22nd
June 2019.
After
the visit to Trimbakeshwar Temple at Triyambakapura, we planned to stay on
22nd June night at Gundlupet. Our visit was not restricted to Shiva
and Vishnu temples alone, but we also covered three Jain Temples and monuments.
These Jain temples and monuments has the Chozha’s contributions. On the way to
Gundlupat, we diverted to a living ancient Jain Basadi at Kelasuru.
The
place Kelasur and the places around Gundlupet has the 1300 and odd years old Jain
History. During 8th- 9th
Century Jaina Acharya Virasena ( 792-853 CE) believed to be lived at Kelasur. He
wrote explanations and commentaries of the sacred Jain Shastras, Dhavala,
Jayadhavala and Mahadhavala, at this Basadi/ temple.
Sukanasi or the arthamandapa
The
Deity: Chandraprabha Tirthankara.
Some
of the salient features of this Basadi/ Temple are…
This
Basadi is facing North with Sanctum Sanctorum, Sukanasi/ arthamandapa and a
Navaranga / Mahamandapa. The Maha mandapa is supported by the Hoysala style pillars
exclusively used for the devotees to sit and worship. The Arthamandapa has the
Marble idol of Lord Chandranatha in Standing posture ( Kayotsarga ). On the
left of Chandranatha, idols of Brahma yaksha, Goddess Padmavathi and Goddess
Kushmandini. Regular poojas and abhishekam are conducted daily.
At
the entrance to the sanctum on the left is the 5 feet high idol of Shyama
Yaksha and on the right side Jwalamalini Yakshini, the guardian deities of 8th
Tirthankara Chandranatha. In the sanctum is the 3 feet high idol of Chandranath
Tirthankara in Padmasana on a raised pedestal. The specialty of this temple is
the three idols, Tirthankara Chandranatha, Shyama Yaksha and Kushmandini Yakshi are made of stucco (
Clay – in Kannada it is called as Leppa ).
Sri Chandranatha Tirthankara ( moolavar made of Clay- leppa )
Shyama Yaksha and Kushmandini Yakshini
The
sanctum sanctorum adhisthana is simple with Jagathy and virutha Kumudha, padmam
on it and patti. There is no vimana over the sanctum. The Parapet wall has the
simple designs.
On
the back side of the sanctum sanctorum A 6 feet Parshvanatha and Nisithikai (
installed in memory of those who took sallekhana ) memory stones are installed. Parshwanath idol
seems to be in good condition. It was told that these idols are unearthed from
this Village.
HISTORY &
INSCRIPTIONS: ( Ref Article by Nitin H P )
Acharya
Virasena, in his works, mentions this place as “Udyogapura” and this was the
capital for the Jaina villages around this place. There were around 600 houses
in this village. This place Kelasur is mentioned in the work “Rajavali
Kathasuru”, written by Devachandra. The Tamil inscription mentions this place Kelasur as “Kellasuppulaicheri” in Kudugunattu,
Gangaikonda Chozhavalanattu Mudigonda Chozha Mandalam.
There
are Five inscriptions found in this
Basadi adhisthana in Tamil with grantha ( two inscription of one, on the east
side adhisthana is not recorded), Kannada and Sanskrit. Of the 5 inscriptions, the
Tamil with grantha inscription is the earliest.
The
12th century Vikrama Chozha ( also called as Solagangan ) 1118- 1135 CE, period Tamil inscriptions mentions about two grants. The 1st one
records the gift of 12 kanduagas ( a measure ) of land to this temple. The second one records the
gift of a Village Tentkotta as “Pallichantham”/ gift to this temple.
The
13th Century Hoysala King Vira Narasimhadeva-II ( 1220-1235 CE ), period
Kannada inscriptions records as two persons Gopuyya and Ranganna gifted a house
and income from the house to be used for the worship of this temple.
The
19th Century ( 1829 CE ), inscription
of Mysuru / Mysore King Krishnaraja Wodeyar-III, records the renovation of this temple.
The
temple was recently renovated under KanaKagiri math, Swamiji Swathi Sri Bhuvana Keerthi Bhattaraka.
The Tamil inscription on adhisthana vrutha kumuda
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The
Basadi is kept open between 07.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs and the priest K T
Dharanendraiah is staying in this Kelasur Village.
CONTACT
DETAILS:
The
Basadi is under the control of Sri Kanakagiri Jain math at Maleyuru in
Chamarajanagar district may be contacted on the land lines 08226 210786 and
08226 211786 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
Kelasur
is about 9 KM from Gundlupet, 17 KM from Kanakagiri Jain Math, 46 KM from
Nanjangud and 68 KM from Mysuru / Mysore.
The
nearest Railway station is at Nanjangud.
The
nearest airport is Mysuru.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Parshvanatha Tirthankara
Niseethikai ( installed in memory of those who took sallekhana ) memory stones
Niseethikai ( installed in memory of those who took sallekhana ) memory stones
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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