About Trilokanatha Jain Temple
The Trilokanatha Jain Temple is a historic Jain temple complex located in Thiruparuthikundram village near Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated primarily to Chandraprabha, the eighth Jain Tirthankara, and also housing a shrine to Vardhamana Mahavira, it is noted for its Dravidian architecture, Vijayanagara-era mandapas, and rare medieval Jain murals depicting Tirthankaras and celestial beings. Maintained as an important Jain pilgrimage site, it reflects Pallava to Vijayanagara patronage.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a compact, walled Jain temple complex with two main shrines - the Chandraprabha shrine and the Vardhamana (Mahavira) shrine - featuring stone vimanas, pillared mandapas, and intricate carvings. Interiors display well-preserved 15th-century murals and paintings of Jain cosmology, Tirthankaras, and daily life. The setting is a quiet village environment near Kanchipuram, with stone courtyards, shrines, and inscriptions to explore at a calm, devotional pace.
Key highlights
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Twin shrines dedicated to Chandraprabha and Vardhamana Mahavira within one complex
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Dravidian architecture with Vijayanagara-period mandapas and vimanas
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Rare 15th-century Jain murals and ceiling paintings
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Ancient Tamil and Kannada inscriptions documenting Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara patronage
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Protected monument maintained by Archaeological Survey of India and Tamil Nadu Jain community
History of Trilokanatha Jain Temple
The complex originated under the Pallavas around the 8th century and was expanded by Cholas and Vijayanagara rulers. The Chandraprabha shrine and the Vardhamana shrine show layered construction phases, with inscriptions from the 9th to 15th centuries. The Vijayanagara-period murals and paintings are among the few surviving Jain mural traditions in Tamil Nadu. The site is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Culture & Context
It is an important Jain pilgrimage centre in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Chandraprabha, the 8th Tirthankara, and Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara. The temple preserves Jain religious art, iconography and cosmology through its sculptures and murals, and remains an active place of worship for the Jain community while illustrating the historic presence of Jainism in the Kanchipuram region.