Page 528 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

526  SOUTHWESTERN INDIA

7 Melkote another cluster of bastis
established by the 10th- to
Mandya district. 54 km (34 miles) N of
Mysuru. n Tourist Office, (08232) 238 12th-century Ganga kings and
377 @ _ Vairamudi (Mar/Apr). their powerful ministers. The
Neminatha Basti, commissioned
A picturesque hill town of by Chamu ndaraya, enshrines
shrines and monasteries, an image of Neminatha, the
Melkote is a major pilgrimage 22nd tirthan kara. The adjoining
centre for devotees of Vishnu; Chandr agupta Basti has
it is also associated with miniature panels carved
Rama nuja, the renowned Hindu on perforated stone screens
philosopher and social reformer depicting epis odes from the
who died in 1137. Ramanuja is life of Bahubali and his royal
worshipped along with Vishnu disciple, Chandr agupta.
in the Narayana Temple, in the A 5-m (16-ft) high sculpture
southern part of town. South of Parsvanatha, the 23rd
of the temple stands a solitary tirthankara, is enshrined
gopura, while perched on the in another nearby basti.
summit of a hill to the northeast The head-anointing ceremony at Every 12 years, Jainism’s
of the town, is the small Sravana Belgola most important festival, the
Narasimha Shrine, overlooking spectacular Mahamastaka-
the large Kalyani Tank. facing statue of the naked bhisheka (head-anointing
Daily life in Melkote revolves saviour stands on an anthill ceremony) is held here. The
around temple rituals, and the staring impassively ahead. festival commemorates the
tradition of religious learning Entwined around his legs and consecration of the Bahubali
introduced by Ramanuja survives arms are creepers, indicating monolith, and attracts thousands
in its many institutions, of which the length of time he stood of monks, priests and pilgrims.
the Academy of Sanskrit Research immobile in meditation. An A special scaffold is erected
is most famous. inscription at the base records behind the statue, so that priests
its consecration in AD 981 by can ritually bathe the god with
Chamundaraya, the powerful milk, water from the holy rivers,
minister of Rajamalla IV, one ghee, saffron, sandalwood paste,
of the Ganga kings. vermilion and flower petals.
The town, which lies at the At the ceremony held in 1993,
base of the hill, has a large tank a specially hired helicopter
as well as a number of Jain flew overhead, showering the
temples (bastis). Perhaps the statue with 20 kg (44 pounds)
most interesting of these is the of gold leaf, 200 litres
matha, near the steps leading (352 pints) of milk, marigolds
to Indragiri Hill. The walls of its and jewels, to the delight of
courtyard have a series of vivid the assembled crowds.
Narasimha Shrine overlooking the Kalyani 18th-century murals illustrating
Tank at Melkote the past and present births of Environs
Parsvanatha, the 23rd tirthankara, The village of Kambadahalli,
as well as scenes from the annual 15 km (9 miles) east of Sravana
8 Sravana Belgola fair held here. Some fine Jain Belgola, is another Jain
bronzes are displayed in the settlement. The 10th-century
Hassan district. 140 km (87 miles)
W of Bengaluru. @ n Tourist sanctuary that opens off the Panchakuta Basti houses a
Office, (08176) 257 254. courtyard. On Chandragiri Hill, trio of tirthankaras in three
_ Mahamastakabhisheka (every to the north of the town, is separate shrines.
12 years; last one was in 2006).
This small town, situated
between two granite hills,
Indragiri and Chandragiri, is
the most important Jain site
in South India. It is dominated
by the colossal 17.7-m (58-ft)
high monolithic Statue of
Gommateshvara, also known
as Bahubali, son of the first Jain
tirthankara (see p400). On the
summit of the 143-m (469-ft)
high Indragiri Hill, the north- Chandragiri Hill, as seen above Sravana Belgola
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp701–702 and pp716–17

526-527_EW_India.indd 526 26/04/17 11:48 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm