Brock211211849 at 21:10, 11 March 2025

2025-03-11T21:10:38Z

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{{Short description|Group of Indian temples}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox religious building
| religious_affiliation = [[Jainism]]
| image = File:Lakshmeshwara Old Jain temple 1.jpg
| alt = Lakshmeshwara Jain temple
| caption = Shanka Basadi
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| map_type =
| map_alt =
| map_size = 200
| map_caption = Location within Karnataka
| coordinates = {{coord|15|07|37|N|75|27|51|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Lakshmeshwara]], [[Gadag district|Gadag]], [[Karnataka]]
| festivals = [[Mahavir Jayanti]]
| deity = [[Neminatha]], [[Anantanatha]]
| established = 7th century CE
| creator = [[Pulakeshin II]]
| governing_body = Shri Shankhabasadi Trust
| temple_quantity = 3
| architecture_style = [[Badami Chalukya architecture]]
}}

The '''Lakshmeshwara Jain temples''' is a group of [[Jain]] [[Jain temple|temples]] in the town of [[Lakshmeshwara]] in the [[Gadag district]] of [[Karnataka]].

== History ==
Jainism as it relates to Lakshmeshwara has a long history.{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=300}}{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=26}} Lakshmeshwara is one of the ancient Jain centres formerly known as Hugligare and Puligere.{{sfn|Ben-Herut|2018|p=348}}{{sfn|Sharma|2009|p=53}}{{sfn|Subburaj|2003|p=250}} Many Jain temples are mentioned in the inscriptions.{{sfn|Chugh|2016|pp=300–301}}{{sfn|Karnataka Gazetteer Department|p=69}}{{sfn|Naik|Naik|1948|p=79}} [[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 [[Aihole#Meguti_hill|Meghuti temple]].{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=300}} 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 {{circa|609|642}} CE.{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=347}} An inscription by [[Vinayaditya of Vatapi|Vinayaditya]] (dated 686 A.D.) refers to a grant to the Jain [[Acharya]] of Devagana and Mulasangha.{{sfn|Chugh|2016|pp=300–301}} 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.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=83}} In 734–735 CE, Srivijayadevapanditacharya of [[Digambara#Sub-sects|dev gana]] received funds to make repairs to the temple.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=49}} Kunkuma Mahadevi, sister of Vijayaditya, constructed a large Jain temple during the reign of [[Kirtivarman II]].{{sfn|Chandrababu|Thilagavathi|2009|pp=157–158}} Lakshmeshwar was established as a Jain center by [[Chalukya dynasty]] and was further developed during [[Rashtrakuta]] period, having monuments from [[Rashtrakuta]] period.{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=300}}{{sfn|Karnataka Gazetteer Department|p=69}}

[[Adikavi Pampa]] wrote ''[[Ādi purāṇa]]'', seated in this [[basadi]] (temple) during 9th century.{{sfn|Azer|2011}}{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=437}}

== Architecture ==
===Shanka Basadi===
[[File:Lakshmeshwara New Jain temple 1.jpg|150px|thumb|right|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]].{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=26}} The temple derives its name from the image of Neminatha in ''[[kayotsarga]]'' posture standing on a large ''[[shankha]]'' (conch shell).{{sfn|Shah|1987|p=169}} The Basadi consists of a ''[[garbhagriha]]'' (inner sanctum), a large ''[[ardhamandapa]]'' (porch), a larger ''[[mandapa|mahamandapa]]'' (hall) and a ''[[Ranga Mandapa|ranga mandapa]]'' (pillared hall or pavilion ). The ''ranga mandapa'' has three entrances (south, north, and west). It has a ''chaturmukha'' (four-faced{{sfn|Ellis|2012|p=202}}) 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''.{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=295}}{{sfn|Chugh|2016|pp=305–306}} There is a ''[[manasthamba]]'' (pillar) erected in front of the temple.{{sfn|Ramaswamy|2017}}{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=306}} There are ventilated walls in front of the temple, whereas ''[[yakshas]]'' and ''[[yakshini]]'' are in the other walls.{{sfn|Vathsala|2019}} 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 (Jainism)|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.{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=306}}

===Ananthanatha Basadi===
Another Jain temple at Lakshmeshwara is the Ananthanatha Basadi, built-in {{circa|12th century CE}}, which is in the middle of the town. The temple is built using soap stone and features a ''phamsana style'' [[Shikhara]].{{sfn|Hardy|1995|p=337}}{{sfn|Britannica}} The temple is constructed in [[Hoysala_architecture#Vimana|Trikuta]] style and is an example of the [[Chalukya]] style of architecture.{{sfn|Chugh|2016|p=306}} The idol of [[Anantanatha]], one of the 24 ''Tirthankars'', is installed in the [[garbhagriha]] of the shrine.{{sfn|Vathsala|2019}}

== See also ==
* [[Western Chalukya]]
* [[Western Chalukya architecture]]
* [[Gadag]]
* [[Annigeri]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist|23em}}

