Mandaragiri

Not to be confused with Mandar Parvat.

Mandaragiri
ಮಂದಾರಗಿರಿ
Guru mandir
Location within Karnataka
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Sect	Digambara
Deity	Chandraprabha, Parshvanatha and Suparshvanatha
Festival	Mahavir Jayanti
Location
Location	Madhugiri, Karnataka
Coordinates	13°18′11″N 77°11′9.5″E
Architecture
Established	12th century
Temple	7

Mandaragiri or Basadi-betta is a Jain pilgrimage located on Mandaragiri Hill in Tumkur district in the Indian state of Karnataka.

History

The Mandaragiri temple complex is an important Jain pilgrimage centre named after Mallinatha. The historic religious centre developed on the summit of Mandaragiri, where four Jain temples dating to the 12th century survive within a walled enclosure. The modern development of the pilgrimage site expanded beyond the historic hilltop enclosure to the foot of the hill, where the Guru Mandir and a monumental image of Chandraprabha were subsequently constructed.

Hilltop temple complex

The hilltop complex contains four 12th-century Jain temples and a stupa enclosed by a massive stone wall decorated with paintings of the Tirthankaras. The four temples form a compact group within the enclosure. Of these, one does not presently enshrine an image, while the remaining three are dedicated respectively to Chandraprabha, the eighth Tirthankara; Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara; and Suparshvanatha, the seventh Tirthankara. The back wall of the enclosure incorporates what was originally the entrance to the temple complex. The gateway is flanked by two pillars bearing carvings of elephants and an image of a Tirthankara seated on a lotus pedestal. The hilltop has four twelfth-century temples and one stupa enclosed in a massive stone wall with paintings of Tirthankaras. The first temple doesn't enshrine any idols and the remaining three temples are dedicated to Chandraprabha, Parshvanatha and Suparshvanatha. The stupa houses one stone slab with a carving of a footprint. The enclosure also contains a large manastambha, a monumental pillar characteristic of Jain temple complexes.

Maidala Kere and Padmavati Kere are the two lakes located near the temple complex on the hilltop. There is a ruined temple housing a large stone-carved image of a Tirthankara near Maidala lake. There are eight idols of goddesses scattered near the Padmavati Kere.

Other temple

21 feet (6.4 m) Chandraprabha statue

Stupa

In addition to the four temples, the hilltop enclosure contains a Jain stupa. A stone slab bearing a representation of footprints is enshrined within it. The footprint representation provides an aniconic element within a complex otherwise principally characterised by images of the Tirthankaras.

Guru Mandir

On the foot of the hill, an 81 feet (25 m) temple called Guru mandir dedicated to Jain Acharya Shantisagar is located. This temple is popularly known as pinchi temple and peacock temple due to the temple structure resembling a pinchi, peacock feather fan, used by Digambara monks. A 21 feet (6.4 m) monolithic statue of Chandraprabha is located near Guru mandir.

See also

• Shravanabelagola
• Aagam Mandir, Tumkur

References

Sources

• Charya, S. V. Upendra (2019). The Wanderings That Made Headlines. Xavier Centre of historical research studies. Vol. 8. Notion Press. ISBN 9781645876786.
• Malhotra, Kirti (8 December 2022). "Climbing up the tranquil slopes of Basadi hill". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
• Krishnaraja, Renuka (31 March 2021). "The serene hills of Mandaragiri". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
• McDonnell, Sharon (20 October 2021). "Why Are There So Many Peacocks in India's Arts, Culture, and Legends?". Fodor's. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
• Binayak, Pooja (19 August 2020). "India's Jain Temples Are Incredible Architectural Marvels". Fodor's. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

External links

Media related to Mandargiri at Wikimedia Commons