Shravanabelagola is a historical town in Karnataka State in India.
This historical town of Shravanabelagola is a treasure house of
historical relies and shrines and temples. Belonging to the Jain
era the natural stone formations coupled with greenery makes this
place unique tourist's delight. The rare sense of town planning
during the Jain religious era which has been proved to be scientific
now stands as a testimony to the ingenuity that prevailed in that
period. The Shrutakevali Bhadrabahu caves. Jain temples and Basadis
speak volumes of the religious fervour and the architectural marvels
clubbed together in this town.
Largest
number of Digambar Jain Basadis in India is found at Shravanabelagola
and its suburbs. The temples or Basadis range from about 9th A.D.
to the 19th century. The earliest on the Small Hill can not be dated
with accuracy, but none of the existing temples of this hill is
later than 1125 A.D. The early temples on the Small Hill, all the
Basadis on the Large Hill, and one in the town are built of granite
blocks.
Largest
number of inscriptions in India, concentrated in a single centre
is found at Shravanabelagola. Of the 523 published so far, 271 are
on the Small Hill, 172 are on the Large Hill, while 80 more are
with in the town precincts. Another 50 records found in the neighboring
villages, are in one way or another associated with Shravanabelagola.
These inscriptions range from about 600 A.D. to 19 century. The
inscriptions are carved on on the rock bed, on pillars, columns,
temple surface and lithic as well as metal images.
Shravanabelagola
is as much a town of ponds as of temples. It is nearly impossible
to reach any monument of this centre without first encountering
a pond. Some ponds slumber under a still surface, while some others
gently sway the lotus bed. The foundation of this holy centre was
laid around 'bili-gola' (white pond) apparently a natural pond either
on the Small Hill or in the valley.
Jain Mutt
Origin of Jain Mutt probably goes back to the 12th cent. but the
present structure appears to be not older than 300 years. The
most interesting part of the Mutt are the frescoes on the walls
of the inner prakara and the metal images in the sanctum of the
basadi attached to it. The large stucco-figures on the parapet
of the open quadrangle would have been of equal importance had
they not been heavily smothered. The reliefs on the pillars are
in imitation of the Vijayanagara and Nayak traditions. The frescoes
were probably got executed some time in the middle of the 17-18
cent. Anantakavi of 1780 refers to them in his Gommata-Vistara'
The 'samavasarana' of Parshwanatha, the life of emperor Bharata
and the stories relating to Jaina prince Nagakumara are particularly
noteworthy.
» How
to reach Shravanabelagola
By
Air : The nearest airport is at Bangalore.
By Rail : Shravanabelagola is connected by rail
to Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan.
By Road : Shravanabelagola is well-connected
by a network of roads to Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan. Buses from
Hassan are frequent.
Shravanabelagola, Religious Places in India Reservation Form
