Karnataka's vibrant tourist circuit is peppered with an abundance of Jam temples, monuments and pilgrim spots. The Jam philosophy of non-violence and peace found royal patronage in the state and these temples and monuments are a testimony to the days when Jainism held sway in Karnataka.
Jan architecture can be classified into basadis and bettas. A basadi is a Jan temple where an image of one of the 24 tirthankaras (saints) is installed and worshiped. They were built in the Dravidian style and the oldest basadi can be traced back to the 8th century. A betta is a hill with an open courtyard containing an image of Gommata or Gomateshwara.
SHRAVANABELAGOLA
The most well known edifice of Jainism is the great monolithic statue of Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubalj at Shravanabelagola. This colossal statue, carved from granite, is the world's tallest at 58.6 feet. Chavundandaraya, the Ganga general, is said to have undertaken the enormous task of installing the statue on the top of Vindhyagiri hill around 1,000 years ago.
A symbol of peace, tolerance and non-violence, this image symbolizes renunciation. The image of Gommata has curly hair and long, large ears. His eyes are open as if viewing the world with detachment. The entire figure stands on an open lotus, signifying the totality attained in installing this unique statue.
Located in Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district, this huge statue is clearly visible from a distance of nearly 15 km. To reach it, you have to climb more than 600 steps chiseled in the rock. There are two 3rd century BC monuments on the hill-a rock-cut cave called Bhadrabahu and a structural shrine called the Chandragupta Basadi.
What is special about Shravanabelagola is the Mahamastakabhisheka, held every 12 years. The ceremonies last 20 days and the statue of Bahuhalj is anointed with 1,008 kalashas (painted earthen pots) of water, milk, coconut water, clarified butter, saffron, jiggery, bananas, sandal paste and marigold flowers. Since inception in the 10th century, the Mahamasthakabhisheka has been conducted 73 times. The next ceremony will be held in 2018.
KARKALA
Located in Udupi district, near the Western Ghats, Karkala has a 43-foot statue of Gomateshwara Consecrated in 1432 by Veerapandyadeva, the king of the Bairarasa family of Karkala, this statue is the second tallest in Karnataka. There are also life-size statues of three tirthankaras as well as one of Padmavathj Yakshi, The rulers also built Chaturmukha Basadj at Karkala and the famous Neminath Basadi complex and the tall Manasthamba at Hariyangadi. The Chaturmukha Basadi is open on all four sides with porches and is symmetrical in design.
Three tirthanka,-as in black polished stone are enshrined in this temple. These are the 18th, 19th and 20th tirthankaras that stand together, facing each entrance. There are 12 main idols in this temple, forming an inner square as they stand outwards, and these idols are protected by pillars that run round the central formation of 12 idols. The temple has many smaller images of all the tirthankaras.
The pillars at this temple are marvellous. There are 108 in total, 40 on the outside and 68 on the inside. Carved out of a single stone, the statue stands on a five- foot platform and is supported at the back by a large block of stone and is beautiful in both face and form, on entering the inner courtyard, you will find two shrines dedicated to Sheetalnatha Swami and Chintamani Parshwanatha Swami. The courtyard contains remains of other stones with the most notable being a series of rectangular, circular and triangular pits that may have been made for rituals and ceremonies.
Yearly celebrations are held in February and once every 12 years the Mahamastakabhisheka is performed. The surroundings are also picturesque with lush greenery and a hilly setting and the beauty of the Western Ghats is not to be missed.
MOODABIDRI
Known as the 'Jaina Kashi of the South,' Moodabidri is a small town near Mangalore. Set amidst coconut and areca nut plantations, Moodabidri is famous for its Jam temples- totaling 18 and dating from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Some consist completely of stone, including the roof. The most famous is the Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani, locally known as the Savira Kambada Basadi or temple with 1,000 pillars. Each pillar is embellished with different designs and no two pillars are alike.
Built in 1462, this temple is famous for its stone sculptures and has the eight mantapas of Mahadwar, Bhairadevi, Chitradevi, Namaskaara, Teerthankara and Garbhagruha.
An eight-foot idol of Chandranatha is in the sanctum sanctorum. The Supaarshwa and Chandraprabha Theerthankara idols are worth visiting while the Navanaari Kuinjara, a sculptural piece that appears like an elephant but nine dancers are seen in the figure, is the most famous art in this basadi. The main mantapa has many pillars that support the carved stone ceiling.
Like most Jain temples designed on a rectangular plan, the length of the temple stretches from where the devotee enters to where the deity resides in the inner sanctum. The stretch is divided into many vestibules, with a pair of doors linking each one to the next, and here you see almost seven or eight such vestibules. In addition, the temple has an invaluable collection of dazzling icons of Jinamurthis made of translucent marble, raw emeralds and other semi-precious stones which, when illuminated, create an ethereal effect.
