The Tale of The Forgotten Jain Basadi

Pragya Nagar

The Tale of The Forgotten Jain Basadi

Located in Kambadahalli is the five-shrine temple of Panchakuta Basadi. What is the story of this lesser known site of Jain pilgrimage?

The Yaksha figure atop the mahastambha; Source: puratattva.in

Each shrine of the trikuta is adorned with a distinctive shikhara (superstructure) in a unique architectural style. The central shrine is dedicated to Adinatha, the first Jain Tirthankara. A remarkable four-foot-tall black stone figure of Adinatha in padmasana graces the central sanctum and is thought to be a later addition. Over the sanctuary is a square tower built in the Nagara architectural style. Two smaller shrines, flanked on either side, are dedicated to Shantinatha, the sixteenth Tirthankara, and Neminatha, the twenty-second Tirthankara. In contrast to the central sanctum, a circular shikhara in the Vesara architectural style is placed over the Shantinatha sanctum, while an octagonal tower over the Neminatha sanctum has Dravidian architectural elements. The juxtaposition of these varied architectural styles makes the trikuta a visual treat.

Each shrine has a separate vestibule or ardhamandapa, which leads to a large hall called the mahamantapa or navaranga, the ceiling of which is supported by four elaborate central pillars and adorned by intricate carvings. At the entrance to the shrine, figures of ashtadikpalakas (guardians) facing the eight directions, with their consorts and vehicles, have been placed.

The dwikuta is considered a later addition as it incorporates elements of Hoysala architecture. It is wider than the trikuta shrines and is separated from them by the Bali Peetam (sacrificial platform). A distinctive three-tiered structure, the Bali Peetam rests on the middle octagonal tier, sandwiched between a square base and a circular top. The octagonal faces of the middle band are carved with the images of ashtadikpalakas.

Small niches can be seen on all three sides of the outer walls of garbagudis, within which idols of the Tirthankaras have been placed. A peculiar statue of Tirthankara with an ornate carving of Kalpavriksha above the head can be seen in one of the niches near the entrance of the temple complex. According to local folklore, praying to this Tirthankara statue can grant your wishes.

The temple of Panchakuta Basadi, located in the little village of Kambadahalli, is a magnificent example of Western Ganga architecture. This neglected Jain pilgrimage site is located around 15 kilometers from Shravanabelagola in Karnataka's Mandya district.

The town of Kambadahalli (formerly known as Kambapuri) gets its name from a mahastambha, a 57-feet-tall pillar in the village's northwest corner.The octagonal base of this Bramhadeva pillar is embellished with sculptures of ashtadikpalakas, who, according to religious texts, are the guardians or rulers of the eight cardinal directions. The pillar top has a square platform on which a seated figure of Brahma Yaksha rests. The platform's outer edges are adorned with hanging bells. According to local legend, the bells do not chime even during the most violent of storms, but when they do, it indicates death in the village.

An inscription at the base of the mahastambha dates back to 1118 AD. According to the inscription, Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana granted a piece of land in Kambadahalli to his minister Gangaraja in gratitude for his assistance in capturing Talakad (an ancient heritage and religious center near Mysore), who in turn donated it to a Jain guru.

Once home to over seventy-two Jain temples, Kambadahalli was a major Jain center during the Ganga and Hoysala period. Today, Panchkuta Basadi and Shantinath Basadi are the two most significant temples that remain.

The Panchakuta Basadi is located in the center of the village, right next to the Brahmadeva pillar. The temple derives its name from the five shrines it houses. As per historical records, the structure was constructed in stages during the eighth and eleventh centuries and is a unique example of Western Ganga architecture that amalgamated Jain elements and motifs with the prevalent Pallava style of architecture of the time. The north-facing structure is directed towards the Brahmadeva pillar and was constructed in two phases: trikuta (three shrines) and dwikuta (two shrines).

Fine sculptures of Jain yakshas and yakshis, the male and female spirits of the Western Ganga and Hoysala period, may be seen in the Basadi. There are statues of the Tirthankaras in the kayotsarga stance, a yogic meditation pose symbolic of renunciation, in some of the niches on the exterior walls of the sanctum sanctorum of all five temples.

The Archeological Survey of India has designated the temple complex and the pillar as protected sites of national importance. The basadi has declined from a lively religious center to a rather desolate and forgotten relic that at present attracts only the diligent Jain pilgrim, the occasional tourist, or the curious architectural historian.