Shravanabelagola

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The statue of Gomatheswara dates from 978-993 AD.

Shravanabelagola is a city located in the Hassan district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers. In Kannada language, 'Bel' means white and 'kola', the pond, an allusion to the beautiful pond in the middle of the town. It reached a high point in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad.

There are two hills Chandragiri (Chikkabetta) and Vindyagiri. The last shruta-kevali Bhadrabah and his pupil Chandragupta (formerly the Maurya king) had meditated there. Chandragupta Basadi dedicated to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya was originally built here by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd cent BC. Chandragiri also has memorials to numerous monks and shravakas who have meditated there, since 5th cent CE, including the last king of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Manyakheta. Chandragiri also has a famous temple built by Chamundaraya, who was a disciple of Acharya Nemichandra Siddhanta-chakravarti.

The Vindhyagiri hill is home to a thousand year-old gigantic 17.38 meter high monolithic stone statue of the Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali, considered to be the world's largest, built by Chamundaraya, a general of king Gangaraya. The base of the statue has inscriptions in Kannada, Tamil and the oldest evidence of written Marathi said to be from 981AD. The inscription concerns the king Gangaraya who funded the effort, and his general Chamundaraya, who erected the statue for the king. Every 12 years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony where the thousand-year-old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2018 A.D.

Inscriptions

More than about 800 inscriptions related to Shravanabelagola are found here covering the period from 600 to 1830 CE. A large number of these are found in the Chandragiri where as the remaining are found in the Indragiri and the town. Most of the inscriptions found in Chandragiri belong to the period of before 10th century. The inscriptions include Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil, Marathi, Marwari and Mahajani languages. Shravanabelagola abounds in inscriptions that are scattered all around and are Halagannada (Old Kannada) and Purvahalagannada (Pre-Old Kannada) in style. These inscriptions mention the rise and growth in power of Gangas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar empire and Mysore Wodeyars. These inscriptions have immensely helped in proper understanding the nature, growth and development of Kannada language and literature.

Shravanabelagola is the seat of the ancient Bhattaraka Math, belonging to the Desiya Gana lineage of Mula Sangha of Digambar monstic tradition. The Bhattarakas are all named Charukirti.

Shravanabelegola is 158 km from Bangalore.

Take the road to Nelamangala (27 km), and turn left onto NH48. Divert from Hirisave to Sravanabelagola, and cover 18KMS to reach the place.