=== Bibliography ===
==== Books ====
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book | last=Ben-Herut | first=Gil | title=Siva's Saints: The Origins of Devotion in Kannada according to Harihara's Ragalegalu | url={{Google books|e2hiDwAAQBAJ|pg=PT348|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | location=[[Oxford]] | year=2018 |isbn=978-0-19-087886-3 }}
* {{cite book | last1=Chandrababu | first1=B. S. | last2=Thilagavathi | first2=L. | title=Woman, Her History and Her Struggle for Emancipation | url={{Google books|NZmyUpHdPWYC|page=157|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | publisher=[[Bharathi Puthakalayam]] | location=[[Chennai]] | year=2009 |isbn=978-81-89909-97-0 }}
* {{cite book | last=Chugh | first=Lalit | title=Karnataka's Rich Heritage - Art and Architecture | url={{Google books|JpnoCwAAQBAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | edition= From Prehistoric Times to the Hoysala Period | publisher=[[Notion Press]] | location=[[Chennai]] | year=2016 |isbn=978-93-5206-825-8 }}
* {{cite book | last=Hardy | first=Adam | author-link=Adam Hardy (architectural historian) | title=Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation : the Karṇāṭa Drāviḍa Tradition, 7th to 13th Centuries | series=Kalāsamālocanā series | url={{Google books|aU0hCAS2-08C|page=337|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | publisher=Abhinav Publications | location=[[Delhi]] | year=1995 |isbn=978-81-7017-312-0 }}
* {{cite book | last=Ellis | first=Robert Richmond | title=They Need Nothing: Hispanic-Asian Encounters of the Colonial Period | url={{Google books|3S2ytuEIVfAC|page=202|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]] | location=[[Toronto]] | year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4426-4511-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Shah | first=Umakant Premanand | author-link=Umakant Premanand Shah | title=Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography | url={{Google books|m_y_P4duSXsC|page=169|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | date=1987 | publisher=Abhinav Publications | location=[[New Delhi]] | isbn=81-7017-208-X }}
* {{cite book | last=Sharma | first=Ram Sharan | author-link=Ram Sharan Sharma | title=Indian Feudalism, C. AD 300-1200 | url={{Google books|2C7AOnBvu64C|page=53|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | edition=3rd | publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] | location=[[New Delhi]] | year=2009 |isbn=978-1403-92863-4 }}
* {{cite book |last=Singh |first=Ram Bhushan Prasad |title=Jainism In Early Medieval Karnataka |url={{Google books|JtWGm4E4qZIC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |year=2008 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] | location=[[New Delhi]] |isbn=978-81-208-3323-4 }}
* {{cite book | last=Subburaj | first=V. V. K. | title=Tourist Guide to South India | url={{Google books|ta6AD7MNFioC|page=250|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | edition= From Prehistoric Times to the Hoysala Period | publisher=Sura Books | location=[[Chennai]] | year=2003 |isbn=978-81-7478-175-8 }}
{{refend}}

==== Web ====
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite news | last=Azer | first=Rahman | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/171942/lakshmeshwar-melting-pot-cultures.html | title=Lakshmeshwar, a melting pot of cultures | publisher=[[Deccan Herald]] | date=27 June 2011 | access-date=9 May 2021 }}
* {{cite news | last=Vathsala | first=VP | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/supplements/travel/gadag-beckons-734160.html | title=Gadag Beckons | publisher=[[Deccan Herald]] | date=18 May 2019 | access-date=9 May 2021 }}
* {{cite news | last=Ramaswamy | first=Chitra | url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/sundaypost/routes/rendezvous-with-karnatakas-jaina-trail-215649 | title=Karnataka, The Tourist Paradise | work=Millennium Post | location=[[Delhi]] | date=18 February 2017 | access-date=9 May 2021 }}
* {{cite web | author=Karnataka Gazetteer Department | url=http://www.gazetteer.kar.nic.in/gazetteer/hand%20book/Chapter-14_561-570.pdf | title=Karnataka, The Tourist Paradise | publisher=[[The Gazette of India]] | location=Karnataka | access-date=9 May 2021 }}
* {{cite web | author=Britannica | title=Phamsana | url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/phamsana | website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] | access-date=18 July 2021 }}
* {{cite journal | last1=Naik | first1=A. V. | last2=Naik | first2=A. N. | title=Inscriptions of the deccan: an epigraphical survey (circa 300 b.c.-1300 a.d.). | journal=[[Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute|Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute]] | volume=9 | date=1948 | issue=1/2 | jstor=42929414 | url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/42929414 | access-date=9 May 2021}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline|Jain temple, Lakshmeshwara}}

{{Jain temples}}
{{Jainism topics}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jain temples in Karnataka]]
[[Category:7th-century Jain temples]]
[[Category:Gadag district]]

Lakshmeshwara Jain temples - Revision history

Brock211211849 at 21:10, 11 March 2025