Mandara Giri, a Jain heritage center located at a distance of 11kms from Tumkur and 1.5kms off the Bangalore Pune National Highway 48 (NH48) that has helped in rediscovering its lost Jain heritage.
Mandaragiri has evolved as one of the popular Jain pilgrim destinations over the past 2 decades owing to the renovation of ancient Jain temples on the hill and construction of new jain structures. It houses a hill with 4 ancient Digambar Jain temples and 3 new Jain structures off the hill.
The temples on the hill are dedicated to Parshwanath Tirthanakar, Suparshwanath Tirthankar, and 2 others to Tirthankar Chandranath (One in Kayotsarga and the other in Padmasana posture). All these temples are enclosed within a high raised compound. An inscription of 1160 A.D.(EC -24, Tumkur- 61, Panditanahalli) found in the temple premises provides details of the construction of a Jain Basadi and a lake called as Padmavati Kere. However, the inscription does not specify the Tirthankar’s name nor the Location of Padmavati Kere. Prof. Kamala Hampana, a learned scholar and researcher opines that Maidalada Kere located to the north of this hill was called Padmavati Kere (Maidalada Kereyada Padmavati Kere, Bharana, Pg Nos. 471-473.
Inscription details.
The inscription reveals that a Temple and Padmavati Kere was built by Machiakka wife of Ereyanga who was the chief general of Hoysala King Narasimha I. It specifies that she was the granddaughter of Nakishetty and Nagave and the eldest daughter of Bittiganka and Chandavve. It further provides details of her guru as Postaka Gachhas Desigana’s Sri Kondakondanvaya’s Gandavimukthadeva Muni. As a part of the religious activities, she constructed the Basadi and Padmavati Kere at Divya Tirtha. It also includes details of the donations she made for the temple’s upkeep, for carrying on the Aharacharya of Jain Munis visiting the place and the temple’s renovation. At the Inscription’s end is found a Jain shapashya (Details of cure’s /ill-effects to the people if they do not follow the instructions specified in the inscription).
Un-Answered Questions in the Inscription – In spite of the details specified in the inscription there are a few unanswered questions. They are as below –
- How many Basadis did Machiakka Construct at Mandaragiri?
- What was Basadi’s name?
- Is Maidalda Kere and Padmavati Kere one and the same.
- The Inscription specifies one other lake as Hiriya Kere, Which is that Lake?
- We can find words such as Maidavolal Divya Tirtha in the inscription. Did this name exist earlier?
The fieldwork undertaken in the vicinity provided answers to these questions and has led to the rediscovery of Mandaragiri’s Jain heritage.
NEW DISCOVERIES – A recent fieldwork and further research were undertaken by Dr. Parashivamurthy has led to new discoveries in the vicinity.
Chandranath Temple – The inscription indicates that “Machiakka constructed the temple for Chandimadevarige in memory of her mother Chandavve. However, it does not specify if it was newly built or was renovated. The ruined Tirthankar idol found in front of the Chandranath temple resembles the Hoysala architecture. Hence it can be concluded that this was the idol and the word Chandimadevarige indicates that it was a Chandranath.
Lakes/Kere mentioned in the Inscription
Hirikere – The inscription indicates that Machia Akka constructed the Padmavati Kere. The localities are of the opinion that the present Maidalada kere found near the hill itself was Padmavati Kere. However, further research undertaken by Prof. Paramashivamurthy by comparing another inscription of A.D.1287 from Honnudike village indicates that the villages were called a Mayindapolal that was built in memory of the Nolamba king Mahendra raja I.
Furthermore, the structure of the lake at Maidala indicates that it belonged to the 9th century A.D. In addition to this on our way to Maidalada Kere from Mandaragiri hill, we can find 7 idols of Saptamathrukas measuring 4’X5′ each. The style of the Saptamathruka idols indicated that it belonged to 9th century AD. Based on the above facts it could be concluded that Maldalada Kere was not Padmavati Kere and had existed much before Machiakka’s The inscription on Mandaragiri mentions about Hiriya Kere twice while describing Machiakka’s donations. If we go by the literal meaning of the words Hiriya Kere it means that it is a bigger lake or an ancient lake. Hence it can be concluded that “Maidalada Kere/ Lake at Maidala” is the Hiriya Kere quoted in the inscription.