There is also an attractive Manasthamba, the free-standing pillar, and a bronze Sahasrakoota Mantapa adorned with over 1,000 images of Jinamurthis and 32 hanging lamps. Here you also have a road that is actually named the Jam Temple Road and is like an open air museum of temples. An interesting temple is the Guru Basadi with several Hindu influences.
VARANGA
A small village in Udupi district, Varanga has three main temples. Chandranath Temple is dedicated to Mulnayak Bhagwan Chandrapath and the idol is made of chandrashila and you can actually see light reflecting through the idol. There is a treasure trove of ancient manuscripts of palmyra leaves here. The wooden mantapa of Astamangala is artistic and the eight symbols of chatra, dwaja, kalasa, chamara, sup rathistaka, brungore, darpana and thala are engraved in a row. The Jina idols of panchaloha seen in the basadi are very attractive.
Jalmandir is a unique shrine in the middle of the lake. The square-faced hasadi in the midst of the lake can be reached by boat. The entrance doors are attractive, with steps from all four directions. The beautiful sculptures of Parshvanarha, Anandanatha, Neminatha and Shanthinatha in standing positions face in all directions.
The 1,000-year-old Neminath Basadi has bronze idols of the 24 tirthankaras in kayotsarg posture in the hall. The five-foot idol of Mulnayak Bhagwan Neminath is in the sanctum sanctorum. Neminarha Basadi has a mural of an elephant in faded colors and the temple has a main entrance and two side entrances with steps leading up to them.
VENUR
A small village on the banks of the Phalguni River in South Kanara, Venur or Venoor was once the scat of Jainism and the capital of the Ajila dynasty. The highlight here is a 35-foot Gomateshwara. Erected by the Jam ruler, Timmanna Ajila, in 1604, this statue is believed to have been sculpted by Amarashilpi Jakanachari. Facing westward on a high platform on the bank of the Phalguni, this statue of Bahubali is one of the five giant monoliths of the same Jam monk found in Karnataka.
Venur also has a few other Jam Basadis. Like Karkala and Shravanabelagola, Venur also witnesses the Mahamasrakabhisheka held every 12 years. The last Mahamasrakabhisheka here was held in 2011.
DHARMASTHALA
The Manjunatha Swamy temple is the most prominent temple in Dharmasthala, but it is also a major pilgrim centre for Jams. The 39-foot Bahubali statue with a pedestal of 13 feet and weighing 175 tons is carved out of a single rock by celebrated sculptor Ranjan Gopal Sherioy and was installed in 1975 and consecrated in 1982. The statue itself is not as mature as the one at Shravanabelagola and has an adolescent look with broad shoulders. We are told that this statue reflects the 'Enlightened One' with elongated ears, broad shoulders, and long arms that reach to the knees. As is normal with any statue of Bahubali, fern-like creepers entwine his still arms and legs and the eyes are half-closed. This befits his meditative state. Hills with trees and ant-hills form the lower base of the statue and help in providing structural support.
Dharmasthala is an outstanding example of religious tolerance and is unique in that it has a Jam administration while all the rituals are performed by Hindu priests. This form of Bahubali represents complete victor
Another place to visit at Dharmasthala is the Chandranath Swamy Basadi, a Jam temple which has been renovated recently. The installed image has a brilliant golden halo. The place is quiet and ideal for a little meditation. The temple has decent stone sculptures and a nice flower bed that runs around the inner courtyard.
BADAMI
The only natural cave around the area is also the lone Jam temple at Badami. A statue of the 24th tirthankara, Lord Mahavira, can be seen here, seated in a comfortable pose against a cushion, in the inner sanctum. The cave temples of Badami were built by the Chalukya kings and the lain cave temples are on the hillocks opposite the fort.
The images of Bhagwan Parshwanatha, Bhagwan Mahavira and Gautam Swami are in the fourth cave. This cave temple is 31 feet wide and 16 feet deep in the rocks and is also known as men basadi. The pillars of this cave are artistically decorated with images of the lotus, other flowers, makar, mithun and apsaras. The image of Bhagwan Mahavira is in the centre. There is an eight-foot idol of Bhagwan Adinatha in the kayotsarg posture along with the 24 tirthankaras surrounding it and the images of Yaksha and Yakshi. The other idol, of eight feet, is of Bhagwan Suparsvanath and a female devotee image is at the feet of the tirthankara. The idol of Bhagwan Bahubali flanked by his sisters, Brahmi and Sundari, is also very impressive. Besides this there is an idol of Bhagwan Parshwanatha. This cave temple is full of various idols, from nine inches to eight feet.
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