Arasikere Sri Sahasrakuta Jinalaya- Karnataka

Address

Arasikere Sri Sahasrakuta Jinalaya- Tippu Nagar, Arsikere, Karnataka 573103

Diety

Tirthankara

Introduction

The Sahasrakuta Jinalaya situated in the Arsikere is very ancient and was constructed during the Hoysalas period. The word ‘Sahasrakuta’ is a combination of two Kannada words ‘Sahasra’ meaning thousand and ‘kuta’ meaning combination. An idol which has the carvings of 1008 Tirthankaras on a single stone is called as the Sahasrakuta since it is an idol with a combination of Jain idols. An ancient granite idol of ‘Sahasrakuta’ Tirthankara said to have being carved during the Hoysala’s period can be found at this temple. The idol had been damaged over a period of time and hence the trustees of the temple have installed a new Sahasrakta idol under the guidance of His Holiness Swasti Sri Charukeerthi Bhattarakha Swamiji of the Shravanabelagola Jain Mutt. The temple is simple in construction and its exterior is plain except for the embedded pilasters found on the side walls. The exterior simplicity of the temple belies the internal beauty and ornate carvings found in the ceilings of Navaranga, Mukhamantapa and Garbhagriha. Sahsrakuta thirthankaras are carved in a single stone. The only other temple of this kind is found in Adaguru in South Karnataka. Arasikere being a trade centre is well connected to all important cities and towns of Karnataka both by road and rail. It lies at about a distance of 170 kilometers from Bangalore city on Bangalore. Sri Sahasrakuta Jinalaya is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.