Nishidhi Basadi Parshwanatha Swamy, Karnataka

Address

Nishidhi Basadi Parshwanatha Swamy, Karkala Taluk Municipality Building, Market Rd, Karkala, Karnataka 574104

Diety

Parshwanatha

Introduction

Karkala also known as Karla, is a village and the headquarters of Karkala taluk in the Udupi district of Karnataka, India. Located about 60 km from Mangalore, it lies near the Western Ghats. The town was called Pandya Nagari during the period of Jain rule, and later became known as Karikallu , then Karkal and then finally to Karkala. This temple provides very valuable information about the prevalence of Jain asceticism at Karkala. The Bhattarakha’s named over here are Kumudhachandra Bhattarakha, Hemachandra Bhattarakha, Vimalasuri Bhattarakha, Sri Keerthi Bhattarakha, and Dharmabhushana Bhattarakha. In addition to this, we can find the names of 7 other Jain Munis. These Bhattarakhas & Munis have sanctified Karkala. This jain temple is partially dilapidated condition

Puranic Significance

The Alupas were the first to rule Karkala. Their rule was followed by the Santaras, who were the feudatories of Alupas for many years. Karkala, or ancient Pandya Nagari, attained political and cultural importance from the time of the Kalasa-Karkala kingdom that was established by Bhairavarasa Odeyas between 13th and 16th centuries. The Bhairavarasas appear to be the descendants of the Santara chiefs, who ruled the western ghats region around the 11th century AD. The royal family of Karkala rose to prominence during the time of the Hoysalas. During the Vijayanagara period, they expanded their kingdom to cover Sringeri, Koppa, Balehonnur, and Mudigere in Chikamagalur and most of the Karkala taluk. The king Veera Bhairava constructed Basadis at Karkala and endowed land and money on numerous temples and Basadis. Ramanatha and Veerapandya were his two sons. Ramanatha predeceased his father, and in his memory, a lake called Ramasamudra was created, which still survives. Later, King Veera Pandya installed a large statue of Bahubali on the rocky hill of Karkala.