Sravanabelagola Akkana Jain Basadi, Karnataka

Address

Sravanabelagola Akkana Jain Basadi, SH 8, Shravanbela Gola (Rural), Hassan District, Karnataka 573135

Diety

Parshwanath

Introduction

Akkana Basadi is located in the Shravanabelagola, Hassan District, Karnataka. Akkana Basadi is a Jain temple built in 1181 A.D., during the rule of Hoysala empire King Veera Ballala II. The basadi was constructed by the devout Jain lady Achiyakka (also called Achala Devi), wife of Chandramouli, a Brahmin minister in the court of the Hoysala king. The main deity of the temple is the twenty-third Jain Tirthankar Parshwanath. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India

Puranic Significance

According to art historian Adam Hardy, the basadi is a simple single shrine with superstructure construction with a closed hall (mantapa). The material used is Soap stone. The sanctum (garbhagriha) that houses the standing image of Tirthankara Parshwanatha (under a seven headed snake canopy) connects to the hall via an antechamber (vestibule or sukanasi). From the outside, the entrance to the hall is through a porch whose awning is supported by lathe turned half pillars The temple which faces east is enclosed with in a bounding wall (prakara), while the entrance is from the south. Typical of a Jain basadi, the outer walls of the temple are plain, giving it an austere outlook. The temple stands on a base that comprises five moldings. The tower over the shrine (shikhara) is plain. However, on a projection on the east side is a panel sculpture in relief that depicts a saint with his attendants on either side and a Kirtimukha (imaginary beast) over his head. This is a work of merit. The door lintel and jamb of vestibule and the sanctum are decorative and have perforated screens on either side. The hall ceiling is supported by four centrally placed large lathe turned, bell shaped and polished pillars that divide the ceiling into nine “bays”. The bay ceilings are rich in relief.