26th January 2019.
It was decided to see one of the oldest Bahubali statue on a small hill at Aretipura. We did not know till we reach the hill, there was a excavation site on a small hill before Bahubali Hill. A warning board cautions us at the middle of the rocky hill. The details of this site is given below.
Aratipura, the ancient Tippuru was a popular Jaina center during the reign of Gangas and Hoysalas. The site is located east of the village has two outcrops locally known as Shravanabetta (Doddabetta) and Kanakagiri (Chikkabetta).
The site was first occupied by the Gangas as the earliest records shows. The natural depression of the rocky slope was taken advantage of a deep 'U' shaped trough. The opening in its southern side was closed with a stone masonry wall to retain the rain water with a brick revetment for almost 2m from the outer. Thus a tank was formed to serve the ritual needs of the Jainas. The natural cavern with two inscriptions were used as a cut - in bed located at the central apse of the pond. On the above the rock, 14 Tirthankaras were carved in low relief without any order. In this, only five are finished and remaining are incomplete. On the back side of the same rock, a rectangular unfinished cave was noticed. On the border of the pond ie. On the top, ground plans of four temples, most probably on the cardinal directions were noticed. Apart from the above, loose sculptures - ie. inscribed and architectural members scattered around the site were also noticed. Further top, a temple mound was noticed with half buried. pillars and sculptures which were presently exposed. As one gets top and near the huge Hoysala inscription, the scientific clearance work has revealed 12 temples and 3 secular structures.
The earliest epigraphical reference to the village is found in the Malohalli (Bangalore) plates of Avinita of 559 CE. The Ganjam (Srirangapatna) charts (799 - 800 CE) of the time of Prince Marasimha Ereyappa, son of Sivamara II, invocate jitam Bhagavata, proclaiming the faith of the ruling king and records the gift of the village “Tippuru” as a brahmadeya to Ponnadi, the chief of Arppole. Another inscribed record in the Saka 838 (916 - 917 CE) of the time of Nitimarga Permanadi refers to the construction of a basadi on the Kanakagiri Tirtha by one Manaleyara in the presence of the king and records the gift of all incomes of the village “Tippeyur” to Kanakasenabhatra.
During the Hoysala period, the Jaina establishment at this place enjoyed great patronage and recognition. A stone inscription lying on the hillock records the grant of the village Tippuru by a general named Gangaraja, during the time of Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana corresponding to 25th December 1117 CE, to a Jaina teacher, Meghachandra Siddhantadeva of Mulasagha, Kanurgana and Tintrinika gachchha. The gradual development of Jainism from a simple cavern to magnificent structures can be noticed at Aratipura.
Bas-reliefs depicting the jaina Tirthankars on the vertical face of the rock and remains of brick structures on the summit of a small of small granitic hillock called Kanakagiri are some of the important Jaina vestiges available at this site.
The scientific clearance work has also revealed the sculptures of Adinatha, Bahubali, Saraswati, decorated pillars with Tirtankaras and Chowri bearers. The material vestiges in the form of glass and shell bangle pieces, terracotta beads and lamps, stucco heads, iron clamps and chisels, copper pot, stone objects and ceramics were also noticed.
Aratipura was first explored by Dr. T. K. Sharma, former director of the ASI and his team in 1980's. In 1987, both Shravanabetta and Kanakagiri (Chikkabetta) covering an area of around 251 acres were declared as Centrally Protected Monument of National Importance from the DRS of AMASR Act 1958, now under the jurisdiction of Bangalore Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
BAHUBALI SCULPTURE ON SRAVANABETTA
Though not extensive, this, in the heart of Gangavadi, was very impressive with both rock cut and structural edifices located on both the hillocks while the Sravanabetta reveals a free standing 2.2m Bahubali sculpture. Geographically and archaeologically, Aratipura was very much identical with that of Shravanabelagola - the famous Jaina site in Hassan District, Karnataka.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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