Angadi Jain Temple, Karnataka

Address

Angadi Jain Temple, Angadi, Karnataka 577132

Diety

Neminatha

Introduction

Angadi Jain Temple is located in the place is at a distance of 23 Kms from Bellur along the Udgere – Sakleshpur road, Karnataka. Angadi, which means a shop, is a sleepy little village in Mudigere taluka. It was originally called “Sasakapura or Sosevur” by the Hoysalas, who built a mighty kingdom that played a decisive role in the history of south India. Angadi has the ruins of five temples. Two of them, identified as Jain basadis, are said to date back to the 10th Century. One of the basadis is called “Makara Jinalaya,” built by Manika Poysalachari. It has a mammoth idol of Shantinatha in the seated posture. The larger of the two basadis is called Neminatha Basadi and contains images of Neminatha, Chandranatha and Gomateswara, this basadi is completlety ruins. The three other temples are dedicated to shiva and Vishnu, others. The carvings indicate that the structures belong to the early period of the Hoysala Empire. Very near to the Vasantika temple the ruins Neminatha temple is found. This temple is being situated on a small hillock in the forest. The idol of Neminatha is about 8 feet high and is made of black stone. We can also find the Ratantraya basdi (1050 AD) at this place which is in good condition.

Puranic Significance

The dynasty and how it got the name Hoysala. It is said that Sala, the progenitor of the Hoysalas, was walking through a forest with his Jain Guru, Yogendra Sudatta, to worship goddess Vasantika Devi when a tiger came their way. Taking an iron rod, the teacher handed it over to Sala saying, “Poy, Sala” (Strike, Sala). Sala killed the tiger. This story is narrated in several records with a few differences in detail. While the Hoysala crest in many temples depicts Sala killing a tiger, the seal on copper plates and coins shows a dead tiger and a rod. Sala was perhaps the first ruler of the dynasty.