Humcha Jain temples

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The Humcha Jain temples or Humcha basadis are a group of temples found in Humcha village of Shimoga district in Karnataka, India. They were constructed in the 7th century CE in the period of the Santara dynasty and are regarded as one of the major Jain centres of Karnataka.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The Padmavati Basadi is the most well-known of these temples.Template:Sfn

History

File:Old Kannada inscription (1077 AD) of Kalyani Chalukya King Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI in Panchabasti temple at Humcha.jpg

Inscription of Vikramaditya VI, Western Chalukya inside Panchkuta Basadi

Humcha has been a major Jain centre since the establishment of the seat of the Bhattaraka (head of Digambara institutionsTemplate:Sfn Template:Sfn) in the 7th–8th century CE by Jinadatta Raya, founder of the Santara dynasty.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The current structure of the Padmavati temple was built by Vira Santara in 1061 CE.Template:Sfn

Vikrama Santara built Guddada Basadi, dedicated to Bahubali, in 897 CE, and the Parshvanath temple in 950 CE.Template:Sfn The Santara rulers granted land, gold, and other gifts as offerings for worship and religious activities. Bhujabala Santaradeva, of the Chalukya dynasty, made similar grants to Bhujabala Santara Jinalaya.Template:Sfn

The Bhattaraka's seat at Humcha is one of fourteen surviving seats of the original 36.Template:Sfn The earliest inscription dates back to the 9th century CE.Template:Sfn An 11th century inscription refers to a shrine dedicated to the cult of Padmavati. The Ratta and Shilahara dynasties also worshiped Padmavati as their tutelary deity.Template:Sfn Humcha received royal patronage until Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala Empire converted to Hindu Vaishnavism in 1117 or 1132 CE.Template:Sfn A 12th century nishidhi stone mentions a woman named Piriyarasi performing Sallekhana during the reign of Mahamandaleshwar Bomma Santi Deva, a local chief under Western Chalukya Empire.Template:Sfn According to an inscription dated 1530 CE, the viceroy of Sriranganagara converted from the Franconian faith to Jainism under the influence of Āchārya Vidyananda.Template:Sfn A total of 43 inscriptions has been discovered at this site.Template:CN According to Pārśvanātha-Padmāvatī-labdhavaraprasanna in seal, the bhaṭṭārakas of Malkheda were confirmed at the Padmavati Basadi.Template:Sfn

The basadi complex is maintained by Humcha Matha and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The temples have since undergone repairs, renovations, and modifications.Template:Sfn

Legend

Jinadatta, a royal prince of Mathura in the Solar dynasty, fled home after his father, Sahakara, attempted to murder him. Sahakara, under the influence of his second son Mardatta, had sought to ensure that the latter would be the successor to the throne. Jindatta fled to South India, and, heeding the counsel of Jain monk Muni Siddhanta, carried a golden idol of Padmavati on his back to protect him on his journey.Template:Sfn On the way, while resting under a kari lakki tree, Jindatta had a dream in which Padmavati told him to establish his capital at that place, with the help of people living in the forest.Template:Sfn Jinadatta proceeded to found the city of Pombuccapura (modern-day Humcha)Template:Sfn and built two temples dedicated to Parshvanatha. He also founded a shrine of Padmavati near the tree where he had his dream, installing an idol of the Goddess as presiding deity of the temple.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Architecture

File:Gopuram in front of Basadi in Humcha.jpg

Manastambha

The noteworthy architecture of the Humcha BasadiTemplate:Sfn comprises temples classified as either early phase or later phase, based on the architectural style of each. The early phase temples include a square Vimana with a small antarala and a closed mahamandapa, which is broader than the garbhagriha, and include pillars with ornate carvings. The later phase temples are constructed in a rectangular shape, crowned with Brahmachanda Sikhara in an incorporated built-in Dravidian style. The Makara torana is an important feature of the architectural style of the Santara period.Template:Sfn

