A Survey of Jain Monuments of Karnataka

by K.L.Kamat
First Online: August 15,1997
Page Last updated : October 06,2009

Introduction

The Jain religion is contemporary of Buddhism, believes in cycle of rebirths and consequently regards life as painful, longing for liberation (see an Introduction to Jainism). It came to Karnataka four centuries before the Christian era. The Gangas, Kadamba, Chalukyas and Hoysala kings had encouraged the Jainism. They have left innumerable shrines, Bastis (a.k.a. Basadis), Gomata statues and stambhas (pillars). The following is district-wise brief account of important Jain monuments of Karnataka.  (See a map of all the districts of Karnataka)

HASSAN DISTRICT

Shravanabelgola

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

Carving at the footstep of Gomateshwara
Jain pilgrimage center of Shravanabelagola. The letters are in Devanagari script, but the language has been a dispute of scholars. Is it Marathi or Konkani ?

The town is 50 km from Hassan and 10 km from Chananrayanpatna. It has two hillocks, Indragiri and Chandragiri. The former one is also known as Vindhyagiri, and stands 143 meters high. About five hundred steps lead to the top of this picturesque hillock where 58.6 ft high Bahubali (Gomata) statue stands. It is a monolith carved around 980 A.D. and considered to be a landmark in the annals of world art. His broad shoulders are 26 feet across. He is a symbol of eternal value, absolute renunciation detachment, and a soul set free from material surroundings. The Gomateswara's head  anointing (Mahamastakabhisheka) ceremony is a visual splendor, which is performed once in twelve years. The last one took place in  February of 2006.

Shravanabelagola has been great seat of learning for thousands of years and is home to some of the most beautiful Jain fine arts.

• See rare pictures of Jain heritage from Shravanabelgola

Indragiri

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

Chavundaraya of Gometeshwara fame.

(picture hand-enhanced by author; the original is in a very poor condition- Ed)
 

Many historical monuments are located on Indragiri. The Odegal Basadi contains Adinatha, Neminatha and Shanthinatha icons.  The Tyagada Brahmadeva Pillar (980 A.D.) has intricate carvings. The Akanda Bagilu is a doorway carved out of single rock. The Siddaragunda is a massive-rock on which rows of Jina figures have been carved. The Gullakayajji sculpture is specimen of very fine workmanship. The Channanna Basti (1673 A.D.) has Chandranatha icon.

• See pictures of Indragiri at Kamat PictureSearch

Chandragiri

The Chandragiri has numerous monuments located at top of the hillock surrounded by a compound wall. It is said that in the third century B.C., Chandragupta Maurya, and his guru Bhadrabahu came here from North India and under took Sallekhana (inviting death by fasting). There are numerous memorial stone (Nishidhis) of Jain ascetics who underwent Sallekhana. The Parshvanatha Basti contains five-meter high Parshvanatha icon. There is a tall manasthambha in front of the Basti. Kattale Basti contains Adinatha idol with a pair of chauri-bearers. The Chandragupta Basti consist of three chambers and contains Parshvanatha icon. Elaborately carved marble screens are located on either side of doorway situated in front of the vestibule. They depict many incidents from lives of Chandragupta and Bhadrabahu. The Chamundaraya Basti is in two level, at the ground level it has Neminatha and on to of it Parshvanatha icons could be seen. The queen Shantala  got constructed Savati Gandhavarana Basti. The Shasana Basti houses Adinatha idol. The Shanthinatha, Suparshwantha, Chandraprabha, Majjiagannaare the other Bastis located on Chandragiri, and in the town.

The largest Bhandara Basti is located in the town, which houses 24 Jain Teerthakara in row. The Jain Matha stands near by this Basti. In this Muth, the walls, of the verandah which surrounds a central courtyard, are decorated with mural paintings. The panels on left depict the life of Parshvanatha who underwent many rebirths. In his firs birth he was known as Marubhuta born to a minister to king Aravinda. He had an evil brother called Kamatha. When elder brother was on a mission with the king, Kamatha declare himself the emperor and tricked his brother's wife to have sex with him. After the king's return he was severely punished. He was given a head shave while boys urinated on his head;
He was parade on a donkey's back while the boys threw stones at him. All these events could be recognized in different panels. Other wall paintings depict episodes from King Bharata and Prince Nagakumar an annual fair has been painted in detail.

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

Medieval Crime and Punishment
Wall painting in a Jain Muth in Sravanabelagola shows a man being shamed in public.

