Jainism in Karnataka
Encyclopedia
Karnataka
, a state in the Southern India
has a long association with Jainism
, a religion which enjoyed patronage of major historic kingdoms in the state such as the Western Ganga Dynasty, Kadamba Dynasty
, Chalukya Dynasty and Hoysala Empire. Today the state is home to a number of Jain monuments, such as Basadi
s, Gommata Statues and Stambhas.
dates back to the sixth century BC. Legend has it that Mahavira
(the 24th and last Jain Tirthankara) visited Karnataka and initiated King Jivandhara of Hemanagada country of the Kuntala (Karnataka) region this probably accounts for the early beginnings of Jainism in Karnataka. The migration of Jain religion started around 300BC, when the religion looked to expand towards more hospitable locations. Bhadrabahu, of the line of pontiffs started by Mahavira accomponied by his disciple Chandragupta Maurya
and followers halted at Chandragiri Hill
or Rishigiri. Realising that he was nearing the end of his life, he instructed his disciples to spread the religion and he undertook Sallekhana at Chandragiri. Nearly 700 more munis performed Sallekhana, which gave a thrust to the spread of the religion in Karnataka.
Chandragupta Maurya continued to live on the hill who continued to live on this hill worshipping the foot prints of his teacher and later he too followed his teacher by adopting Sallekhana. There are two monuments on the hill recalling this event, a rock cut cave called Bhadrabahu cave and a structural shrine called the Chandragupta Basadi.
The most prominent among them are as follows.
, Karkala
, Venuru and Dharmasthala
.
Moodabidre, known otherwise as the 'Southern Kashi
' is home to 1000 pillar temples (ಸಾವಿರ ಕಂಬದ ಬಸಧಿ). Shravanabelagola
has the world famous monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali
. Similar Monolithic statues of Lord Bahubali can be also seen in Venur
, Dharmasthala
, Karkala
and Mysore. In all of the above-mentioned places, the holy festival of Mahamastakabhisheka
is held once every 12 years when the statue of Bahubali is worshiped and bathed in holy water, milk, turmeric, and other natural herbs that have their own significant importance.
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, a state in the Southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
has a long association with Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
, a religion which enjoyed patronage of major historic kingdoms in the state such as the Western Ganga Dynasty, Kadamba Dynasty
Kadambas
The Kadamba Dynasty was an ancient royal family of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present day Uttara Kannada district. The dynasty later continued to rule as a feudatory of larger Kannada empires, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires for over five hundred years during which time they...
, Chalukya Dynasty and Hoysala Empire. Today the state is home to a number of Jain monuments, such as Basadi
Basadi
Basadi is a Jain shrine or temple.The word is generally used in South India, including Maharashtra. Its historical use in North is preserved in the names of the Vimala Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples of Mount Abu...
s, Gommata Statues and Stambhas.
History
Historical association of Jainism with KarnatakaKarnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
dates back to the sixth century BC. Legend has it that Mahavira
Mahavira
Mahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
(the 24th and last Jain Tirthankara) visited Karnataka and initiated King Jivandhara of Hemanagada country of the Kuntala (Karnataka) region this probably accounts for the early beginnings of Jainism in Karnataka. The migration of Jain religion started around 300BC, when the religion looked to expand towards more hospitable locations. Bhadrabahu, of the line of pontiffs started by Mahavira accomponied by his disciple Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya , was the founder of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta succeeded in conquering most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta is considered the first unifier of India and its first genuine emperor...
and followers halted at Chandragiri Hill
Chandragiri Hill
Chandragiri is one of the two hills in Shravanabelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka, the other one being Vindhyagiri.-History:The recorded history surrounding the hill started in 300 BC when Shruthakevali, Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya visited the place in order to attain religious peace...
or Rishigiri. Realising that he was nearing the end of his life, he instructed his disciples to spread the religion and he undertook Sallekhana at Chandragiri. Nearly 700 more munis performed Sallekhana, which gave a thrust to the spread of the religion in Karnataka.
