Lakshmeshwara Jain temples

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

History

Jainism as it relates to Lakshmeshwara has a long history.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Lakshmeshwara is one of the ancient Jain centres formerly known as Hugligare and Puligere.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Many Jain temples are mentioned in the inscriptions.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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 Template:Circa CE.Template:Sfn An inscription by Vinayaditya (dated 686 A.D.) refers to a grant to the Jain Acharya of Devagana and Mulasangha.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn In 734–735 CE, Srivijayadevapanditacharya of dev gana received funds to make repairs to the temple.Template:Sfn Kunkuma Mahadevi, sister of Vijayaditya, constructed a large Jain temple during the reign of Kirtivarman II.Template:Sfn Lakshmeshwar was established as a Jain center by Chalukya dynasty and was further developed during Rashtrakuta period, having monuments from Rashtrakuta period.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Adikavi Pampa wrote Ādi purāṇa, seated in this basadi (temple) during 9th century.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Architecture

Shanka Basadi

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.Template:Sfn The temple derives its name from the image of Neminatha in kayotsarga posture standing on a large shankha (conch shell).Template:Sfn 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-facedTemplate:Sfn) 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.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn There is a manasthamba (pillar) erected in front of the temple.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn There are ventilated walls in front of the temple, whereas yakshas and yakshini are in the other walls.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

Ananthanatha Basadi

Another Jain temple at Lakshmeshwara is the Ananthanatha Basadi, built-in Template:Circa, which is in the middle of the town. The temple is built using soap stone and features a phamsana style Shikhara.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The temple is constructed in Trikuta style and is an example of the Chalukya style of architecture.Template:Sfn The idol of Anantanatha, one of the 24 Tirthankars, is installed in the garbhagriha of the shrine.Template:Sfn

References

Citations

Bibliography

Books

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Siva's Saints: The Origins of Devotion in Kannada according to Harihara's Ragalegalu{{#if:Ben-Herut|, Ben-Herut}. Oxford University Press(2018). ISBN 978-0-19-087886-3
Woman, Her History and Her Struggle for Emancipation{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Bharathi Puthakalayam(2009). ISBN 978-81-89909-97-0
Karnataka's Rich Heritage - Art and Architecture{{#if:Chugh|, Chugh}. Notion Press(2016). ISBN 978-93-5206-825-8
Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation : the Karṇāṭa Drāviḍa Tradition, 7th to 13th Centuries{{#if:Hardy|, Hardy}. Abhinav Publications(1995). ISBN 978-81-7017-312-0
They Need Nothing: Hispanic-Asian Encounters of the Colonial Period{{#if:Ellis|, Ellis}. University of Toronto Press(2012). ISBN 978-1-4426-4511-0
Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography{{#if:Shah|, Shah}. Abhinav Publications(1987). ISBN 81-7017-208-X
Indian Feudalism, C. AD 300-1200{{#if:Sharma|, Sharma}. Macmillan Publishers(2009). ISBN 978-1403-92863-4
Jainism In Early Medieval Karnataka{{#if:Singh|, Singh}. Motilal Banarsidass(2008). ISBN 978-81-208-3323-4
Tourist Guide to South India{{#if:Subburaj|, Subburaj}. Sura Books(2003). ISBN 978-81-7478-175-8