Akkana Basadi (''lit'', temple of the "elder sister", basadi is also pronounced ''basti'') is a

Jain temple A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings ge ...

(basadi) built in 1181 A.D., during the rule of

Hoysala empire The Hoysala Kingdom was a kingdom originating from the Indian subcontinent that ruled most of what is now Karnataka, India, Karnataka, parts of Tamilnadu and South-Western Telangana between the 11th and the 14th centuries Common Era, CE. The c ...

King

Veera Ballala II Veera Ballala II (reigned 22 July 1173–1220) was the most notable king of the Hoysala Kingdom. His successes against the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Kalachuris of Kalyani, Southern Kalachuris, the Pandya Dynasty, Pandyas of Madurai and t ...

. The basadi was constructed by the devout Jain lady Achiyakka (also called Achala Devi), wife of Chandramouli, a Brahmin minister in the court of the Hoysala king. The main deity of the temple is the twenty-third Jain Tirthankar Parshwanath.Jain and Jain (1953), p.37B.L. Rice (1889), p.57 (Chapter:Introduction) The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the

Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexander ...

. It is part of an Archaeological Survey of India ''Adarsh Smarak Monument'' along with other temples in the Shravanabelagola group of monuments.

Temple plan

Rear view of Akkana Basadi from south west

Tower over the shrine with Jain saints under kirtimukha relief in the Akkana Basadi at Shravanabelagola

According to art historian Adam Hardy, the basadi is a simple single shrine with superstructure (''ekakuta vimana'') construction with a closed hall (''

mantapa A ''mandapa'' or ''mantapa'' () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture and Jain temple architecture. ''Mandapas'' are described as "open" or "closed" dependin ...

''). The material used is

Soap stone Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock. It is composed largely of the magnesium-rich mineral talc. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occur in Subdu ...

. The sanctum (''

garbhagriha A ''garbhagriha'' () is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, often referred to as the "holy of holies" or " sanctum sanctorum". The term ''garbhagriha'' (literally, "womb chamber") comes from the Sanskrit words ''garbha'' for ...

'') that houses the standing image of Tirthankara Parshwanatha (under a seven headed snake canopy) connects to the hall via an antechamber ( vestibule or ''sukanasi''). From the outside, the entrance to the hall is through a

porch A porch (; , ) is a room or gallery located in front of an entrance to a building. A porch is placed in front of the façade of a building it commands, and forms a low front. Alternatively, it may be a vestibule (architecture), vestibule (a s ...

whose

awning An awning or overhang is a secondary covering attached to the exterior wall of a building. It is typically composed of canvas woven of Acrylic fiber, acrylic, cotton or polyester yarn, or vinyl laminated to polyester fabric that is stretched tight ...

is supported by lathe turned half pillars. According to art historians Percy Brown and Gerard Foekema, all these features are commonly found in Hoysala temples.Brown in Kamath (2001), pp.134-135 According to historian Kamath, the use of Soap stone as basic building material was a technique the Hoysalas adopted from the predecessors, the Western Chalukyas.Kamath (2001), p.136 The temple which faces east is enclosed with in a bounding wall (''

prakara A prakaram (प्राकारः in Sanskrit), also spelled pragaram or pragaaram) in Indian architecture is an outer part around the Hindu temple sanctum. They may be enclosed or open and are typically enclosed for the innermost prakaram. ...

''), while the entrance is from the south. Typical of a Jain basadi, the outer walls of the temple are plain, giving it an austere outlook. The temple stands on a base ('' adhisthana'') that comprises five moldings. The tower over the shrine (''

shikhara ''Shikhara'' (IAST: '), a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India, and also often used in Jain temples. A ''shikhara'' over the ''garbhagriha'' chamber ...

'') is plain. However, on a projection on the east side is a panel sculpture in relief that depicts a saint with his attendants (''

yaksha The Yakshas (, , ) in Mythology 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 Hindu, Jain and Bud ...

'', the benevolent spirits) on either side and a ''

Kirtimukha Kirtimukha (Sanskrit: कीर्तिमुख ,', also ', a bahuvrihi compound translating to "glorious face") is the name of a swallowing fierce face with huge fangs, and gaping mouth, very common in the iconography of Hindu temple architectu ...

'' (imaginary beast) over his head. This is a work of merit. The tower comprises three tiers, each ascending tier diminishing in height. Above the third tier is a dome like structure. This is the largest sculptural piece in the temple with a ground surface area of about 2x2 meters (''amalaka'', "helmet" like structure). The shape of the dome usually follows that of the shrine (square or star shape). The vestibule also has a short tower which looks like an extension of the main tower over the shrine. Gerard Foekema calls it the "nose" of the main tower. The temple features a idol of Parshvanatha sheltered by seven hooded serpent. The vestibule contains two free sculptures of the ''yakshas'', Dharnendra and Padmavati. The door lintel and jamb of vestibule and the sanctum are decorative and have perforated screens on either side. The hall ceiling is supported by four centrally placed large lathe turned, bell shaped and polished pillars that divide the ceiling into nine "bays". The bay ceilings are rich in relief.

Gallery

File:Closed mantapa in the Akkana Basadi (1181 A.D.) at Shravanabelagola.jpg, Ornate closed ''mantapa'' whose ceiling is supported by lathe turned bell shaped pillars File:Decorative ceiling inside the Akkana Basadi at Shravanabelagola.jpg, Decorative "bay" ceiling in Akkana Basadi File:Ceiling art in the mantapa of Akkana Basadi at Shravanabelagola 1.JPG, Decorative bay ceiling File:Old_Kannada_inscription_dated_1182_A.D._at_the_Akkana_Basadi_in_Shravanebelagola.jpg, Old Kannada grant inscription (1182 A.D.) of King Veera Ballala II, at the request of Achiyakka, wife of minister Chandramouli File:Entrance to Akkana Basadi mantapa at Shravanebelagola.jpg, Porch entrance to Akkana Basad with the awning supported by half pillars with old Kannada inscription on the side. File:Image of Jain Tirthankar Parshwanath at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola.jpg, 5 feet tall idol of the 23rd Tirthankar Parshwanath standing under a seven headed snake File:Intricate relief on pillar at Akkana Basadi.jpg, Intricate relief on pillar at Akkana Basadi File:Sculpture of Yaksha Dharanendra at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola.jpg, Sculpture of ''Yaksha'' Dharanendra File:Sculpture of Yakshi Padmavathi at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola.jpg, Sculpture of ''Yakshi'' Padmavati

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * {{Authority control Jain temples in Karnataka 12th-century Jain temples Tourist attractions in Hassan district 15th-century Jain temples

Temple plan

Gallery

See also

Notes

References