Arungundram

Arungundram is a village in Tamil Nadu between Arcot and Kannamangalam. The village is surrounded by hillocks and paddy fields, and is about 8 km from Arcot in Vellore district. Agriculture is the backbone of the village. The village people are dependent on the North East Monsoon and the Palar river for irrigation.HistoryDuring the rule of Pallava dynasty (400 - 800 AD), Arungundram was a place of busy activities. Jain Monks and Nuns lived in the hillocks near Arungundram. Thiruppan Malai, in the outskirts of the village, had a dormitory of Jain Nuns. There are seven cave temples in the hills, belonging to Nandivarma Pallava period (740 AD). The hillock and the caves are now known as "Panchapandavar malai" in Tamil. There is also a cavern atop the hill with a spring. Sculpted figures of the famous monk Naganandhi and a Jain Yakshi are seen near the spring. An inscription near the figure says "Naranan has carved the figure of Pon Iyakki (Yakshi) for his guru Naganandhi during the reign of Nandivarma Pothatharasar..."Another inscription belonging to Chola period tells about the donation of a village Kooraganpadi, by a kind of Lada country, Veeracholan and his queen. Hearsay tells about a palace at the Malligai Medu village (Lalaimedu) to the west of Arungundram. It is also believed that there existed 108 Siva temples in and around Arungundram village and the hills. Even now one can see remnants of Siva temples and lingams scattered all around the paddy fields of Arungundram.These temples are believed to have been damaged during the Carnatic War between Arcot Nawab Chanda Saheb and East India Company in the middle ot 18th century. The invasion of Hyder Ali is also believed to have caused major damage to the temples around Arcot including Arungundram.