupattur, Vellore district, #Tamilnadu

The stone is 3 feet high and 2 feet wide. May belong to 7th century Pallava period. An impalement stick is also found there.
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Vaikunta Perumal temple, Kanchipuram, #Tamilnadu
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Thanu Malayalam temple, #Suchindram, #Tamilnadu
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Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, #Tamilnadu
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Airavateshwar temple, Darasuram, #Tamilnadu
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Thiruchendur temple, #Tamilnadu
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Kanchipuram temple, #Tamilnadu
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Thiru Vanparthan Panangattur Sivan temple, Thirupanangadu, #Tamilnadu
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Indian miniature of 19th Century, Government Museum, Chennai, #Tamilnadu
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5 stone impalement devices (kazhumaram) at Govindhankoil temple, Pallapacheri, Ramanthapuram district, #Tamilnadu

During festivals pongal mixed with goat blood is offered to eagles indicating that impaled persons were offered to eagles.
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Thirupullani, Cuddalore, #Tamilnadu
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Kazhuvadiyan Temple, Chintamani, Madurai, #Tamilnadu
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Kazhumaram @ Muthulapuram, Dindigul district, #Tamilnadu
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Samanatham temple, Madurai, #Tamilnadu
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Kazhumaram at Kalaiyar koil, Sivaganga District, #Tamilnadu
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Sri Poornambigai/Sri Pushkalambigai Sametha Ayyanarappa Swamy Temple, Erode, #Tamilnadu. People worship it as Kathavarayan
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Tamil Jains hv never cried out loud, they live with self-respect. How many of u are brave to acknowledge this ugly history instead of whitewashing it??

Impalement was/became a state punishment as seen in some pictures from Chola & Pallava period. In the paintings of Avudiyar temple, impalement of both Jains & Buddhists is seen which shows how they were expelled. Shaivite Manickavasagar v/s Buddhists seen here.
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Bronze statue of 7th century child saint ‘Sambandar’ from #TamilNadu. One of the 29 idols #Australia returned to #India today. The Shaivite monk mentioned in this thread, responsible for the Impalement of Jains in Madurai & around.

#JainFiles
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Dec 29, 2021: Students discover an abandoned 10th C Jain idol & weapon-a stone replica of Kazhumaram (impalement device used in previous centuries to torture & execute people); a square Siva Lingam & Nandi near a village temple at Iraiyur village, Pudukkottai dt, #Tamilnadu
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It is very disturbing that even after so many centuries, Impalement of #Jains is celebrated at temples in & around Madurai, #Tamilnadu

It is commonly celebrated on the "6th day of the festive month of Vaikasi". Jains are considered as Asuras. The rituals are gory.
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Listing out -

1) Meenakshi Temple, Madurai:

On the 6th day of Chithirai festival,effigies were impaled on sticks & taken around as part of a ritual called Samanar Madam Adakkal. This ritual was stopped in 1974. But subtly festive continues as 'Saiva Mattam Sthapita Vizha'
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2) SevugaPerumal Aiyanar Temple, Singampunari:

The 6th day festival of Brahmotsavam is celebrated as 'Kazhuvan Thiruvizha'. A set of very strange rituals are held. A mysterious ritual is done for a particular deity which is kept as a sacred secret.
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A small chariot Sapparam arrives at a place called Kazhuvan Pottal, the priest takes out a sheaf of palm leaves & reads out the episode of the Impalement from the Puranam. It says, when Jains ascended Kazhu poles, SevugaPerumal Aiyanar blessed them with Veera Swargam!
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3) Thiruparankundram Temple, Madurai:

On the 6th day of the Float Festival (தெப்ப திருவிழா). In the night, they celebrate the festival of Impalement of Jains

Temple is under HRCE dept, #Tamilnadu
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4) Bhadrakali/Pathirakali Mariamman kovil, Thirumangalam:

On the 6th day of the Vaikasi month, the festival of the Impalement of Jains is celebrated in the night.

Temple is managed by Pandiyakula Kshyatriya Nadar Committee
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5) Kalaiyar Kaleshwarar Koyil, Sivagangai dt:

On the 6th day of Vaikasi month, they celebrate the festival of Impalement of Jains in the night.

It is managed by Sivagangai Devasthanam. It is one of the shrines of 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams
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6) Jenagai/Janakai Mariamman Temple, Sholavandan:

On the 6th day of Vaikasi festival at night time, they celebrate the Festival of Impalement of Jains.
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7) Someshwarar Temple/Andavalli Somnath Temple, Manamadurai:

On the 6th day, the festival of Impalement of Jains is celebrated. Shaivite saint of the Bhakti movement Manikkavasagar worshiped Lord Siva of this place & sang hymns on him.
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8) Seerkazhi/Seerkali village temple

Seerkali is the birth place of Gnana Sambandar. During the temple rituals, they sing Thevaram hymns dishonouring Jain & Buddhist women. This was condemned by Jeevabandhu TS Sripal in his book 'Tamizhagatthil Jainam'
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In many other towns around Madurai, a festival 'Soora Samharam' (killing of asuras) is conducted. Parallel to this event, on the 6th day, Impalement of Jains 'Samanar Kaluvetram' takes place.
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As an Annual reminder, the festival of Impalement of Jains finds it's mention every year in the Daily Tear-off Tamil calender glorifying the Impalement at Shiva temples. Recently in 2021 Tamil Jains took this up & with the efforts of Mr.Jinadas, it's been removed.
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Paintings of #Impalement of Jains @ Arulmigu Thiru Kuttraalanathar/Courtrallanathar temple, Kuttraalam, Thirunelveli dt, #Tamilnadu

Illustrations from Periyapuranam, Tirugnanasambandha Nayanar Puranam: Verse 856 says Jains who lost in the tests by Fire & Water were impaled
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