Jain Temples in South India is a new weekly feature on Religion World, which gives you glimpses of different Jain shrines in the this part of the country. Rarely people are aware that Jainism has been prevalent in South India since Maurya dynasty. It became popular over the years and it was the Vijayanagar empire that made it more popular.
With Vijayanagar empire giving the much needed impetus to Jainism, it flourished and they started constructing their temples, art and culture in South India. Moreover the digambara sect also developed here and it had its own followers too. This new series Jain Temple in South India will look at different temples, the history and legend behind the temple, its uniqueness and architecture as well as its specialities. Featured on every week, Jain Temples in South India will be giving its darshan in Religion World.
Jainism seems to have its strong presence in Karnataka. Compared to all the South Indian states, Karnataka has been the chosen place for Jainism. The place which we all think of is Sravanabelagola. It is a popular Jain shrine across the globe, but very few people are aware of the other important places that have been hosts for Jain temples. One such place is Moodabidri.
Moodabidri, a temple town in Karnataka has some fascinating stories of a rich cultural past embedded in its eighteen temples. With 18 roads connecting various villages, 18 lakes, 18 temples and 18 Jain Basadis, Moodabidri has a definitive link to the number 18. Located 37 kilometers away from Mangalore, the town was named after the abundant bamboo growing in the area. Moodabidri is a compound word made up of Mooda (East) and Bidri (Bamboo).
Saavira Kambada Basadi
Saavira Kambada Basadi (means thousand pillar temple in Kannada), a Jain temple in Karnataka, is well known across the world not only because it was built in 1430, but because of the remarkable pillars that are an integral part of the temple. The temples is also known as the Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi or the crest jewel of the three worlds.
The local Chieftain Devaraya Wodeyar initiated the construction of the temple in 1430, but the temple as it stands today includes additions made in 1962. The temple was constructed over a painstaking period of 31 years. An equivalent amount of 9 crores was spent in the construction of the fascinating temple.
The construction of the temple took place in phases. The first phase saw the construction of the sanctum sanctorum with the eight foot idol of Chandranath. The idol is the reason the temple is also known as the Chandranath Basadi.
The second phase oversaw the construction of the magnificent prayer hall with its innumerable pillars. The last phase of construction was the erection of the manasthamba, commissioned by Queen Nagala Devi. The 60 foot monolith is in many ways the center piece in a temple that is awe-inspiring around every turn.
Although the temple complex feature three separate stories, devotees are only allowed on the upper floors once in a year. Despite being one of the oldest and biggest Jain temples in Asia, the upper floors are in many ways a well-kept secret.
Legends Associated with Basadi
Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani basadi, the largest and finest of its kind in coastal Karnataka; which was originally built in 1430 CE, is also considered the most ornate of the Jain temples of this region. It is well known as the Thousand pillared temple (Savira Kambada Basadi) as it has large numbers and varieties of pillars.
No doubt, the history of Jainism in Moodabidri can be traced back to the beginning of 13th century A.D. But it was during 14th – 16th centuries that this city witnessed an unprecedented growth as a center of Jain religion, culture, art and architecture. Not less than 18 Jain temples, Known as Basadis, were constructed during this period.
The most famous among them are Guru basadi, Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi and Ammanavara Basadi. The Guru basadi is believed to be the earliest of the Jain monuments of this place. Lord Parshwanatha the 23rd Thirthankar of Jainism is the presiding deity of this temple. A beautiful stone idol of Parshwanatha, about 3.5 metres tall, is installed in the sanctum of this basadi. It is in this basadi that the rare Jain palm leaf manuscripts of 12th century A.D. known as ‘Dhavala texts’ were discovered.
Thousand pillared templeThe Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani basadi is the largest of its kind in coastal Karnataka and is considered to be the most ornate of the Jain temples of this region. The large number and variety of pillars in this basadi led the common people to identify this temple as Thousand pillared temple (Savira Kambada Basadi) . This is a huge granite construction originally built in 1430 A.D and was completed in three stages. The 2.5 metres tall bronze image of Lord Chandranatha Swami housed in the sanctum of this basadi is considered to be an image of utmost importance in Jainism. This huge, three storied movement was constructed by the collective effects of the rulers, the Jain Swamiji, merchants and also the common people by this ancient city. The most beautiful part of this temple is the open pillared hall in front, consisting by a rich variety of ornate pillars. The pillars and the roof this open hall are decorated with beautiful and minute carvings typical of Vijayanagara style. The various parts of this huge temple represent the Vijayanagara art at its list. The 15-meter tall freestanding single stone pillar called manasthambha in front of the basadi, is indeed a marvel by art.Manasthamba
There are beautiful images of Jain Trirthankar, Yakshas and Yakshis in every Jain basadi of Moodabidri. The stucco images in the Leppada basadi and Ammanavara Basadi are worth a visit. The Jain tombs and Nyaya basadi at Kodangallu, in the outskirts of Moodabidri are movements of great historical interest.
