Sittanavasal, an important historical site in Tamil Nadu, is known for:
(a) The earliest Vedic sacrificial altars in South India.
(b) A famous Buddhist monastery from the Mauryan period.
(c) One of the oldest Shiva temples with Chola inscriptions.
(d) Ancient Jain cave paintings and rock-cut architecture.
Explanation
Sittanavasal is a Jain heritage site located in Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu. It is famous for its ancient rock-cut cave temple, mural paintings, and inscriptions dating back to the Pandya period (7th-9th century CE).
The Sittanavasal Cave, also called Arivar Koil, was a Jain monastery and contains beautiful fresco paintings, similar to those in Ajanta, depicting Jain themes such as Samavasarana (divine assembly of Tirthankaras) and lotus ponds. The cave features Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, proving its historical significance in early Jainism in South India. It also has rock-cut beds, indicating that Jain monks practiced asceticism and meditation here.
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