23rd June 2019.
The Visit to this Jain monument was a part of Edakkal Caves and Karnataka Temples Visit. After our Karnataka temples Visit, we started from Gundulupet to Edakkal Caves. On the way we had been this Jain Temple restored by Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) from ruins at Kidanganad a part of Sultan Bathery. Usually the custom of buildings temples in Kerala are with Wood, on the contrary this Jinalaya was built with full of granite stones. It was told that Tippu sultan used this Jinalaya to store arms and ammunitions.
As per ASI, This Jinalaya is one of the few 9th to 15th Century ancient Jain Temples exists in Kerala. The Jainism received patronage of the Chera Kings of the Magothayapuram and Ay ( ?) Kings of South India. However the Jainism declined after 11th to 12th Century. As per the records in and around Sultan Bathery ( Battery ) 12 streets are with Jain populations. The Hannera bidi ( 12 streets) is one among the traditional Jains settlements in Sultan Bathery. The Sultan Battery was Known as Ganapathi Vattam in inscriptions. This Jain Temple is datable to the 14th Century AD on stylistic grounds. This is an example of the cloistered temple facing east consists of a Sanctum, antarala, closed mahamandapa, muka mandapa and a Namaskara mandapa.
The sanctum is square shaped with out any images. The lalata Bimba of the sanctum and the closed mahamandapa has sacred Jain images. These are shown in padmasana with dhyana mudra. The image has Lotus depiction. The door jambs are decorated with different motifs.
THE TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum has a circumambulatory mandapa as a path way. The Mahamandapa followed by a mukamandapa is accessed through a flight of steps. Its balustrade is decorated with yazhi motifs. The muka mandapa stands on molded padma banda adhistana containing upana, Jagathi, Padma, tripatta Kumuda, gala and Pillars are highly evolved type and are decorated with various designs such as floral motifs, serpabanda ( entwined serpents ), garland decorations, stylized Vajra, Tirthankara, goose, etc,. All Tirthankaras are not shown with Mukkudai ( triple umbrella ).
The detached Namaskara mandapa is supported on 4 pillars. The two pillars has the Tirthankara ( ? ) reliefs. In addition to this old structural parts also kept on display. Its roof is missing now. The temple originally had cloistered wall which is now in ruins. This monument is under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).
HOW TO REACH:
Sultan Bathery is easily accessible from Gundulupet of Karnataka through Bandipur Tiger Reserve and National Park forest. ( Please note this route is closed during night times for the movement of animals. ).
From Mysuru
Sultan Bathery is 97 KM from Kozhikode.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Pillars of Namaskara mandapam
Pillar Pothyal / Capital
A Nagabandam relief
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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