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Lakshmeshwara Jain temples
Lakshmeshwara Jain temple
Shanka Basadi
Religion
AffiliationJainism
DeityNeminatha, Anantanatha
FestivalMahavir Jayanti
Governing bodyShri Shankhabasadi Trust
Location
LocationLakshmeshwara, Gadag, Karnataka
Map
Interactive map of Lakshmeshwara Jain temples
Coordinates15°07′37″N 75°27′51″E / 15.12694°N 75.46417°E / 15.12694; 75.46417
Architecture
StyleBadami Chalukya architecture
CreatorPulakeshin II
Established7th century CE
Temple3

The Lakshmeshwara Jain temples is a group of Jain temples in the town of Lakshmeshwara in the Gadag district of Karnataka.

History

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Jainism as it relates to Lakshmeshwara has a long history.[1][2] Lakshmeshwara is one of the ancient Jain centres formerly known as Hugligare and Puligere.[3][4][5] Many Jain temples are mentioned in the inscriptions.[6][7][8] Kalyani Chalukyas' most important Jinalayas include Brahma Jinalaya at Lakkundi, Charantimatha at Aihole, and Sankha Jinalya at Lakshmeswar. The temple is believed to be an older structure than Meghuti temple.[1] The Sankha Jinalaya at Lakshmeshwara is dedicated to Neminatha. According to many inscriptions this was an important Jinalaya. Sendraka Durgashakti, a feudatory (vassal) of Pulakeshin II is said to have given gifts to this temple. There is an inscription in Shanka Basadi that mentions the temple received grants from Pulakeshin II in c. 609 – c. 642 CE.[9] An inscription by Vinayaditya (dated 686 A.D.) refers to a grant to the Jain Acharya of Devagana and Mulasangha.[6] An epigraph dated 723 CE, by Vijayaditya mentions a grant to Niravadya Pandita who was to house pupil of Sri Pujyapada. Another inscription of Vikramaditya II (dated 734 A. D.) mentions gifts to Shanka Jinalaya.[10] In 734–735 CE, Srivijayadevapanditacharya of dev gana received funds to make repairs to the temple.[11] Kunkuma Mahadevi, sister of Vijayaditya, constructed a large Jain temple during the reign of Kirtivarman II.[12] Lakshmeshwar was established as a Jain center by Chalukya dynasty and was further developed during Rashtrakuta period, having monuments from Rashtrakuta period.[1][7]

Adikavi Pampa wrote Ādi purāṇa, seated in this basadi (temple) during 9th century.[13][14]

Architecture

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Shanka Basadi

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Newly built Shantinatha Jain temple

Shanka Basadi is one of the two historical Jain temples at Lakshmeswar. The more famous temple is Sankha Jinalaya, also called Sahasrakuta Jinalaya, in the Basti Bana area. Shankha Jinendra(Neminath) (Shankha is the symbol of Neminath), the 22nd Jain Tirthankara (saviour), is the presiding deity of this Jain Basadi.[2] The temple derives its name from the image of Neminatha in kayotsarga posture standing on a large shankha (conch shell).[15]

The antiquity of the religious establishment is demonstrated by the series of inscriptions preserved in the basadi, several of which date from the 7th and 8th centuries and record grants for worship, repairs, charitable establishments and the maintenance of the Jain community.[16] The surviving structure, however, has undergone modifications and renovations over its long history, and its present architectural fabric should therefore not necessarily be attributed in its entirety to the period of its earliest inscriptions.

The Basadi consists of a garbhagriha (inner sanctum), a large ardhamandapa (porch), a larger mahamandapa (hall) and a ranga mandapa (pillared hall or pavilion ). The ranga mandapa has three entrances (south, north, and west). It has a chaturmukha (four-faced[17]) structure carrying three chaturmukha figures. The temple's shikhara is built in a rekhanagara style. The unique feature of this temple is a monolithic pillar with the carving of 1008 Tirthankaras known as Sahasrakuta Jinabimba.[18][19] There is a manasthamba (pillar) erected in front of the temple.[20][21] There are ventilated walls in front of the temple, whereas yakshas and yakshini are in the other walls.[22] There are many splendid carvings of dancers and musicians. Inside the temple, one can find the rare monolithic piece of Sahasra Jinabimbas (SahastraKut Jinalay) and the idols of Dharnendra and Padmavati. Many mutilated Jain idols are on the wall of a well nearby. The Basadi is in ruins and renovated; it represents the interest of the Kalyani Chalukyas in Jain architecture.[21]

