Moodabidri Saavira Kambada Basadi- Karnataka

Address

Moodabidri Saavira Kambada Basadi- Moodabidri, Karnataka 574227

Diety

Chandraprabha

Introduction

Saavira Kambada Temple (Sāvira Kambada Basadi) or Tribhuvana Tilaka Cūḍāmaṇi), is a basadi or Jain temple noted for its 1000 pillars in Moodabidri, Karnataka, India. The temple is also known as “Chandranatha Temple” since it honors the tirthankara Chandraprabha, whose eight-foot idol is worshipped in the shrine. The town of Moodabidri is noted for its 18 Jain temples, but Saavira Kambada Temple is considered the finest among them. The temple is considered an architectural wonder and is a major attraction of Moodabidri.

Puranic Significance

The Basadi was built by the local chieftain, Devaraya Wodeyar in 1430 and took 31 years to complete; additions to temples were made in 1962. The shrine has a 50 feet tall monolith manasthambha erected by Karkala Bhairava Queen Nagala Devi. The temple is considered an architectural wonder. The temple is full of elaborate sculptures and decoration. The doorway of the temple has intricate carvings and is enclosed with ornate walls. The massive pillars of the temple are carved to resemble an octagonal wooden log with one baring inscription. The 1000 pillars with exquisite detail support the temple and no two pillars are alike. The sloping roof of veranda is made of wood coated with copper tiles resembling the temples of Nepal. The temple complex has seven mandapas supported by beautifully carved pillars built in the Vijayanagara style. The main mandapa of the temple consists of two interconnected column halls. The top two storeys are carved in wood and the lowest one in stone. The hall interiors are massive, with elaborately decorated columns and a door flanked by two protector deities. The wooden panels inside the temples have carvings of Tirthankara flanked by elephants, guardian deities and female attendants holding flowers. Several bronze Jain idols in ornate frames are placed inside the garbhagriha. The 8 ft idol of Chandranatha Swami made of panchadhatu present in the garbha griha. The temple is built similar to temples in Nepal. The interiors of the temple are richly and variedly carved. A large number of tombs of Jain monks are present near the temple premise. Saavira Kambada Basadi along with Shravanabelagola, Kamal Basadi and Brahma Jinalaya are considers the most important Jain centers in Karnataka.