Chaturmukha Basadi, Gerusoppa
14°13′43.4″N 74°39′53″E / 14.228722°N 74.66472°E / 14.228722; 74.66472
Chaturmukha Basadi is a symmetrical Jain temple located in Gerusoppa in Honnavar Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The temple is situated near the banks of the Sharavati.[1]
History
The territory of Gerusoppa was a Jain capital during 1409–1610 CE ruled by the Saluva dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.[2][3][1] It is said that 1,084 temples existed in the region, but were destroyed and presently only six remain.[4] In 1865, the veranda roof, the spire and the floor slabs were carted away by tehsildars from Honnavar for construction of another temple.[5][6][7] There is an inscription dated from the 16th century that mentions Rani Chennabhairadevi's (popularly called the "Pepper Queen")[note 1] ascension to power.[2][10] The chaturmukha temple was constructed in 1562 CE during the reign of Chennabhairadevi.[11]
Gerusoppa also received royal patronage from the Hoysala Empire.[12]
Architecture
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Chaturmukha_basadi%2C_Gerusoppa_-_Dvarapala.jpg/220px-Chaturmukha_basadi%2C_Gerusoppa_-_Dvarapala.jpg)
Chaturmukha Basadi is a famous Jain center located in the Gerusoppa.[13] The temple is cross-shaped chaturmukha (transl. four-faced) structure built in the Western Chalukya architectural style. The temple contains a central shrine, which has four entrances, and enshrines a life-size chaturmukha idol of Jina, Rishabhanatha, Ajitanatha, Sambhavanatha and Abhinandananatha,[11] facing the four cardinal directions.[14][4] Each hall of the temple is supported by four pillars with square bases and overhanging brackets with carvings of lotuses.[11] There are ornate idols of Dvarapala, wearing a high crown and each holding a club and a cobra, on either side of the temple entrance.[5][6][7]
There are idols of Tirthankara in the lotus position on three doorways and an image of Gajalakshmi on the fourth.[2] There is a shrine to of Jwalamalini inside the temple.[15] The temple also enshrines images of Virabhadra and Ganesha.[9]
Other Jain Temples in Gerusoppa
There are four other Jain temples in Gerusoppa.
- Mahavira temple houses a black stone idol of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara.[5][6] The temple also houses three stone slab inscriptions — (1) 1.9 by 0.74 metres (6 ft 3 in × 2 ft 5 in) slab inscription, dated 1378 CE,[16] with Jina at top with two worshippers, a cow and a calf. (2) 1.42 by 0.67 metres (4 ft 8 in × 2 ft 2 in) slab inscription has three sections; the first line has an image of Jina with an attendant, the second line has two male worshippers in the lotus position and third has two female worshippers on either side. (3) 1.57 by 0.66 metres (5 ft 2 in × 2 ft 2 in) slab inscription with a Jina inside temple adorned by devotees.[17]
- Neminatha temple, situated near Mahavira temple, enshrines a large idol of Neminatha, the 22nd Tirthankara, seated on a circular pedestal.[17][14]
- Parshvanatha temple is dedicated to Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara. The temple enshrines many idols collected from nearby shrines including a Pañcadhātu idol.[18] There are images of twelve Tirthankaras in the panel of the temple.[17][6]
- Kade temple enshrines a carved idol 1.32 metres (4 ft 4 in) of Parshvanatha with the hood of a cobra.[18][6][14]
See also
Notes
- ^ Chennabhairadevi ruled over 57 years and is considered the longest reigning Indian queen.[8][8][9]
References
Citations
- ^ a b "Honnavar Tourism". Deputy Commissioner, Uttara Kannada. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ a b c Jog 2022.
- ^ Shastry 2000, p. 12.
- ^ a b Das 1981, p. 16.
- ^ a b c Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency 1883, p. 282.
- ^ a b c d e Burgess & Cousens 1897, p. 197.
- ^ a b Burgess 1885, p. 5.
- ^ a b Neginhal 2021, p. 140.
- ^ a b Chandra 2020.
- ^ Prasad 2022.
- ^ a b c Priyadarshan 2019.
- ^ Nandagopal 2019.
- ^ Hunter 1881, p. 191.
- ^ a b c Cousens 1926, p. 126.
- ^ Prakash 2014.
- ^ "Inscriptions". Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ a b c Burgess 1885, p. 6.
- ^ a b Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency 1883, p. 283.
Sources
Books
- Burgess, James (1885). Lists of Antiquarian Remains in the Bombay Presidency. Archaeological Survey of Western India. Vol. 11. Bombay: Government Central Press.
- Burgess, James; Cousens, Henry (1897). Revised Lists of Antiquarian Remains in the Bombay Presidency. New Imperial series. Vol. 16. Bombay: Government Central Press.
- Cousens, Henry (1926). Chālukyan Architecture (PDF). Calcutta: Central Publication Branch.
- Hunter, William Wilson (1881). The Imperial Gazetteer of India. The Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. 5. Bombay: Trübner & Company.
- Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency (1883). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ka'nara. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Vol. 15 (2 ed.). Bombay: Government Central Press.
- Neginhal, S. G. (2021). Memoirs of an Ardent Wildlifer. Notion Press. ISBN 9781638509257.
- Shastry, Bhagamandala Seetharama (2000). Borges, Charles J. (ed.). Goa-Kanara Portuguese Relations, 1498-1763. Xavier Centre of historical research studies. Vol. 8. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 9788170228486.
Web
- Chandra, Subhash (6 December 2020). "A new page: Reviving a piece of history". The New Indian Express.
- Das, B. K. (1981). "District census handbook - Uttara Kannada district" (PDF). 1981 Census of India. Ministry of Home Affairs (India).
- Jog, Swatee (21 July 2022). "The Pepper Queen of Karnataka". Deccan Herald.
- Nandagopal, Choodamani (2 May 2019). "Heritage of Indian manuscript tradition". The Hindu.
- Prakash, B. V. (20 May 2014). "Royal remains of a glorious era". Deccan Herald.
- Prasad, Shyam (17 January 2022). "IT professional unearths 4 Jain inscriptions in Karnataka". The Times of India.
- Priyadarshan (9 May 2019). "Structures add spice to the regal past". Deccan Herald.
External links
Media related to Chaturmukha Basadi, Gerusoppa at Wikimedia Commons
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