Kamal Basadi is a

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

located inside

Belgaum Fort Belgaum Fort is in the city of Belgaum, in the Belgaum district, in Karnataka state, India. It was begun by Jaya Raya, also called Bichi Raja, an ally of the Ratta Dynasty, in the year 1204 AD. It has undergone several renovations over the centur ...

in city of

Belgaum Belgaum (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Bēḷagāma''; also Belgaon and officially known as Belagavi) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located in its northern part along the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous ...

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

History

The Kamal Basadi was built by Birchiraja, also called Jaya Raya, an officer in the court of Kartavirya IV of

Ratta dynasty Ratta dynasty was a minor Indian dynasty who ruled over the Belgaum region of modern Karnataka as a branch of Rashtrakutas. Savadatti (Saundatti), historically known as ''Sugandavarti'' was the capital of Ratta dynasty during 875-1250 CE perio ...

in CE under the guidance of

Jain monk Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community and can be divided into two major denominations: the ''Digambara'' and the '' Śvētāmbara''. The monastic practices of the two major sects vary greatly, but the ...

Subhachandrabhattarakadeva. According to an inscription dating back to 1205 CE the temple was constructed by the architect Kartaviryadeva and yuvrajakumara mallikarjunadeva.

Architecture

Kamal Basti Lotus of Petals on the ceiling, Belgaum

The Kamal Basadi derives its name from the lotus carvings extending from the dome of the center roof. The lotus has 72 petals believed to represent 24

tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a ' ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the '' dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable pass ...

s of past, present and future. The walls of the temple are engraved with intricate designs, borders, and sculptures. The wall of the temple is supported by pillars with the carving of a cobra at the end of every

bracket A bracket is either of two tall fore- or back-facing punctuation marks commonly used to isolate a segment of text or data from its surroundings. Typically deployed in symmetric pairs, an individual bracket may be identified as a 'left' or 'r ...

. The pillars are well carved with decorations and neatly polished. The shrine has a richly carved doorway. There are a total of five small cells housing idols of

s; between these cells are four

yaksha The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious, connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. They appear in ...

and

yakshi ''Yakshinis'' or ''yakshis'' (यक्षिणी sa, yakṣiṇī or ''yakṣī''; pi, yakkhiṇī or ''yakkhī'') are a class of female nature spirits in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religious mythologies that are different from devas and ...

in standing posture under a small canopy. The pillars insider the

garbhagriha A ''garbhagriha'' or ''sannidhanam'' is the ''sanctum sanctorum'', the innermost sanctuary of a Hindu and Jain temples where resides the '' murti'' (idol or icon) of the primary deity of the temple. In Jainism, the main deity is known as the ' ...

are square and massive. On each side of the door, there are niches in the wall that have carvings of Jain divinities. The mukhamandapa of the temple is considered an architecture masterpiece. The mulnayak of the temple is black color idol of

Neminatha Neminatha, also known as Nemi and Arishtanemi, is the twenty-second ''tirthankara'' (ford-maker) in Jainism. Along with Mahavira, Parshvanatha and Rishabhanatha, Neminatha is one of the twenty four ''tirthankaras'' who attract the most devo ...

. the temple also houses the idols of

Rishabhanatha Rishabhanatha, also ( sa, ऋषभदेव), Rishabhadeva, or Ikshvaku is the first (Supreme preacher) of Jainism and establisher of Ikshvaku dynasty. He was the first of twenty-four teachers in the present half-cycle of time in Jain c ...

is padmasan posture,

Sumatinatha Sumatinatha was the fifth Jain Tirthankara of the present age ( Avasarpini). Sumatinatha was born to a Kshatriya King Megha (Megharatha) and Queen Mangalavati (Sumangalavati) at Ayodhya in the Ikshvaku dynasty. His Janma Kalyanak (birthday) was ...

kayotsarga Kayotsarga ( , pka, काउस्सग्ग ) is a yogic posture which is an important part of the Jain meditation. It literally means "dismissing the body". A tirthankara is represented either seated in yoga posture or standing in the kayo ...

posture and

Parshvanatha ''Parshvanatha'' (), also known as ''Parshva'' () and ''Parasnath'', was the 23rd of 24 ''Tirthankaras'' (supreme preacher of dharma) of Jainism. He is the only Tirthankara who gained the title of ''Kalīkālkalpataru (Kalpavriksha in this "Kal ...

with seven-headed serpent overhead. The temple also features monolithic idol of

Navagraha Navagraha are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu astrology. The term is derived from ''nava'' ( sa, नव "nine") and ''graha'' ( sa, ग्रह "planet, seizing, laying hold of, ...

represented by nine Tirthankaras. The ''Chikki Basadi'' and a priest house is located near the Kamala Basadi.

In popular culture

To commemorat the 816th anniversary of Kamala Basadi a special postal cover was released on 23rd December 2020.

Gallery

File:Belgaum. Porch of a Jain temple. -General view of second Jain temple in front of the fort, Belgaum.-.jpg, Kamala Basadi in 1855 File:Carving on Jain Temple, beside Kamala Basti, Belgaum Fort.jpg, Carvings on temple wall File:Chikka basadi belagavi 2.jpg, Chikki Basadi

History

Architecture

In popular culture

Gallery

References

Citations

Sources

External links