Brahma Jinalaya
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The Brahma Jinalaya, sometimes called as the Greater Jain Temple of Lakkundi, is an early 11th-century Mahavira temple in
Lakkundi Lakkundi, also referred to as Lokkugundi, was a major city prior to the 14th-century, and is now a village in Gadag District of Karnataka, India. By 10th-century, it was already a major economic and commerce center with mint operations for South ...
,
Gadag District Gadag is a district in the state of Karnataka, India. It was formed in 1997, when it was split from Dharwad district. As of 2011, it had a population of 1064570 (of which 35.21 percent was urban). The overall population increased by 13.14 perce ...
of Karnataka state, India. The temple is attributed to Attiyabbe (Danacintamani Attimbbe), the wife of the local governor Dandanayaka Nagadeva. It faces east, has a mukhamandapa, a gudhamandapa and its sanctum is covered by a sur-temple style vimana superstructure. The temple is notable for its reliefs depicting Jaina artwork, statues of the Tirthankaras and the two Hindu statues of Brahma and Saraswati inside its inner mandapa. The temple was ruined and mutilated during or after the wars of the 13th-century. It was rediscovered by British archaeologists led by Henry Cousens in "deserted, filthy condition, occupied by a colony of bats" with beheaded Mahavira statue outside. Now cleaned and restored, the Jain temple of Lakkundi is one of many historic Chalukya era Jain and Hindu temples found in Lakkundi. It is the oldest major Jain temple in this region.
Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexande ...
has listed this basadi in the complex in the list of "Must See" Indian Heritage.


Location

Lakkundi is about 12 kilometers southeast of Gadag-Betageri twin city, between
Hampi Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Hampi (town), Hampi town, Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire i ...
and
Goa Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...
. It can be reached by India's National Highway 67. The Bramha Jinalaya temple is one of many Jain and Hindu temples found in and around Lakkundi. It is located on the southwest side of the village, near few other historic Jaina temples.


History

The town of
Lakkundi Lakkundi, also referred to as Lokkugundi, was a major city prior to the 14th-century, and is now a village in Gadag District of Karnataka, India. By 10th-century, it was already a major economic and commerce center with mint operations for South ...
was known as Lokkigundi in medieval times. It was of considerable importance during the 11-12th century A.D.
Western Chalukya The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This Kannadiga dynasty is sometimes called the ''Kalyani Chalukya'' after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in th ...
rule, and hosted a number of Jain and Hindu temples. The Brahma Jinalaya was built in 1007 CE by
Attimabbe Attimabbe (950-1020) was a noblewoman of the Western Chalukya Empire. She was born at Punganur of Chittoor district in Andhra pradesh. She was the daughter of Feudatory Mallapa of chalukya king Tailapa II, and Ponnamayya. Attimabbe’s Father ...
, wife of Nagadeva, who served as general under both
Taila II Tailapa II (r. c. 973-997), also known as Taila II and by his title ''Ahavamalla'', was the founder of the Western Chalukya dynasty in southern India. Tailapa claimed descent from the earlier Chalukyas of Vatapi, and initially ruled as a Rasht ...
and Satyashraya Irivabedanga (997-1008 A.D.). The temple represents the second phase of
Kalyani Chalukyas The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This Kannadiga dynasty is sometimes called the ''Kalyani Chalukya'' after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in the ...
art. In 1191 A.D., the noted
Hoysala empire The Hoysala Empire was a Kannada people, Kannadiga power originating from the Indian subcontinent that ruled most of what is now Karnataka, India, Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially loca ...
king
Veera Ballala II Veera Ballala II ( kn, ವೀರ ಬಲ್ಲಾಳ 2) (r. 1173–1220 CE) was the most notable monarch of the Hoysala Empire. His successes against the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Southern Kalachuris, the Pandyas of Madurai and the wani ...
made this town an important garrison. The temple includes several inscriptions that helps date this temple and the gifts it received before the 14th-century. When mentioned, the temple is called Brahma Jinalaya of Lokkigundi in these historic inscriptions.


