Dear friends
I come to know that substantial fund has been earmarked by the government, I
don’t know whether it is central or state, for the development of
the Sittannavasal heritage site. I am also being informed that the collector
of Pudukkottai is working on a plan and is also collecting funds from the
public.
Though I have no idea what exactly the plan is, unconfirmed sources inform
that a lake with boating etc etc are being thought of. This is usually what
government departments do.
I am concerned about this and, I am certain, many of you would be. I wonder
whether it is possible to approach the ‘concerned authorities’ for using the
funds to improve such infrastructure as to make people aware of their
heritage and stimulate them.
Sittannavasal is not a trivial site. I can cite at least six important
aspects for its uniqueness.
1. The cave shrine here is one among the very few Jaina shrines intact.
2. The paintings in the cave temple is second only in importance to the
paintings at Ajanta, and a positive effort is needed to preserve them.
3. The natural cavern on the top of the hill contains 17 highly polished
stone beds used by Jaina ascetics from the 2nd century BCE till about the
10th century CE, and a few more elsewhere on the hillock.
4. Around these beds and a few other places are found inscriptions in Tamil
dating from the 2nd century BCE till about the 10th century CE. This must be
one among few places where one would find such inscriptions covering a long
span of time.
5. There also a Hindu cave shrine on the top of the hill, which is special.
This is located under a tarn (‘sunai’) and one would need to pump out water
to access it. Only one more submerged cave temple exisits in Tamilnadu,
which is in Narttamalai, a few km away.
6. Around the hill can be seen even today hundreds of prehistoric megalithic
burial sites, many of them intact even now.
Most people who visit Sittannavasal are not aware of all these, and even if
some is interested s/he may not get to know the importance of the site. I
feel that effort should be made to help the visitors make the visit well
informed.
Some 7 years ago I proposed to the Jain community in Chennai a project for
the preservation of the paintings here and also building a heritage site
for people to appreciate the treasure of Sittannavasal. I am giving two
links below which you may go through if you find time. he first is a
powerpoint presentation on the monuments of Sittannavasal and the oer is on
my proposal mentioned above.
Sittannavasal monuments
http://www.powershow.com/view/2ab5e5-MjliY/Monuments_of_Sittannavasal_in_Pudukkottai
Sittannavasal – a proposal for preserving its paintings
http://www.powershow.com/view/2ab71b-MDZiY/Sittannavasal__a_proposal_for_preserving_its_paintings
I suggest that we, that is, those who feel concerned, meet on Thursday,
December, 2nd at 6-00 PM at the Thakkar Bapa Complex. We may deliberate on
the development of Sittannavasal complex. You may call me or write to me if
you need any more details.
You may also inform your friends.
