A Jain Basadi built in memory of an army commander
There are several villages scattered with temples and basadis that were Jain monuments. But the Hoysala kings and queens, merchants, army commanders built. temples and basadis dedicated to different deities as they patronised all religions. Most of them are lost in ruins while some like in Basadihalli still preserve them.
There are several villages scattered with temples and basadis that were Jain monuments. But during the Hoysala regime, the kings and queens, merchants, army commanders built. temples and basadis dedicated to different deities as they patronised all religions. Most of them are however lost in ruins while some like in Basadihalli still preserve them. Located a stone’s throw away from the Hoysaleshwara temple in Halebeed, but cut off from the tourist circuit is this nonchalant hamlet Basadihalli with three Jinalayas . Dating to the period of king Vishnuvardhan, who was earlier a Jain called Bittideva , the basadis or Jinalayas are enclosed in the old Dwarsamudra town. I walked inside amidst the rows of ornate pillars and realized the basadis have become the abode of bats.Dedicated to Parshwanatha, Shantinatha and Adinatha, these Jinalayas were built in memory of Ganga Raja, the army commander by his son, Boppadeva and to celebrate the victory of the king in the battle of Bankapura .The 16 feet tall sculpture of Parshwanatha with the four teerthankaras was a highlight of this basadi while the ornate pillars reminded you of the glory of the Hoysalas. Another tall pillar with a sculpture of Brahma stood outside one of them while the ancient well here was almost dry.