Architecture

According to the art historian
Adam Hardy Professor Adam Hardy is an architect and architectural historian, and Professor of Asian Architecture at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. He is Director of PRASADA, a centre bringing together research and practice in South ...
, the temple illustrates the " Later Chalukya architecture, mainstream Lakkundi school of mid-11th century with late 11th century superstructure (''
shikhara ''Shikhara'' ( IAST: '), a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India, and also often used in Jain temples. A ''shikhara'' over the ''garbhagriha'' chambe ...
'')". The temple has single shrine (''ekakuta'') connected to a closed mantapa hall via a vestibule ('' sukanasi'' or ''ardhamantapa'') that is connected to another, open mantapa. This temple is one of the fine illustrations of the Western Chalukya architecture. The temple has a
garbhagriha A ''garbhagriha'' or ''sannidhanam'' is the ''sanctum sanctorum'', the innermost sanctuary of a Hindu and Jain temples where resides the '' murti'' (idol or icon) of the primary deity of the temple. In Jainism, the main deity is known as the ' ...
, an
antarala Antarala (Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the ...
, a closed navaranga mandapa, and an open pillared mukha- mandapa. Over the garbhagriha is the three storeyed nirandhara vimana with a square griva and sikhara. Above the cornice of these arched niches at regular intervals is a seated Jaina figure. The ceilings are plain and pillars are well decorated. The open mandapa is supported by 32 pillars and pilasters. According to art critic Percy Brown, these elements are found commonly in all Western Chalukya temples. The building material is
soapstone Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock. It is composed largely of the magnesium rich mineral talc. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occur in the zo ...
, which according to Percy Brown became the standard in later
Hoysala architecture Hoysala architecture is the building style in Hindu temple architecture developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka, a state of India. Hoysala influence was at its ...
as well. According to art historians Henry Cousens and Om Prakash, the most conspicuous feature of the Western Chalukya temples is the decrease in the size of masonry and the resulting decrease in the overall height of the temples compared to those built by the Badami Chalukyas at
Pattadakal Pattadakal, also called Paṭṭadakallu or Raktapura, is a complex of 7th and 8th century CE Hindu and Jain temples in northern Karnataka (India). Located on the west bank of the Malaprabha River in Bagalakote district, this UNESCO World Her ...
. This was a result of a shift in the basic building material, from
sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...
to the more workable soapstone (Chloritic
Shist Schist ( ) is a medium-grained metamorphic rock showing pronounced schistosity. This means that the rock is composed of mineral grains easily seen with a low-power hand lens, oriented in such a way that the rock is easily split into thin flakes o ...
). In the coming decades, this transformation was to lead ''
Vesara Vesara is a hybrid form of Indian temple architecture, with South Indian plan and a shape that features North Indian details. This fusion style likely originated in the historic architecture schools of the Dharwad region. It is common in the survi ...
'' architecture toward increased ornamentation and articulation. The temple style is quite similar to the older Shiva temple in Kukkanur, and they represent the transition phase between early Chalukya and Late Chalukya styles. He categorizes the tower over the shrine as Dravidian (south Indian) with a square plan. Kamath classifies it as ''
Vesara Vesara is a hybrid form of Indian temple architecture, with South Indian plan and a shape that features North Indian details. This fusion style likely originated in the historic architecture schools of the Dharwad region. It is common in the survi ...
'' because each tier are encrusted with motifs that make the tower more "curvilinear". According to Cousens, the overall structure with its well proportioned tiers and finial (''
amalaka An amalaka ( sa, आमलक), is a segmented or notched stone disk, usually with ridges on the rim, that sits on the top of a Hindu temple's shikhara or main tower. According to one interpretation, the amalaka represents a lotus, and thus the ...
'', ''
kalasha A kalasha, also spelled kalash or kalasa, also called ghat or ghot ( sa, कलश , Telugu: కలశము Kannada: ಕಳಶ literally "pitcher, pot"), is a metal (brass, copper, silver or gold) pot with a large base and small mouth, large eno ...
'') give the superstructure a "majestic" look. Above the
cornice In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...
are circular niches, each of which holds the image of a Jain saint (Jaina) in relief, with a ''
kirtimukha Kirtimukha (Sanskrit: कीर्तिमुख ,', also ', a bahuvrihi compound translating to "glorious face") is the name of a swallowing fierce monster face with huge fangs, and gaping mouth, very common in the iconography of Hindu temple a ...
'' decoration above. The walls of the shrine have
pilaster In classical architecture Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the ...
s, with the spaces between them containing, in relief,
pavilion In architecture, ''pavilion'' has several meanings: * It may be a subsidiary building that is either positioned separately or as an attachment to a main building. Often it is associated with pleasure. In palaces and traditional mansions of Asia ...
s, and miniature decorative towers (
aedicula In ancient Roman religion, an ''aedicula'' (plural ''aediculae'') is a small shrine, and in classical architecture refers to a niche covered by a pediment or entablature supported by a pair of columns and typically framing a statue,"aedicula, ...
) on slender half pilasters. Some miniature towers have niches below them. Overall, decorative ornamentation is taken to a new level compared to earlier temples. Dhaky and Meister call the temple as the ''Great Jaina temple of Lakkundi'', thereby differentiating it from other minor Jaina temples of Lakkundi.


