Kamal Basadi

Kamal Basadi
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Deity	Neminatha
Festivals	Mahavir Jayanti
Governing body	Shree Shree 1008 Neminath Tirthankar Digambar Jain Mandir Pooja Committee
Location
Location	Belgaum, Karnataka
Geographic coordinates	15°51′29″N 74°31′17″E
Architecture
Style	Western Chalukya architecture
Creator	Birchiraja
Date established	1204 CE
Temple(s)	3

Kamal Basadi is a Jain temple located inside Belgaum Fort in city of Belgaum, Karnataka.

History

The Kamal Basadi was built by Birchiraja, also called Jaya Raya, an officer in the court of Kartavirya IV of Ratta dynasty in c. 1204 CE under the guidance of Jain monk Subhachandrabhattarakadeva. According to an inscription dating back to 1205 CE the temple was constructed by the architect Kartaviryadeva and yuvrajakumara mallikarjunadeva.

Architecture

Ceiling

The Kamal Basadi derives its name from the lotus carvings extending from the dome of the center roof. The lotus has 72 petals believed to represent 24 tirthankaras of past, present and future. The walls of the temple are engraved with intricate designs, borders, and sculptures. The wall of the temple is supported by pillars with the carving of a cobra at the end of every bracket. The pillars are well carved with decorations and neatly polished. The shrine has a richly carved doorway. There are a total of five small cells housing idols of tirthankaras; between these cells are four yaksha and yakshi in standing posture under a small canopy. The pillars insider the garbhagriha are square and massive. On each side of the door, there are niches in the wall that have carvings of Jain divinities. The mukhamandapa of the temple is considered an architecture masterpiece. The mulnayak of the temple is black color idol of Neminatha. the temple also houses the idols of Rishabhanatha is padmasan posture, Sumatinatha in kayotsarga posture and Parshvanatha with seven-headed serpent overhead. The temple also features monolithic idol of Navagraha represented by nine Tirthankaras.

The Chikki Basadi and a priest house is located near the Kamala Basadi.

In popular culture

To commemorat the 816th anniversary of Kamala Basadi a special postal cover was released on 23rd December 2020.

Gallery

• 

  Kamala Basadi in 1855

• 

  Carvings on temple wall

• 

  Chikki Basadi

References

Sources

• Asiatic Society of Bombay (1875). Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol. 10. Maharashtra: The Asiatic Society of Mumbai.
• Burgess, James (1875). Indian Antiquary. Vol. 4. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.
• Campbell, James Macnabb (August 1884). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Belgaum. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Vol. 21. Bombay: Government Central Press.
• Campbell, James Macnabb (1884). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Vol. 17. Bombay: Government Central Press.
• Van Kooij, Karel R. (2018) [1999]. Abia South & Southeast Asian Art. Vol. 1. USA and Canada: Routledge. ISBN 978-1136176418.
• Subburaj, V. V. K. (2009). Tourist Guide to Karnataka. Chennai: Sura Books. ISBN 9788174780621.
• Michell, George (2013). Southern India: A Guide to Monuments Sites & Museums. New Delhi: Roli Books. ISBN 9788174369031.
• Patil, Vijyakumar (11 April 2015). "Belgaum Fort declared heritage monument". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
• Perumal, G. Nataraja (7 April 2013). "Kamal Basti: A Jain wonder in stone". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
• "Belagavi's ancient Kamal Basadi temple turns 816, special postal cover released". The New Indian Express. 27 December 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.