1000_Pillar_Jain_temple

Saavira Kambada Basadi

Saavira Kambada Basadi

Jain temple in Karnataka, India

Saavira Kambada Temple (Sāvira Kambada Basadi) or Tribhuvana Tilaka Cūḍāmaṇi), is a basadi or Jain temple noted for its 1000 pillars in Moodabidri, Karnataka, India. The temple is also known as "Chandranatha Temple" since it honours the tirthankara Chandraprabha, whose eight-foot idol is worshipped in the shrine.[1][2]

Quick Facts Religion, Affiliation ...

The town of Moodabidri is noted for its 18 Jain temples, but Saavira Kambada Temple is considered the finest among them.[3][4] The temple is considered an architectural wonder and is a major attraction of Moodabidri.

History

The Basadi was built by the local chieftain, Devaraya Wodeyar in 1430 and took 31 years to complete,[5] additions to temples were made in 1962. The shrine has a 50 feet tall monolith manasthambha erected by Karkala Bhairava Queen Nagala Devi.[6][7]

Architecture

Intricate carvings of pillar

The temple is considered an architectural wonder.[8] The temple is full of elaborate sculptures and decoration. The doorway of the temple has intricate carvings and is enclosed with ornate walls. The massive pillars of the temple are carved to resemble an octagonal wooden log with one baring inscription.[9][10][11] The 1000 pillars with exquisite detail, support the temple and no two pillars are alike.[12] The sloping roof of veranda are made of wood coated with copper tiles resembling the temples of Nepal. The temple complex has seven mandapas supported by beautifully carved pillars built in the Vijayanagara style.[13] The main mandapa of the temple consists of two interconnected column halls.[14] The fourth mandapa houses a sculpture of Bhairavadevi.[7] The top two storeys are carved in wood and the lowest one in stone.[6]

The hall interiors are massive, with elaborately decorated columns and a door flanked by two protector deities. The wooden panels inside the temples have carvings of Tirthankara flanked by elephants, guardian deities and female attendants holding flowers. Several bronze Jain idols in ornated frames are placed inside the garbhagriha.[15] The 8 ft idol of Chandranatha Swami made of panchadhatu present in the garbha griha.[6] The temple are built similar to temples in Nepal. The interiors of the temple are richly and variedly carved. A large number of tombs of Jain monks are present near the temple premise. The manastambha in front of the temple is noteworthy.[16] The pillars inside the hall bear carvings of dragon and giraffe resulting from the influence of trade with China in 15th century.[17] The image of Nandishwar-dweep dated 16th century is notable.[18]

Saavira Kambada Basadi along with Shravanabelagola, Kamal Basadi and Brahma Jinalaya are considerest the most important Jain centers in Karnataka.[19][20]

Other Jain Temples in Moodabidri

Guru Basadi dated back to c. 714 CE
Leppada Basadi built in the 14th century
Koti Basadi
Vikram Setty Basadi

Guru Basadi

Main article: Guru Basadi

Guru basadi is the earliest of the Jain monuments built in 714 AD. A black stone idol of Parshwanatha, about 3.5 metres (11 ft) tall, is installed in the sanctum of this basadi.[21] The temples also house 12th-century Jain palm leaf manuscripts known as ‘Dhavala texts’ are preserved. These texts were brought from shravanabelagola to here during the Mughal invasion. This basadi is also called Siddantha Basadi and Hale Basadi.[3]

All Jain temples in Moodabidri

Moodabidri is noted for its 18 Jain Temples, some mentioned as follows:[22]

  • Hosa Basadi(This temple: Thousand Pillar Temple)
  • Kere Basadi
  • Koti Basadi
  • Bagada Basadi
  • Settara Basadi
  • Hire Basadi
  • Leppada Basadi
  • Kallu Basadi
  • Batkana-Thikari Basadi
  • Pathshala Basadi
  • Padu Basadi
  • Bitkeri Basadi
  • Vikram Shetty Basadi
  • Mahadeva Shetty Basadi
  • Chola Shetty Basadi
  • Derma Shetty Basadi
  • Ammanavara Basadi

Moodabidri Jain Math

There is a matha at Moodabidri responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of temples in Moodabidri.[23] It is known as the Jain Varanasi of the South.[21][24]

Bhaṭṭāraka Charukeerthi

A bhaṭṭāraka seat exists at Moodabidri responsible for administering the 18 temples at Moodabidri and the other temples in the surrounding areas. The name given to the bhaṭṭāraka of Moodabidri is Charukeerthi.[23][25]

The temple is listed as one of the temples in the Fodor's "India's Jain Temples Are Incredible Architectural Marvels" series.[26]

  • Idol of Chandraprabha, 8th Thirthankara
  • Painting depicting universe as per Jain cosmology
  • Painting depicting Jambudvipa
  • Painting depicting Kalpavriksha
  • Tombs of Jain monk near the temple
  • Savira Kambada Basadi - Back side View
  • Thousand Pillar Temple View from back Side
  • Thousand Piller Temple - Aerial View

See also

References

Citation

  1. [1]
    Ramnarayan 2005.
  2. [2]
    "Nerenki.com". nerenki.com.
  3. [3]
    Colaco 2015.
  4. [4]
    Pinto 2018.
  5. [5]
    Moodbidri Municipal Council.
  6. [6]
    Venkataraman 2013.
  7. [7]
    "Pillar in front of Chandranatha Jain temple, Mudbidri". British Library. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  8. [8]
    Paul 2019, p. 18.
  9. [9]
    Sewell 1882, p. 235.
  10. [10]
    Fergusson 1876, p. 271.
  11. [11]
    Raman 1994, p. 65.
  12. [12]
    Rao 2020.
  13. [13]
    Fergusson 1876, pp. 271–272.
  14. [14]
    Abram 2003, p. 252.
  15. [15]
    Michell 2012, p. 226.
  16. [16]
    Balfour 1885, p. 146.
  17. [17]
    Kanisetti 2022.
  18. [18]
    Cort 2010, p. 71.
  19. [19]
    Butalia & Small 2004, p. 367.
  20. [20]
    Panikar 2010, p. 408.
  21. [21]
    Titze & Bruhn 1998, p. 47.
  22. [22]
    Titze & Bruhn 1998, p. 46.
  23. [23]
    The Hindu 2012.
  24. [24]
    Chavan 2005, p. 323.
  25. [25]
    Raghuram 2012.
  26. [26]
    Binayak 2020.

Sources

Books

Web

Media related to 1000 Pillar Temple (Moodabidri) at Wikimedia Commons
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