Sculpture

There are several notable freestanding sculptures in the temple: *A beheaded image of Mahavira that is a little over 4 feet tall, made of black polished stone and seated on a "lion throne" (''simhaasana'') is found outside the temple. The sanctum's door lintel (''lalita-bimba'') depicts Mahavira, which in Indian tradition typically marks the sanctum's primary dedication. It is therefore believed that originally this idol was housed as the primary sanctum deity of temple. *In the contemporary era, the sanctum has a statue of
Neminatha Neminatha, also known as Nemi and Arishtanemi, is the twenty-second ''tirthankara'' (ford-maker) in Jainism. Along with Mahavira, Parshvanatha and Rishabhanatha, Neminatha is one of the twenty four ''tirthankaras'' who attract the most devo ...
as the mulnayak with yaksha and yakshi on either side. There is a beautiful sculpture of seven hooded
Parshva ''Parshvanatha'' (), also known as ''Parshva'' () and ''Parasnath'', was the 23rd of 24 ''Tirthankaras'' (supreme preacher of dharma) of Jainism. He is the only Tirthankara who gained the title of ''Kalīkālkalpataru (Kalpavriksha in this "Kal ...
in
Kayotsarga Kayotsarga ( , pka, काउस्सग्ग ) is a yogic posture which is an important part of the Jain meditation. It literally means "dismissing the body". A tirthankara is represented either seated in yoga posture or standing in the kayo ...
position with yakshi and yaksha on both sides. The sculpture of
Padmavati Padmāvatī may refer to: Deities * Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of fortune * Alamelu, or Padmāvatī, a Hindu goddess and consort of Sri Venkateshwara of Tirupati * Manasa, a Hindu serpent goddess * Padmavati (Jainism), a Jain attendant goddess ( ...
sitting with left knee upright besides Parshva depicts Goddess with
goad The goad is a traditional farming implement, used to spur or guide livestock, usually oxen, which are pulling a plough or a cart; used also to round up cattle. It is a type of long stick with a pointed end, also known as the cattle prod. The ...
and noose in right and left upper arms respectively and the lower hands are in
varadamudra Varadamudra is a mudra, and it indicates a gesture by the hand and symbolizes dispensing of boons. For varadamudra, the right hand is used. It is held out, with palm uppermost and the fingers pointing downwards. Varadamudra and abhayamudra are ...
with fruit. Cousens states it may have been taken out and left there. The saint has an attendant on either side, holding a ''chowri'' (a type of brush) in one hand a fruit in another. *A large standing, monolithically carved four-headed
Brahma Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 21 ...
stands in the inner hall. He is shown predominantly with Hindu iconography, but the pedestal is shown with Jaina art such as those of lions. *Opposite Brahma in the inner mandapa is the statue of a goddess which Cousens and many scholars consider
Saraswati Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati. The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a go ...
given the iconographic details. The alternate interpretation is that she is a Jaina goddess which shares some features with Saraswati. As depicted, in each of her four hands she holds an attribute; a ''ankusa'' (elephant goad), a petaled flower, a book and a
citron The citron (''Citrus medica''), historically cedrate, is a large fragrant citrus fruit with a thick rind. It is said to resemble a 'huge, rough lemon'. It is one of the original citrus fruits from which all other citrus types developed throu ...
. *The doorframes are intricately carved in five parallel bands (panchasakha) in the famous Karnata plateresque style, with hamsavali, padmamala, bhutasakha and ratnasakha. The pedya figures include Rati and Kamadeva. *A serenely contemplative Parsvanatha with seven-headed snake hood above his head but damaged (broken limbs, mutilated nose, mutilated sexual organs); it was discovered outside the temple by Cousens, now moved for safekeeping by ASI. In addition to these sculptures, reliefs of Jaina goddesses and apsaras are depicted on the pillars. On the door lintel at the entrance to the vestibule, an image of
Gajalakshmi Gajalakshmi (), also spelt as Gajalaxmi, is one of the most significant '' Ashtalakshmi'' aspects of the Hindu goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. Mythology In Hindu mythology, Gajalakshmi is regarded to have restored the wealth and power lost by ...
(Hindu goddess Lakshmi with elephants on either side) is shown like other historic temples of Jainism.


