Local Highlight this week: 23 February 2013, Moodabidri Car festival
Moodabidri is a small town 37 km northeast of the Dakshina Kannada district headquarters, Mangalore, in Karnataka. It is an hour from Udupi and near Karkala. Nearby places are Venur and Kudremukh.
Because of widely grown bamboo during ancient times, this place got named as Moodabidri. 'Moodabidri' stems from two words: Moodu and Bidiru. Moodu means East and Bidiru means bamboo. This place was also known as Mooduvenupura.
Popularly known as Jain Kashi, Moodabidri is a pilgrim centre for the Jains not only because of several sacred Basadis, but more so because of the Dhawalas, the most sacred scriptures of Jainism, found in their original form on palm leaves in this tiny town. If Moodabidri is regarded as sacred for Jains by virtue of it being a Jain center, it is held in high esteem by non-Jains for its historical and architectural significance. Being a religious center, this city was a nucleus for the spiritual achievement of the sages. It had captured the minds and hearts of all by the means of its natural charm, peaceful atmosphere and amicable climate. Moodabidri is known for religious harmony from time immemorial, where all religions are looked upon with equal reverence. The green surroundings - coconut gardens, paddy and sugarcane fields add to the charm of the place.
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Moodabidri – the Jain Kashi
Moodabidri was a centre of Jain literature too. Ratnakara Varni, the doyen of medieval Kannada literature and the author of Bharatesha Vaibhava belonged to this place. The famous Jain canonical texts known as Dhavala texts and also a number of palm leaf manuscripts of immense literacy value are in the possession of the Jain monastery here.
Moodabidri was also the seat of the Chowtas, a local Jain ruling family, who were originally ruling from Puthige, a village about 5 km from here. They shifted their capital to Moodabidri in the 17th century, where they constructed a palace, the remains of which can still be seen.
Moodabidri still maintains its old charm as an important Jain centre coastal Karnataka. The city has a large population of Jains who keep the spirit of Jainism still alive. Many Jain festivals are also being celebrated here throughout the year. Moodabidri continues to the most sought after pilgrimage centre of the Jains from all over country.
Basadis in Moodabidri
There are 18 huge Basadis in Moodbidri. The most famous among them are Guru basadi, Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi and Ammanavara Basadi.
The Guru basadi is believed to be the earliest of the Jain monuments of this place. Lord Parshwanatha, the 23rd Thirthankar of Jainism is the presiding deity of this temple. A beautiful stone idol of Parshwanatha, about 3.5 metres tall, is installed in the sanctum of this basadi. It is in this basadi that the rare Jain palm leaf manuscripts of 12th century A.D. known as ‘Dhavala texts’ were discovered.
The largest of these basadis is popularly called “Thousand Pillar Basadi” and romantically called “Thribhuvana Thilaka Choodamani” Basadi. Apart from these, there are other basadis, all constructed in stone (Granite) and famous for their architectural beauty. The word ‘Basadi’ is derived from the Sanskrit word “Vasathi” meaning temple or Mandir.
For detailed information on the other Basadis, visit: http://www.jainkashi.com/?page_id=44
Savira Kambada Basadi (Thousand Pillars Temple)
This is the largest and the most ornate of the Jain temples of this region. This is a large granite temple built in 1430 A.D. The 2.5 metres tall bronze image of Lord Chandranatha Swami in the sanctum of this basadi is considered to be very sacred. This 3-storey construction was supported by the rulers, the Jain Bhattaraka Swamiji, merchants and the common people.
The Basadi bears three names. Looking very new this Basadi is called “Hosa Basadi” (New Basadi). Having a total of a thousand pillars, it is called “Thousand Pillar Basadi”. Like saffron mark on the forehead of a woman it looks like a dazzling precious stone and so it is also called “Thribhuvana Thilaka Choodamani”. A temple resembling this Basadi is nowhere to be found in India and for this reason alone, perhaps the Basadi bears the handsome name “Thribhuvana Thilaka Choodamani”.
