Sittanavasal

sittanavasal சித்தன்னவாசல்
Village
An entrance gate to Sittanavasal
sittanavasal Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 10°27′58″N 78°44′02″E / 10.466°N 78.734°E / 10.466; 78.734Coordinates: 10°27′58″N 78°44′02″E / 10.466°N 78.734°E / 10.466; 78.734
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Pudukkottai
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone code	04322
Vehicle registration	TN 55

Sittanavasal (Tamil name: சித்தன்னவாசல்) is a small hamlet in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for the Sittanavasal Cave, a 2nd-century Jain cave complex. From the 7th to the 9th century A.D., the village flourished as a Jain centre.

There are several interpretations of the word Sittanvasal. In Tamil language, Sit-tan-na-va-yil means "the abode of great saints". Another explanation is that this was a suburb of Annalvayil, called chiru-annal-vaayil, meaning "smaller Annalvayil". It is also said that the word Sittanavasal is a derivative from two Sanskrit words, ‘'Siddhanam’' and ‘'vasah'’ meaning "abode of siddhas". Alternative suggestions are that Sittanavasal is a Tamil name that was used in the Sangam period, or that is a derivative from Siddhaanaam-vaasah, of north Indian origin which was corrupted first to "iddhannavaasah" and finally as "Sittannavasal". In the Brahmi script, the name mentioned in the inscriptions is "ChiRu-posil".

The Sittanavasal village is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the north of Pudukottai, just before Annavasal village and about 58 kilometres (36 mi) from Trichy. The entrance to the village has a welcome arch. Within its geographical setting there is a prominent hill of 70 metres (230 ft) height, which runs in the north-south direction, where many Jaina cave monuments are located. Megalithic sites of the 1st century BC have also been excavated near the village, on the road to the monuments. It was a flourishing village during the Jaina period from the 7th to 9th century AD. Before entering the Sittanavasal and on the road to the monuments, remains of prehistoric burial sites are seen. The Jain natural caverns, called Ezhadippattam are approached from the foothills. On the western slope of the central part of the hill is the cave temple which is approached by climbing a few 100 steps.