Kambadahalli is a non-descript, remote village near Nagamangala in Mandya district that boasts of some of the oldest Jain Basadis in the country. Believed to be built by kings of the Western Ganga dynasty, these temples are the finest examples of South Indian Dravidian architecture.
Kambadahalli (village of the pillar) got its name from a Brahmadeva Yaksha pillar or Manasthambha located at the northwest corner of the village. An inscription of 1118 A D calls this Bindiganavile’s Tirtha Basadi and another inscription of 1145 A D calls the place Kambadahalli.
The Manastambha is 50 feet high with an octagonal base exhibiting intricate carvings of looped garlands. There are carvings of ashta dikpalakas facing the east. Some bells have been tied to the top of this pillar. According to legend, these bells ring to foretell bad news. These bells do not ring during storms but ring even without the slightest breeze only in case someone in the village is about to die.
An inscription around the lower portion of the Manastambha dates it back to 1118 AD. According to this, Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana had given away Kambadahalli as a prize for conquering Talakad (an ancient heritage and religious centre near Mysore) to his general-in-chief Gangaraja who in turn donated it to Jain saint Kunda Kundanvaya Shubhachandra Siddantha Deva.
Panchakuta Basadi: Located in the centre of the village, in front of the Brahmadeva pillar, is the temple complex of Panchakuta Basadi. There are five different Garbhagudis in this temple complex. Three Garbhagudis share a common navaranga, having the same architectural style indicating that it may have been built in 900 AD, forming one cluster (trikuta) and the other two (dwikuta) forming another cluster built on a later date. The ceiling of the Navaranga is supported by four ornate central pillars and has a set of very attractive carvings.
The central shrine facing the north houses a four-feet high black stone idol of Lord Adinatha and has a square gopura called Brahmachhanda girva-sikhara. The other shrine with the idol of Lord Neminatha facing eastwards has a gopura called the Rudrachhanda griva-sikhara and the shrine with the idol of Lord Shanthinatha facing westwards has a gopura called Vishnuchhanda griva-sikhara. There are idols of Chandranatha and Parswanatha in the Dwikuta shrines.
The three-tiered gopuras are designed very artistically. One of the attractive features of this temple is that the gopuras of all the three shrines are unique and resemble the dome at Taj Mahal, but was constructed at least 200 years before it. Some archaeologists also opine that these gopuras resemble the Kailash temple at Ellora and Dharmaraja Ratha at Mahabalipuram.
At the centre of outer walls of garbagudis of the panchakuta basadi are found niches with idols of thirthankaras on all the three sides of all the temples. In one of the niches found just when you enter the temple complex near the gate is an idol of Tirthankara with an attractive carving of the Kalpavriksha above the head. It is believed that offering prayers to this Tirthankara idol will fulfil your desires.
Shanthinatha Basadi: On the right of the Panchakuta basadi is the Shantinatha Basadi which has a 12 feet high black stone idol of Lord Shantinatha. On either side of the navaranga are Tirthankara idols and a couple of Yaksha and Yakshi idols. On moving further ahead you will find a centrally placed attractive carving of Lord Neminatha flanked by three pairs of chouri bearers. Surrounding this are the carvings of dikpalakas and gandarvas.
The uniqueness of this Basadi is that it has many important historical inscriptions. One inscription of 1128 A D at the temple mentions that this temple was built by Boppa the son of Gangaraja. Another inscription of 1145 A D found on the lintel in front of the Shantinatha idol says that Narasimha Ballala Deva had donated the revenues of Modaliyahalli for upkeep of this temple. Another inscription of 1174 A D mentions that a feudal king Bharateya Nayaka had donated certain land to carry on the daily pooja of Lord Shanthinatha.
Bahubali Statue: The Archeological Survey of India has unearthed a life size statue of Lord Bahubali belonging to the 9th century with flowing hair that resembles the Bahubali metal statue of the 5th century preserved in the Metropolitan museum, New York. This also resembles the Bahubali relief found in the Badami cave dating back to 6th century. The unique feature of the statue of Mahaveera here is that it produces different sounds at different parts of the body when struck with a coin.
Getting to Kambadahalli: From Bangalore, drive on Hassan Road (NH 48) to Bellur Cross (105 kms) via Kunigal and Yediyur. At Bellur cross take the road on the left to reach Nagamangala (17kms). Proceed 14 kms on Shravanabelagola road and turn right for one km.