Chandragiri ( kn, ಚಂದ್ರಗಿರಿ) is one of the two hills in

Shravanabelagola Shravanabelagola () is a town located near Channarayapatna of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is from Bengaluru. The Gommateshwara Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola is one of the most important tirthas (pilgrimage d ...

in the

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

n state of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO 15919, ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reor ...

, the other one being Vindhyagiri. It is also near Indragiri.

History

The recorded history surrounding the hill started in 300 BC when last ''Shruthakevali''

Bhadrabahu Ācārya Bhadrabāhu (c. 367 - c. 298 BC) was, according to the ''Digambara'' sect of Jainism, the last '' Shruta Kevalin'' (all knowing by hearsay, that is indirectly) in Jainism . He was the last ''acharya'' of the undivided Jain ''sangha''. ...

and

Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya (350-295 BCE) was a ruler in Ancient India who expanded a geographically-extensive kingdom based in Magadha and founded the Maurya dynasty. He reigned from 320 BCE to 298 BCE. The Maurya kingdom expanded to become an emp ...

visited the place in order to attain ''kaivalya''(beatitude). The small hill derives its name of Chandra because Chandragupta was the first of the rishis who lived and performed penance there. Kalbappu was the early name of the hill and it dominates the history of the town of

between 3rd century BC and 12th century AD. The

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

traditions link the

Maurya Empire The Maurya Empire, or the Mauryan Empire, was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in the Indian subcontinent based in Magadha, having been founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, and existing in loose-knit fashion until ...

Emperor Chandragupta and his teacher Bhadrabahu with this place. Of the total number of 106 memorials found at Shravanabelagola, 92 are located on the small hill. Of these, about 47 memorials of monks, 9 of nuns, and 5 of householders belong to the 7th and 8th century. This points out at the popularity of the custom, and of its extensive prevalence on the small hill.

Geography

The hill is situated about 3049 feet from mean sea level and 200 feet from the above the ground level and is situated in the northwest entrance of the town. A vast expanse of granite rock, scattered large and small boulders can be found en route to the peak.

Monuments

A number of

basadis are found on the Hill. Some of the prominent ones are: * Chavundaraya Basadi *

Chandragupta Basadi Chandragupta basadi ( kn, ಚಂದ್ರಗುಪ್ತ ಬಸದಿ) is one of the smaller basadis (Jain temples) located on the Chandragiri Hill in Sravanabelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka. Archaeological Survey of India has listed ...

Shantinatha Shantinatha was the sixteenth Jain tirthankar of the present age (Avasarpini). Shantinatha was born to King Vishvasena and Queen Aiira at Hastinapur in the Ikshvaku dynasty. His birth date is the thirteenth day of the Jyest Krishna month of the ...

Basadi * Parshvanatha Basadi * Kattale Basadi * Majjigana Basadi * Shasana Basadi * Chandraprabha Basadi * Parshwanatha Basadi II * Eradukatte Basadi * Savatigandhavarana Basadi * Terina Basadi * Shantishwara Basadi * Iruve-Brahmadeva Basadi Apart from these a number of other monuments such as Bhadrabahu Cave, Marasimha's

Manastambha A manastambha (Sanskrit for 'column of honour') is a pillar that is often constructed in front of Jain temples or large Jain statues. In North India, they are topped by four Tirthankara images. According to the ''Digambara'' Jain texts like '' ...

, Mahanavami Mantapa, Bhadrabahu Inscriptions, Gangaraja Mantap and Nishidhi Mantaps can be found on Chandragiri. An idol of Bharata, Bahubali's older brother ,carved out of soapstone can be found here. The statue is damaged below the thighs. It bears a striking resemblance to that of the Bahubali statue on the Vindhyagiri Hills.

Gallery

File:Bharatha.jpg, Bharatha Statue on Chandragiri hill File:Chandragiri hill temple complex at Shravanabelagola.jpg, Chandragiri hill temple complex File:Stone curved kalasa.jpg, Image from one of the Basadis at Chandragiri File:Theertankara.jpg, Idol of

Parshvanatha ''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 "Ka ...

on Chandragiri File:View of Chandragupta Basadi at Chandragiri hill in Shravanabelagola.jpg,

File:Chavundaraya Basadi on Chandragiri hill at Shravanabelagola.jpg, Chavundaraya Basadi File:Majjigana basti.jpg, Majjigana basti File:South eastern view of Parsvanatha Basadi at Shravanabelgola.jpg, Parsvanatha Basadi File:Suparshvanatha Basadi, Chandragiri.jpg, Suparshvanatha Basadi File:Jain Inscription.jpg, Jain Inscription File:Footprint of Chandragupta Maurya.jpg, The Footprints of

on Chandragiri hill Hill, where Chandragupta (the unifier of India and founder of the

Maurya The Maurya Empire, or the Mauryan Empire, was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in the Indian subcontinent based in Magadha, having been founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, and existing in loose-knit fashion until 1 ...

Dynasty) performed

Sallekhana ''Sallekhana'' (IAST: ), also known as ''samlehna'', ''santhara'', ''samadhi-marana'' or ''sanyasana-marana'', is a supplementary vow to the ethical code of conduct of Jainism. It is the religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death by ...

Notes

References

External links

* {{Jainism Topics Jain temples in Karnataka Hills of Karnataka Geography of Hassan district Indian inscriptions Tourist attractions in Hassan district