Jain Cave Temple at Sittanavasal (Arivar-koil)
Sittanavasal (distorted form of Siddhanivasan means abode of Siddhas -Jain Gods; tamil: சித்தன்னவாசல்) is a Jain temple complex in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu. It is located at a distance of 58 km from Trichi. The most famous monument is rock-cut monastery of the Jains which contains remnants of exquisite frescoes from 7th century.
The frescoes have been preserved on the top parts of columns and ceiling inside the temple. Many of them are typical of the 9th century Pandyan period and include exquisitely detailed pictures of animals, fish, ducks, people gathering lotuses from a pond and dancing girls. There are also inscriptions dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. These frescoes are considered to be some of the best frescoes of medieval India next to frescoes of Ajanta Caves and Bagh Caves.
Name:Jain Cave Temple / Arivar-koil ("temple of the arhats") Location:Sittanavasal Year of construction:c. 7th - 9th century CE Dedicated to:probably Parshvanath