According to the wish of the then Bhattaraka Mahaswamiji of the Jainmath, the king of Vijaya Nagara ordered the governor, Nagamangala Devaraja Wodeyar to donate land for the construction of the Basadi. Later in accordance with the guidelines of Sri Swamiji, several devotees and 60 Shravaka Shreshtees (donors) built this Basadi in 1430. In 1463 Bhairadevi constructed the Bhairadevi Mantapa and Nagaladevi, the wife of Bhairarasa constructed the 50-feet tall, symbolic Manasthambha (a pillar) in front of the Basadi. The Bhairadevi Mantapa is a treasure house of architectural art and skill. On the stone side walls of this Mantapa the beautifully carved designs of Giraffe, The Chinese Dragon and the Arabian horse cannot miss the visitor’s attention.
The Architecture
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The “Thribhuvana Thilaka Choodamani” basadi of the Moodabidri is the only basadi among the others having a long, rectangular shaped plinth area. The temple is famous for the open pillared hall in front, consisting of a large variety of ornate pillars decorated with carvings typical of Vijayanagara style. It is said that no two pillars are identical in this temple.
The 15-meter tall freestanding single stone pillar called Manasthambha in front of the basadi, is indeed a marvel by art. The most beautiful part of this temple is the open pillared hall in front, consisting by a rich variety of ornate pillars. The pillars and the roof this open hall are decorated with beautiful and minute carvings typical of Vijayanagara style.
The Shravakas, donated gold and a beautiful 9-feet tall statue of Bhagawan Sri Chandranatha Swami, made of an alloy of five metals (panchaloha) was made. This Basadi has been given the shape so as to reflect ancient traditional styles. Every pillar is a “web of art” and an embodiment of architectural excellence. Navanaari kuinjara, a sculptural art piece that appears like an Elephant but actually depicts 9 dancers is one of the famous art in this Basadi.
The 2.5 metres tall bronze image of Lord Chandranatha Swami in the sanctum of this basadi is considered to be very sacred. The supreme divinity rests on the seat called “Khadgasana” giving “Darshana” to the devotees. The Basadi has two places of sanctity and at these places are two precious statues worth visiting at any cost. “Siddhakoota” is one such place reminding us all of the ultimate day or the moment when we should shed all our earthly achievements when our soul is left as pure. Siddhakoota is a place where the ambassador of Persia, Abdul Razak, Wallhouse and other foreign visitors, Indian historians, poets and thinkers have visited. It is said that this is the place which inspired the great poet Rathnakara Varni to write many of his religious works.
Three stages are marked in the construction process of the “Thousand Pillar Basadi”. First, the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) and Sukhanaasi were built by the local Shravakas in 1430 A.D. where the statue of Chandranatha made of five-alloy-metal (Panchaloha) was installed. In the second stage the Theerthankara Mantapa and the Gaddige Mantapa were built by 60 Shreshtis in 1451 A.D. In the final stage, queen Chitradevi of Gerusoppa undertook the construction of Chitradevi Mantapa and Bhairavi built the Bhairadevi Mantapa in 1462. After that Gerusoppa Hirebhairava queen, Nagile erected the 50-feet tall, beautiful Manasthambha in front of the Basadi. Thus the Basadi took 32 years for its construction and is a charming cluster of 7 Mantapas - 1) Chaturasa Garbhagriha Mantapa, 2) Sukhanasi Mantapa 3). Theerthankara Mantapa, 4) Gaddige Mantapa, 5) Chitradevi Mantapa, 6) Bhairadevi Mantapa and 7) Namaskara Mantapa. All the 7 Mantapas in unison with the Manasthambha and the Mahadwar, culminate atop in the Samavasarana Mantapa.
Getting there
Moodabidri is 37 Kms northeast from Mangalore. It is situated on the newly constructed National Highway 13 on the Mangalore-Karkala road.
Nearest Railway station is Mangalore, which in turn is connected to almost all popular railway stations. Nearest Airport is again the Bajpe Airport in Mangalore situated 24kms from Moodabidri.
There are frequent bus services from Mangalore, Karkala, Udupi other neighboring towns. Karkala is 18 Kms away from Moodabidri on the way to Udupi which is 60 Kms from Moodabidri. Moodabidri can also be reached from Dharmasthala (50Kms) and Bantwal (35Kms).
Most of the important tourist locations are within the walking distance from the town center. Taxis are also available either in Moodabidri or in the neighbouring towns to visit most of the tourist locations in and around Moodabidri.
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Sources:
http://wikimapia.org/139951/Thousand-Pillars-Jain-Temple-Moodabidri
http://www.jainkashi.com/
