Ancient Jain Digambar, Karnataka

Address

Ancient Jain Digambar, Shravanabetta, Thoppanahalli, Aretippur, Karnataka 571422

Diety

Tirthankaras

Introduction

The oldest Bahubali statue on a small hill at Aretipura. Aratipura, the ancient Tippuru was a popular Jaina center during the reign of Gangas and Hoysalas. The site is located east of the village has two outcrops locally known as Shravanabetta (Doddabetta) and Kanakagiri (Chikkabetta). The site was first occupied by the Gangas as the earliest records shows. Thus a tank was formed to serve the ritual needs of the Jainas. The natural cavern with two inscriptions were used as a cut – in bed located at the central apse of the pond. On the above the rock, 14 Tirthankaras were carved in low relief without any order. In this, only five are finished and remaining are incomplete. On the back side of the same rock, a rectangular unfinished cave was there. On the border of the pond ie. inscribed and architectural members scattered around the site were also noticed. Further top, a temple mound was noticed with half buried. pillars and sculptures which were presently exposed. As one gets top and near the huge Hoysala inscription, the scientific clearance work has revealed 12 temples and 3 secular structures. The earliest epigraphical reference to the village is found in the Malohalli

Puranic Significance

The Ganjam (Srirangapatna) charts (799 – 800 CE) of the time of Prince Marasimha Ereyappa, son of Sivamara II, invocate jitam Bhagavata, proclaiming the faith of the ruling king and records the gift of the village “Tippuru” as a brahmadeya to Ponnadi, the chief of Arppole. Another inscribed record in the Saka 838 (916 – 917 CE) of the time of Nitimarga Permanadi refers to the construction of a basadi on the Kanakagiri Tirtha by one Manaleyara in the presence of the king and records the gift of all incomes of the village “Tippeyur” to Kanakasenabhatra. The gradual development of Jainism from a simple cavern to magnificent structures can be noticed at Aratipura. Bas-reliefs depicting the jaina Tirthankars on the vertical face of the rock and remains of brick structures on the summit of a small of small granitic hillock called Kanakagiri are some of the important Jaina vestiges available at this site. The scientific clearance work has also revealed the sculptures of Adinatha, Bahubali, Saraswati, decorated pillars with Tirtankaras and Chowri bearers. The material vestiges in the form of glass and shell bangle pieces, terracotta beads and lamps, stucco heads, iron clamps and chisels, copper pot, stone objects and ceramics were also noticed. Aratipura was first explored by Dr. T. K. Sharma, former director of the ASI and his team in 1980’s. In 1987, both Shravanabetta and Kanakagiri (Chikkabetta) covering an area of around 251 acres were declared as Centrally Protected Monument of National Importance from the DRS of AMASR Act 1958, now under the jurisdiction of Bangalore Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India