Padmavati Kere – After concluding that Maidalada Kere was not Padamavati Kere, the next big question that arises is which is that Padmavati Kere. The Inscription indicates that she built a lake for the Basadi but not for the village. If the lake is for the Basadi means that it was for carrying on the pooja at Basadi as well as for devotees visiting the Basadi. This helps us conclude that the small lake found behind the hill to its west is nothing but Padmavati Kere.
Divya Tirtha & Temples Discovery – The inscription at Mandaragiri indicates that Mandaragiri was called as Divya Tirtha much before the construction of the temple. The present fieldwork has provided further clarity to the question as to why was it called Divya Tirtha.
Parshawanth Idol on a Boulder – In between the temple and Padmavati Kere is found a huge boulder to its south is found a 6 feet high carving of a Tirthankar.
Dr. Paramashiva Murthy opines that ” a huge idol of Lord Parshwanath existed here and has been chipped off later by miscreants.” This could also be a Chaityavasi Tirthankar (a Tirthakar sitting below a tree).
Small Pond – To the temple’s north is found a small pond. This appears to be an ancient construction.
Abandoned Temple – Adjacent to this boulder there is another huge boulder and attached to it is the structure of an abandoned temple. Broken pieces of the temple’s pillars, lintel, and Manastambha. The temple has been built adjoining the boulder and measures about 30’X30′. The inner section of the temple and its sanctum sanctorum is covered by shrubs and thorns till the temple’s roof. The team with great difficulty cleared that shrubs and thorns and were able to find an image resembling the padmasana idol of Lord Parshwanath being engraved on the rocks over an area of 9″ X 9′. From the structure, it is clear that the carving of Parshwanath Tirthankar might have been chipped off by some miscreants. The exact reason for this is not clear. The broken structures of pillars, Manastambha, the temple’s structure, and others help us conclude that it belonged to the 10th century A.D. “Had these sculptures and the temple not been destroyed it would have been a great contribution to Jain culture by Tumkur District” Says Dr. Paramashivamurthy.
Divya Tirtha – Owing to the glory of the temple and the Tirthankar structures the place was called Divya Tirtha mentioned in the inscription found on Mandaragiri.
Besides the boulder is found in a wide area for people to sit. The words “Sri Swasti” measuring about 5 inches have been inscribed on them. Intermittently along the rocks are engraved some signs and parallel lines by the sculptors for keeping an account of their attendance.
Mandaragiri, Lakkundi, and Attimabbe Connections – In addition to these discoveries Dr. Paramashivamurthy has gone a step ahead and has proved the links between Mandaragiri, Lakkundi, and Attimabbe. Available inscriptional references indicate that the famous Brahma Jinalaya at Lakkundi was built by Attimabbe in 1007 A.D. and was rebuilt successfully twice by Bharataraya (1050 AD) and Nakkishetty (1100 A.D) Machiyakka as already mentioned was the grand-daughter of Nakkishetty and Nagave and the eldest daughter of Bittiganka and Chandavve. Hence, she is also related to Attimabbe and might have been influenced by her philanthropic work. This further enlightens us about the relationship between Tumkur and Lakkundi.
This interesting research by Dr. Parmashiva Murthy has been successful in clearing the missing links in Mandaragiri’s Jain heritage. Through this research, we are able to conclude the below facts –
The Chandranath Basadi with the idol in Kayotsarga/ Kadgasana (Standing) posture on Mandaragiri hill was built by Machiakka.
The Maidalada Kere was not Padmavati Kere and had existed much before Machiakka’s.
The small lake found behind the Mandaragiri hill to its west is Padmavati Kere.
- The Parshwanath idol on the boulder in between the temple and Padmavati Kere was found a huge boulder to its south is found a 6 feet high carving of Tirthankar.
- Re-discovered the ruins of an ancient Basadi that existed much before the constructions on the Mandaragiri This takes back the history of this place by another 2 centuries to the 10th century.
- Owing to the antiquity of the re-discovered ruins of an ancient Basadi, the existence of Parshwanath idol on the boulders behind the temple and the Padmavati Kere Mandaragiri was called as Divya Tirtha.