The large number of inscriptions reused or preserved in and around the Shankha Basadi makes the monument particularly important for reconstructing the history of Jainism at Lakshmeshwara. The records document successive phases of patronage under the Badami Chalukyas, Western Gangas, Western Chalukyas and Vijayanagara rulers.[23]

Ananthanatha Basadi

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Another Jain temple at Lakshmeshwara is the Ananthanatha Basadi, built-in c. 12th century CE, which is in the middle of the town. The temple is built using soap stone and features a phamsana style Shikhara.[24][25] The temple is constructed in Trikuta style and is an example of the Chalukya style of architecture.[21] The idol of Anantanatha, one of the 24 Tirthankars, is installed in the garbhagriha of the shrine.[22]

The temple belongs to the later phase of temple building at Lakshmeshwara and illustrates the continuation of Jain architectural patronage at the town centuries after the earliest grants to the Shankha Jinalaya. Its 12th-century date also corresponds with inscriptional evidence for several Jain establishments and teachers active at Puligere during the Western Chalukya period.[24][26]

Inscriptions

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Lakshmeshwara is notable for its extensive corpus of medieval inscriptions. Epigraphic records refer to the settlement under the names Puligere, Purigere, Purikara and related forms.[27][28] The Jain records range from the Early Chalukya period to at least the Vijayanagara period and document royal and private endowments, temple repairs, feeding houses, Jain monastic lineages, landholding and disputes concerning temple property.[29]

Taken together, the inscriptions identify several Jain establishments at medieval Puligere in addition to the surviving Shankha and Ananthanatha basadis. These include the Dhavala Jinalaya, Ganga-Kandarpa Jinalaya, Permadi Basadi, Anesejjeya Basadi, Goggiya Basadi and Vijaya Jinalaya.[30] The records therefore indicate that Lakshmeshwara functioned not merely as the site of an individual Jain temple but as a significant Jain religious centre with multiple temples and monastic institutions over several centuries.

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. 1 2 3 Chugh 2016, p. 300.
  2. 1 2 Singh 2008, p. 26.
  3. ↑ Ben-Herut 2018, p. 348.
  4. ↑ Sharma 2009, p. 53.
  5. ↑ Subburaj 2003, p. 250.
  6. 1 2 Chugh 2016, pp. 300–301.
  7. 1 2 Karnataka Gazetteer Department, p. 69.
  8. ↑ Naik & Naik 1948, p. 79.
  9. ↑ Chugh 2016, p. 347.
  10. ↑ Singh 2008, p. 83.
  11. ↑ Singh 2008, p. 49.
  12. ↑ Chandrababu & Thilagavathi 2009, pp. 157–158.
  13. ↑ Azer 2011.
  14. ↑ Chugh 2016, p. 437.
  15. ↑ Shah 1987, p. 169.
  16. ↑ Gai 1988, Nos. 3–7.
  17. ↑ Ellis 2012, p. 202.
  18. ↑ Chugh 2016, p. 295.
  19. ↑ Chugh 2016, pp. 305–306.
  20. ↑ Ramaswamy 2017.
  21. 1 2 3 Chugh 2016, p. 306.
  22. 1 2 Vathsala 2019.
  23. ↑ Gai 1988, Nos. 3–7, 232, 244–246.
  24. 1 2 Hardy 1995, p. 337.
  25. ↑ Britannica.
  26. ↑ Gai 1988, Nos. 52–53, 102.
  27. ↑ Barnett 1917, p. 188.
  28. ↑ Thomas 1921, p. 83.
  29. ↑ Gai 1988, Nos. 3–7, 47, 52–53, 102, 205, 224, 232, 244–246.
  30. ↑ Gai 1988, Nos. 7, 47, 52, 102, 205, 244–246.

Bibliography

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Books

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Web

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  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Jain temple, Lakshmeshwara at Wikimedia Commons
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