Shravanabelagola is located almost 50 km from Hassan district, Bengaluru. It is 10 km from Chananrayanpatna. It is one of the popular Jain pilgrimage centers. Shravanabelgola has two hillocks, Indragiri and Chandragiri. Indragiri is also known as Vindhyagiri. It is believed that Acharya Bhadrabahu and his pupil Chandragupta Maurya had meditated here. The hill is 143 meters high and can be reached by climbing almost five hundred steps.
Indragiri
A magnificent statue of Bahubali or Gommateshvara can be seen here. The statue is almost 58.6 ft high and is regarded as the world`s largest monolithic stone statue. The statue has been carved around 980 A.D. The shoulder of the statue is broad and is 26 feet across. The statue has inscriptions done at its base that is written in Kannada language and Tamil language. It also has evidence of being written in Marathi language, dating from 981 AD. According to the inscription it praises and honours the king who had financially supported the statue. It also speaks high about the king`s general, Chavundaraya, who erected the statue for his mother. The statue is a symbol of eternal value, absolute renunciation and a soul that is free from materialistic cravings. The Gomateswara`s head anointing (Mahamastakabhisheka) ceremony is attracts thousands of devotees from far off places. The ceremony is organized visual once in twelve years. The last one took place in February of 2006.
Apart from the statue of Gommateshvara many other historical monuments are located in Indragiri. The Odegal Basadi houses several images of Jain Tirthankaras like Lord Adinatha, Lord Neminatha and Lord Shantinath. The Tyagada Brahmadeva Pillar that dates almost 980 A.D. is also located here. The magnificent pillars are adorned with intricate carvings. A beautiful doorway named Akanda Bagilu is also an attraction here. It has been carved out of single rock. Tourist can also see rows of Jina figures being intricately carved on a massive-rock, Siddaragunda. Even the Gullakayajji sculpture stands as an example of splendid Jain art is specimen of very fine workmanship. The Channanna Basti (1673 A.D.) has Chandranatha icon.
Chandragiri
The Chandragiri houses many monuments at the top of the hillock. It remains surrounded by a compound wall. According to history Chandragupta Maurya and his guru Bhadrabahu had visited the place in the third century B.C. They had come here from North India and had observed Sallekhana i.e. inviting death by fasting. The place has many stone statues of Jain ascetics who underwent Sallekhana. The Parshvanatha Basti houses an image of Lord Parshvanatha which is five-meter high. The Kattale Basti has an image of Lord Adinatha with a pair of chauri-bearers. The Chandragupta Basti has three chambers and contains Parshvanatha icon. Here one can see different stories from the lives of Chandragupta and Bhadrabahu. On both the sides of the doorway there are beautifully carved marble screens. The two leveled Chamundaraya Basti has the idols of Lord Neminatha and Parshvanatha. The Savati Gandhavarana Basti was constructed by queen Shantala. The Shasana Basti houses Adinatha idol. The Shantinath, Suparshavnatha, Chandraprabha, Majjiagannaare the other Bastis are also located on Chandragiri.
The largest Bhandara Basti is located in the town. This has 24 Jain Tirthakaras in row. The Jain Matha located near this Basti has its walls and verandah intricately designed with mural paintings. The life of Parshvanatha has been depicted on the panels on the left side. Many other stories of relating to his life have been painted here. Other wall paintings depict episodes from King Bharata and Prince Nagakumar an annual fair has been painted in detail.
To the north of Chandragiri one can find the village of Jinanathapura. Here the Aregal Basti has been constructed in an elaborate way. The idol of Parshvanatha has been installed here. The idol has been made of marble. The Shantishvara Basti is also located here. The exterior wall of this Basti has been adorned with beautiful floral designs and human figures. In the vicinity there is a tank. On its bank one can find many Jain icons.
