Jin Parsva and His Temples in Inscriptions of Karnataka

Author(s): Hampa Nagrajaiha
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf

Page 6

Vol. III, 1997-2002
Jina Pārsva and his Temples....
89
6. A truly awesome image of Pārsva on Candragiri, Śravanabelagola, in the
sanctum of a large structure (15') is canopied by the usual seven-hooded Nāgendra, datable to c. early 11th century. The temple measures 59' x 29' and is thus fairly spacious. It consists of a garbhagrha, a vestibule, a closed hall, and
a mukha-mandapa: a lofty manastambha stands in front of the temple. 6.1. Some more Pārsva images are met with inside other temples at Śravanabelago!a.
The Candragupta-basadi has one such image. The upper storey of the famous Cāmundarāya basadi contains a small image dated A. D. 995 (EC. II (R) 150 (121). p. 88.] There are three sanca inside the Candragupta basadi, with ArhatPārśva in the middle. A rarity of this Jina-Pārsva image is that, on the right side is placed Padmāvatī and on the left Ambikā alias Küşmāndi in lieu of the Yaksa
figure. 6.2. On the Vindhyagiri Hill (ŚB) there are five Pārsva images of the medieval period
enshrined in the cloister around the tall Gommateśvara colossus. 6.3. In the town proper, a large temple, Bhandāra Basadi olim Bhavya-cūdāmani,
constructed by Hulla, the main treasurer and minister of the Hoysala king Narasimha I (1142-73) in A. D. 1159, contains a handsome Caturvimsati-pratimageha, 24 Jinas in a row (ibid., 476 (345). pp. 287-91; ibid., 481 (349) A. D.
1159. pp. 295-99). 6.3.1. Ācāṁbä (Acale alias Āciyakka, the Jaina spouse of the saiva-brahmin
Candramauli, minister under Hoysala King Vira-Ballāla II, had built a Pārsvajineśvara-geha olim Akkana-basadi (A. D. 1181). A five-feet tall Pārsva image in khadgäsana in the garbhagrha-antarāla contains a Sanskrit inscription on its pedestal. Nagendra-Padmavati figures (2) are stationed at the antarāla-doorway each with five-hooded cobra canopies. The carved and glistening pillars, triple umbrella of Pārsva, Bhuvanesvarī, and the image of goddess Sarasvati at once arrest the attention. A Kannada inscription of poetic excellence (ibid., 444 (327)] and a Sanskrit epigraph (ibid., 453 (331). A. D. 1181.) eloquently speak of this temple. A grant of a village Bammenahalli for its upkeep by the Hoysala king Vira-Ballāla (1173-1220) was made over to the god after washing the feet of
Bālacandra-muni (ibid., 571 (Ven 150). 1181. pp. 355-57]. 6.3.2. An inscription on the pedestal of the Pārsva image in the Mangāyi-basadi states
that the construction of the temple was by Śrīkarana Bamacaya, a general and a
lay-disciple of Arhanandi-deva (ibid., 469, 12th cent. A. D., p. 283]. 6.3.3. Aregallu temple at Jinanāthapura, about a km away to the north west of
Sravanabelagola and built in A. D. 1135, has now a Pärsva image with a 13hooded canopy, replacing the broken image which lies in the nearby tank. An inscription on the boulder near the tank-bund of Jinanāthapura registers the grant of land for the worship of Cenna-Pārsvadeva of the basadi at Bekka, another