Moodabidri was a centre of Jain literature too. Ratnakara Varni, the doyen of medieval Kannada literature and the author of Bharatesha Vaibhava belonged to this place. The famous Jain canonical texts known as Dhavala texts and also a number of palm leaf manuscripts of immense literacy value are in the possession of the Jain monastery here.
Moodabidri was also the seat of the Chowta’s, a local Jain ruling family, who were originally ruling from Puthige, a village about 5 km from here. They shifted their capital to Moodabidri in the 17th century, where they constructed a palace, the remains of which can still be seen.
Moodabidri still maintains its old charm as an important Jain centre coastal Karnataka. The city has a large population of Jains who keep the spirit of Jainism still alive. Many Jain festivals are also being celebrated here throughout the year. Moodabidri continues to the most sought after pilgrimage centre of the Jains from all over country.
The Thousand Pillars
Standing in the courtyard, every visitor experiences the grandeur and vigor that has come to stand as the hallmark of an era long lost in the sands of time. The temple boasts of many mantapas, each one supported by pillars. The pillars carved from granite have stories carved on each one. Every pillar is unique and the figures carved on them are unique. With so much beauty to behold, some visitors are intrigued while the plebeians will simply look at a few and move on to the next sight to behold.
Even as the pillars and the carvings attract your attention, there is a fascinating hush of silence and peace that envelops the temple. The intricate carvings and geometrically accurate lines speak of craftsmen whose skills can dumbfound today’s machines in the blink of an eye.
Stone chandeliers that seemingly defy gravity and other such architectural marvels form a part of the landscape of the temple and never fail to boggle the modern man’s mind. The inherent patience of the craftsmen evident in the intricacy of the carvings is an anti-thesis to the constant hustle and bustle in the city. They might just inspire you to slow down and savor the art, as it were.
Tales of history, exchanges of culture and the interaction between man and nature is all carved in plain sight for everyone to see. Mythical tales of animals mingle with carvings of African giraffes and Chinese carvings harking back to a time of prosperous commercial trade routes between continents.
Lesser Known Facts of Moodabidri
Sadly, English literature on the history of the temple is not readily available for perusal or to be bought. Historians speak of Moodabidri as offering much needed shelter and relief to weary Jain travelers who were persecuted for their religious beliefs in the North. The rulers in this area, including the Chalukya, Ganga, Rashtrakuta, Alupa and the Hoysala rulers were benevolent to Jain refugees and offered them a safe sanctuary in the temples.
The sacred and ancient Jain literature was moved to Moodabidri from Shravanbelagola when the Mughals assaulted in an attempt to rule over all of the subcontinent. These texts were rediscovered and preserved in the 1800s.
The texts referred to as the Moodabidri texts are actually Prakrit texts that were copied in the ancient old Kannada script on to palm leaves using only pinpricks. Believed to have been scribed around the year 1060 the palm leaves are one of the last few vestiges of the era that dates back to Arihant.
While the architecture from the outside is reminiscent of a typical north Karnataka structure, the interior is chock full on beautiful architectural and cultural details. Temples like the Vikram Shetty Basadi, Chola Shetty Basadi, Mahadeva Shetty Basadi, Koti Shetty Basadi, Derma Shetty Basadi and the Ammanavara Basadi alongside the rest of the Basadis form what is affectionately known as the Jain Kashi in India. Amidst the other temples, the Guru Basadi is one of the oldest and most revered temples.
Abode of Jainism
Apart from the Jain temples, there are other temples belonging to the 7th century in this temple town. A Gowri temple located in the heart of the city is believed to have been constructed around the 7th century. There is also a Hanuman temple in the city that attracts devotees from far and wide.
With such unique festivals and temples from long lost eras, Moodabidri is a place that simply cannot be described in words. With ample local and long distance transportation, the town is easily accessible from Mangalore and the rest of Karnataka. Express bus routes connect Moodabidri to locations like Mangalore, Udupi, Shimoga, Dharmasthala and Kudremukh. Private and public buses ply established routes between Moodabidri and Goa, Bangalore, Bombay, Hubli, Dharwad, Chikmagalur, Subramanya and other such important cities and towns.
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