Lakkundi Utsav

Lakkundi Utsav is two-day annual cultural event organised annually. The event has main stage with temples as the background, is named 'Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Vedike' after 11th century queen Attimabbe.


Protection

The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the
Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexande ...
(ASI). Karnataka government has announced setting up Lakkundi Development Authority for the development of
Lakkundi Lakkundi, also referred to as Lokkugundi, was a major city prior to the 14th-century, and is now a village in Gadag District of Karnataka, India. By 10th-century, it was already a major economic and commerce center with mint operations for South ...
at cost of Rs. 3 crores. More than 50 ruined, mutilated Jain and Hindu sculpture, 3 inscriptions were discovered during tourist facility development and site restoration efforts at the nearby Naganatha temple – another Jain temple. Some of these sculpture are on display near the Brahma Jinalaya temple in a shed, conserved by the ASI. File:Old Kannada inscription (1172 A.D.) at the Jain temple in Lakkundi.JPG, Old Kannada inscription dated 1172 A.D. at Jain temple in Lakkundi File:11th century Brahma Jinalaya temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 15.jpg, Mukhamandapa (entrance, open) File:11th century Brahma Jinalaya temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 04.jpg, Gudhamandapa (inner, closed) File:Kirtimukha relief decoration at the Jain temple in Lakkundi.JPG, ''
Kirtimukha Kirtimukha (Sanskrit: कीर्तिमुख ,', also ', a bahuvrihi compound translating to "glorious face") is the name of a swallowing fierce monster face with huge fangs, and gaping mouth, very common in the iconography of Hindu temple a ...
'' wall relief File:Door jamb and lintel decoration, and Tirthankara image in the sanctum at the Jain temple at Lakkundi.jpg,
Neminatha Neminatha, also known as Nemi and Arishtanemi, is the twenty-second ''tirthankara'' (ford-maker) in Jainism. Along with Mahavira, Parshvanatha and Rishabhanatha, Neminatha is one of the twenty four ''tirthankaras'' who attract the most devo ...
image in sanctum, doorframe and lintel decoration File:11th century Brahma Jinalaya temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 84.jpg, ''Chaturmukha'', four-faced Brahma inside with Jaina-base decoration File:11th century Brahma Jinalaya temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 53.jpg, Mahavira on the lalita-bimba of the sanctum, evidence that the temple was originally dedicated to Mahavira File:11th century Brahma Jinalaya temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 72.jpg, Damaged idol of Mahavira, the original mulnayaka idol File:11th century Brahma Jinalaya temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 46.jpg, Inner mandapa pillars, Jaina artwork in the lower sections File:11th century Brahma Jinalaya temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 16.jpg, Outer mandapa pillar File:11th century Brahma Jinalaya temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 03.jpg, Another view, showing the secondary Jain shrine north of the Greater Jain temple of Lakkundi


See also

*
Akkana Basadi Akkana Basadi (''lit'', temple of the "elder sister", basadi is also pronounced ''basti'') is a Jain temple (basadi) built in 1181 A.D., during the rule of Hoysala empire King Veera Ballala II. The basadi was constructed by the devout Jain la ...
* Shantinatha Basadi, Jinanathapura * Lakshmeshwara Jain temples


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* {{Authority control Chalukya dynasty 11th-century Jain temples Jain temples in Karnataka Western Chalukya Empire