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

Jain Teerthankar (sage) with seven hooded cobra

• See pictures of Chandragiri at Kamat PictureSearch

DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT

Moodabidiri

It is a small town, about 35-km northeast of Mangalore. Out of eighteen Bastis located here "Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Chatyalaya is the biggest. It is supported by about thousand pillars and hence popularly known as "Savira Kambada Basadi." It was built in 1431 by the eight traders and four town councilors. In 1402, Bhairadevi, the queen of Garesappa added an elegant mantapa to the Basti. Queen Nagala Devi installed fifty feet high Manastambha in front of the monument. The Basti is famous for its beautifully carved pillars. Elaborately carved figures of chauri-bearers, drummers, elephant riders, a giraffe and a dragon could be observed.
    The Jain Math of the town is of great importance to Jains. Its walls are decorated with numerous paintings A huge painting depicts the male headgear of the period. Unfortunately most of these painting have faded now. However, it has a rare treasure house of painted palm leaf manuscripts Dhavala, Jayadhavala and Mahadhavala, which could be dated around 1114 AD. They have many exquisite miniature paintings of Teerthakaras, Yakasha, Yakshinis (celestial bodies), kings, queens, devotees and ornamental flowers. They are in bright colors but are drawn with great delicacy.

• See pictures of Moodabidiri at Kamat PictureSearch

Karkala

The Chaturmukha Basadi of Karkala was completed in 1586 AD. It has four identical entrances in four directions. The garbhagriha has the standing statues of Ara, Malli, and Suyrata. In addition images of 24 Teerthakaras, Yakshi Padmavati could be found.

In 1329 AD the Neminatha Basadi was constructed at Hiriyangdi, one km to the west of Gomata Hill. 54 feet manasthambha, carved out of single rock has been installed in front of the Basadi.

Dharmasthala

The Trustee Veerendra Heggade got installed 52 feet idol of Gomata in year 1973. It weighs about 175 tons and is the third largest statue in the country.

Venur

UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT

Gerusoppa

Gerusoppa village is 29 km from Honavar, on the bank of river Sharavati. The Saluvas ruled from here during thirteenth to seventeenth century. The Chaturmukha Basadi of Gerusoppa was built during fourteenth century, which has four identical doors in four directions. Similarly, four identical Neminaths's statues are carved out in marble.

Hadolli

Haduvalli (Sangithapura) is a tiny village ten km from Bhatkal. Another branch of the Saluvas dynasty ruled from here. In Padmavathi temple there numerous metal icons which belonged to 14th century. Fourteen Tirathankars in black marble are installed in a row. The Chandranatha Basadi is located at a short distance.

© K. L. Kamat

A Jain Statue near Bilagi, Karnataka

• Jain Center of Haduvalli -- A quiet and desolate village now, Haduvalli (formerly known as Sangeetpur and Hadolli) is home to precious Jain monuments and history.

 Bilgi 

Bilgi (a.k.a. Bilagi and Svetapura) town is thirteen km from Siddapur. It was the capital of Odeyas of Bilgi. At the instance of famous saint Bhattakalanka, the prince Rangapparaja and his son Ghantendra have built Ratnatrya Basadi in 1581. It has shrines in which idols of Neminatha, Vardhamana and Parshwanatha have been installed. The Shantishwara Basadi was added in 1592.

• See pictures of Uttara Kannada at Kamat PictureSearch
• See Pictures of  Gerusoppa, Hadolli, and Bilgi at Kamat PictureSearch
• Read about a Trip to Gerusoppa by author in 1947

DHARWAD DISTRICT

Lakkundi

Lakkundi (Likkigundi) is a small town near Gadag. The Kalyana Chalukya Commander's noble and saintly wife, Attimabbe built the Brahma Jinalaya in 10th century. Its doors are intricately carved and  the walls have innumerable sculptures and its shikharas are tall and ornate.

© K. L. Kamat

The Jain Basadi at Lakkundi

Another near by town Lakshmeshwar (Puligere) has the Shankara Jinalaya constructed by Badami Chalukyas.

• See Topics on Dharwad city.

BELGAUM

At Raibag (Bagi) stands the Adinatha Basadi of later Chalukyan times. It has 18 meters tall manastambha. Tavadi (Stavanidhi) a town five km from Nippani has the Brahmadeva Basadi complex. The Shantinatha Basadi is located at Shedbal.

BIJAPUR

The Megana Basadi is a rock cut Jinalaya of sixth century. It contains images of Bahubali, Mahaveera and Parshwanatha.

• See Pictures of Bijapur, Lakkundi in Kamat PictureSearch
• See Topics on Northern Karnataka at Kamat's Potpourri

SHIMOGA

Humcha town is twenty km from Hosanagar. The temples of Parshwanatha and Padmavathi are located here. These are maintained by the local Jain Math.

See related topics at Kamat's Potpourri:

• Plate from Shravanabelagola - Jain Education Picture of the week
• Chavundaraya of Shravanabelagola
• Jai Karnataka
• A seven hooded cobra protects a Jain Teerthakara - Picture of the week
• Mahamastabhisheka of Gomata in Shravanabelagola
• Map of Karnataka showing all the districts (counties)
• Definition of many terms of this article can be found by searching our glossary database.
• Components of a temple: this pictorially illustrates some of the terms used in the above survey.
• Author K.L.Kamat's homepage
• Jain Education -- Chapter on Jain system of education from the book "Education in Karnataka through the ages" by Jyotsna Kamat