Jainimedu Jain Temple

"Jain Temple, Palakkad
Location: Sri Chandraprabha Digambar Basti, Chunnambuthara, Vadakkanthara
Temple timings: 0700 - 1030 hrs & 1700 - 1900 hrs

More than 500 years old, the Jain Temple at Jainimedu is well known for its granite walls which are 32 feet long and 20 feet wide. Located on the south banks of River Kalpathy, this ancient temple is enshrined with the images of Jain Tirthankaras and Yakshinis.

The temple, dedicated to Chandraprabha, the eighth 'Tirthankara', is one of the few surviving structures in Kerala featuring typical Jain architecture.

Jainimedu Jain temple is a 15th-century Jain temple located at Jainimedu, 3 km from the centre of Palakkad, Palakkad district, Kerala, India. It is dedicated to Chandraprabha, a Tirthankar of the Jain faith.

The celebrated Malayalam poet Kumaranasan, wrote his monumental poem Veenapoovu (The fallen flower) at a Jain house near here. The place name 'Jainimedu' itself is related to this temple.

The Jain temple was constructed in the 15th century by a family of diamond merchants from Karnataka. It was created by Inchana Satur.

According to local legend, the Digambar Jain temple at Jainimedu, located about three km from Palakkad town, was built by a family of diamond merchants who came from Kanakahalli in Karnataka centuries back.

Three merchant brothers Ejjenna Shetty, Doddu Shetty and Payappa Shetty used to visit Kerala for trade. During one such visit, the second brother Doddu Shetty - died of some illness. Their brother's untimely demise saddened the two others.

They visited Elacharya Muni, a Jain saint living in the area to find a way to relieve themselves of their sorrow and built the temple in memory of the deceased brother according to the sage’s advice.

They later settled around the shrine with their families and in due course of time around 400 Jains came to be settled in and around the temple.

As majority of them were pearl and diamond merchants, the place later came to be known as Manikyapattanam(diamond town) and Muthupattanam (pearl town). The place also came to be known as 'Jainimedu' due to the presence of the Jain temple.

Though modern historians say that the structure could not be more than five centuries old, members of the Shetty family, who live near the temple, claim that the structure was about 2500 years old.

As per information passed on by Vasantha Kumari, a successor of Shetty family and ancestor of the jains living here, the temple was built between BC 100-500. Some people say that their ancestors had roots in Gomadhagiri in Magadha in ancient India. But some others said they had come from Karnataka,

Though a large number of Jains had lived here before, they had moved to many other parts of the state, especially to places like Wayanad in north Kerala. Now, the only remaining family of direct descendants of the original settlers is that of Vasantha Kumari.

The shrine, built of huge granite blocks, is located in 70 cents of green-rich plot at Jainimedu. With walls devoid of glittering ornamentations and attractive decorations, the 32-feet high structure comprises four divisions.

As in the Hindu shrines, the idols of serpent gods can be spotted in its premises.

The temple was in a dilapidated condition for the past several years. At that time, there were around 400 Jain families in Jainimedu. The temple was renovated in 2013 and a Panch Kalyanak was performed.

A three-day idol installation ceremony was conducted as a prelude to the renovation and was well attended by devotees from across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

he rituals were led by Bhuvanakeerthi Bhattakara Swamiji, the head of Kanakagiri Jain Mutt.

The temple is 32 feet long and 20 feet wide and displays the images of Jain Tirthankaras and Yakshinis.

The present priest was very helpful and explained about Jainism and its principles.

This is one of the few places in Kerala where the vestiges of Jainism in Kerala have survived

Photos by Viswas Menon
© Viswas Menon
Write up compiled by Viswas Menon"

Viswas K.P Menon

"The place is so quiet,calm and peaceful.I suggest everyone should visit atleast once to see how the positive energy flows from these place.Had a talk to the man who lived near the temple who was following Jainism,and could hear more about the temple and its history! The visit was a pure bliss."

Divya Mohan

"One and only jain temple situated in palakkad district,
It have over 2000 years of heritage ,

Now the temple is modified and the daily poojaas are done bye the last jain family they are doing their job very well 👌"

Sujith Sunil