Chandragupta Maurya continued to live on the hill who continued to live on this hill worshipping the foot prints of his teacher and later he too followed his teacher by adopting Sallekhana. There are two monuments on the hill recalling this event, a rock cut cave called Bhadrabahu cave and a structural shrine called the Chandragupta Basadi.
Architecture and Monuments
There are a number of monuments relating to the Jain religion in Karnataka. The Jain monuments include smaller shrines, Jain temples (known as Bastis or Basadis), Gommata statues and Sthambas (pillars).The most prominent among them are as follows.
Basadis (Bastis)
- ShravanabelagolaShravanabelagolaShravana Belgola is a city located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural...
- ChandragiriChandragiri HillChandragiri is one of the two hills in Shravanabelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka, the other one being Vindhyagiri.-History:The recorded history surrounding the hill started in 300 BC when Shruthakevali, Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya visited the place in order to attain religious peace...
: Chandragupta Basadi and Chaturmukha Basadi. - Indragiri (Vindyagiri): Odegal Basadi.
- Chandragiri
- Moodabidiri
- Saavira Kambada BasadiSaavira Kambada BasadiSaavira Kambada Basadi , which literally translates to Basadi of 1000 pillars in English is one of the most major Basadis located in Moodbidri, Karnataka, India. The Basadi is also known as Tribhuvanatilaka Chudamani Basad and Chandranath basadi honouring, lord Chandranath, whose eight foot idol...
- There are 18 other Basadis in and around Moodabidiri.
- Saavira Kambada Basadi
- KarkalaKarkalaKarkala is a town and the headquarters of Karkala taluk in the Udupi district of Karnataka, India. Located about 380 km from Bangalore, it lies near the Western Ghats....
and Gerusoppa- Chaturmukha Basadi
- HadavalliHadavalliHadavalli is a small village, situated about 20km from Bhatkala in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India.-History:Hadavalli, which finds its name in history as Sangeetapura, was once believed to be an abode for musicians and also a center for art and architecture.-Nature:Surrounded by scenic...
- Chandranatha Basadi
- BelgaumBelgaumBelgaum is a city and a municipal corporation in Belgaum district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad....
- Adinatha Basadi
Gommata statues
There are a number of large and small Gommata statues found in Karnataka. Prominent among them are the Statues at ShravanabelagolaShravanabelagola
Shravana Belgola is a city located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural...
, Karkala
Karkala
Karkala is a town and the headquarters of Karkala taluk in the Udupi district of Karnataka, India. Located about 380 km from Bangalore, it lies near the Western Ghats....
, Venuru and Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala is a temple village on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangadi taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka....
.
Moodabidre, known otherwise as the 'Southern Kashi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
' is home to 1000 pillar temples (ಸಾವಿರ ಕಂಬದ ಬಸಧಿ). Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola
Shravana Belgola is a city located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural...
has the world famous monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali
Bahubali
According to Jainism, Bahubali, called Gomateshwara , was the second of the hundred sons of the first Tirthankara, Rishabha, and king of Podanpur. The Adipurana, a 10th century Kannada text by Jain poet Adikavi Pampa According to Jainism, Bahubali, called Gomateshwara , was the second of the...
. Similar Monolithic statues of Lord Bahubali can be also seen in Venur
Venur
Venur or Venoor is a small village on the banks of the Phalguni river in the South Kanara of Karnataka, India. It was once the seat of Jainism and the capital....
, Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala is a temple village on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangadi taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka....
, Karkala
Karkala
Karkala is a town and the headquarters of Karkala taluk in the Udupi district of Karnataka, India. Located about 380 km from Bangalore, it lies near the Western Ghats....
and Mysore. In all of the above-mentioned places, the holy festival of Mahamastakabhisheka
Mahamastakabhisheka
The Mahamasthakabhisheka is an important Jain festival held once every twelve years in the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, India. The festival is held in veneration of an immense 18 meter high statue of the siddha Bahubali...
is held once every 12 years when the statue of Bahubali is worshiped and bathed in holy water, milk, turmeric, and other natural herbs that have their own significant importance.