Universität Bonn

Abteilung für Asiatische und Islamische Kunstgeschichte

Shravanabelgola

Jaina monuments on Vindhyagiri hill


Vindhyagiri is also called Doddabetta, the 'big hill', because it is the larger of the two hills at Shravanabelgola. The site is famous for the Mahā-mastak-ābhiṣeka of the colossal image of Bāhubali, conducted every twelve to thirteen years. Whilst the image on Vindhyagiri dates from the late tenth century, the arcade creating a secluded courtyard at the front was added during the twelfth century. This was further enlarged and provided with a gateway structure during the Vijayanagara period.

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Temple complex on the hill top © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Odegal Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Brahmadeva Maṇḍapa © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Rock with rows of carved Jinas © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Akhaṇḍa Bagilu © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Siddhara Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Brahmadeva Maṇḍapa © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Statue of Bāhubali © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Statue of Bāhubali © Julia A.B. Hegewald

Jaina temples on Candragiri hill 


A large number of bastis, some of them the earliest at the site, are situated in an enclosure at the top of Candragiri hill. Temple building on the 'small hill' started in the tenth century with the construction of the Candragupta and the Cāmuṇḍarāya Bastis. The great majority of bastis date from the twelfth and later centuries. 

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Candragiri hill seen from Vindhyagiri hill © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Temple complex on the hill top © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Entrance gateway © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Cāmuṇḍarāya Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Kattaḷe Basti and Candragupta Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Screen with carved panels in the Candragupta Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald

Jvālāmālinī Temple

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View from the southeast © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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View into the hall © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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The yakṣī is venerated as the central icon © Julia A.B. Hegewald

A selection of Jaina temples in town


In the town of Shravanabelgola, two walled compounds, containing three major temples, were constructed as the Arkaṇṇa Temple group, consisting of the Arkaṇṇa Basti (1181 CE), the Siddhānta Basti and the Tangi Basti. Especially large and complex is the  Bhaṇḍāra (Baṇḍari) Basti (1159 CE) in the centre of town. It is situated next to the Jaina maṭha. Another prominent temple in town is the Maṅgāyi Basti (1325 CE).

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Arkaṇṇa Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Siddhānta Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Tangi Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Bhaṇḍāra Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Jaina maṭha © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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Maṅgāyi Basti © Julia A.B. Hegewald
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