Panchkuta Basadi, originally known as Urdhvitilaka (glory of the world) according to inscriptions, is the largest temple in Humcha. The temple was built in the Chalukyan style in 1077 CE by Chattaladevi, the wife of Kaduvetti, a Kadava (Pallava dynasty) chief.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Panchkuta Basadi derives its name from five garbhagriha inside the temple.Template:Sfn These five share a common plinth arranged in a row to form a navaranga, mahamandapa, and mukhamandapa in common. In front of the temple are two small shrines dedicated to Parshvanatha and Bahubali.Template:Sfn Only three idols – of Neminatha, Shantinatha, and Parshvanatha – remain of the original five in the garbhagriha of Panchkuta Basadi. The navaranga of the temple consists of ten ankanaswith and three doors, and it houses images of yaksha and yakshi Jwalamalini.Template:Sfn

Before Panchkuta Basadi is a tall, ornate pillar called a manastambha;Template:Sfn this one is known for its architectural details and is considered the best example of Jain architectural style.Template:Sfn The pillar stands on a three-tiered platform; the lowest tier displays carvings of four elephants at the four corners and another four elephants on the four faces, which are oriented to the cardinal directions; reliefs of lions appear between the elephants. A statue of Brahmadeva surmounts the pillar as the guardian yaksha.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Pâḷiyakka Basadi is ruined temple constructed in 878 CE (Shaka year 800) according to an inscription dated 950 CE. Guḍḍada Basadi, dedicated to Bahubali, was constructed in 898 CE during the reign of Vikramaditya VI. There is another 10th century ruins of a Jain basadi believed to be dedicated to Chandraprabha.Template:Sfn

About the temples

File:Backside view of Basadi in Humcha (DYK crop).jpg

Panchkuta Basadi

The Jain temples in Humcha Basadi complex belong to the Digambar sect of Jainism and are considered one of the great Jain centres of Karnataka.Template:Sfn The Padmavati temple is near the same lakki tree where Padmavati told Jinadatta in his dream to build his capital. According to Jain belief, the Goddess entered the lakki tree, and the same tree is still growing beside the temple.Template:Sfn The Humcha Jain temple complex is an important centre for the cult of Padmavati. Each Friday is a particularly prominent day of worship.Template:Sfn The Panchkuta Basadi houses a golden-coloured idol of Padmavati carrying a lotus and a goad in the lower right and upper right hand, respectively, and a noose in the lower hand.Template:Sfn Two idols of Ambika belonging to the 10th and 11th century are equally noteworthy.Template:Sfn

Two smaller shrines dedicated to Bahubali and Parshvanatha stands on either side of the main temple. These structures were added later in 1075 CE.Template:Sfn

The complex includes a Humcha Matha built by Jain monks.Template:Sfn The matha premises include the Padmavathi temple, Parshwanatha Basadi, Marthanda Basadi, Bogara Basadi, Jattigaraya Basadi, and Bahubali temple.Template:Sfn Humcha also has three monolithic statues of Bahubali with heights of Template:Convert, Template:Convert, and Template:Convert, respectively.Template:Sfn

Festivals

The primary festival of the temple is Ratha Yatra of Padmavati, organised annually on the moola nakshatra day in March. Navaratri is also organised and celebrated by the temple.Template:Sfn

References

Citation

Bibliography

Books

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Karnataka's Rich Heritage – Art and Architecture{{#if:Chugh|, Chugh}. Notion Press(2016). ISBN 9789352068258
The Jains{{#if:Dundas|, Dundas}. Routledge(2002). ISBN 978-0-415-26605-5
Religious Institutions and Cults in the Deccan, C. A.D. 600-A.D. 1000{{#if:Nandi|, Nandi}. Motilal Banarsidass(1973). ISBN 978-08-426-0564-9
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The A to Z of Jainism{{#if:Wiley|, Wiley}. Scarecrow(2009). ISBN 978-0-8108-6337-8
Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation{{#if:Glasenapp|, Glasenapp}. Motilal Banarsidass (Reprinted: 1999)(1925). ISBN 81-208-1376-6