23rd
June 2019.
The
Visit to this Jain monument was a part
of Edakkal Caves and Karnataka Temples Visit. After our Karnataka temples Visit,
we started from Gundlupete to Edakkal
Caves. On the way we had been this Jain
Temple restored by Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) from ruins at
Kidanganad a part of Sultan Bathery. The original name of Ganapathi vattam was changed as Sultan Battery and the same was corrupted to the present name of Sultan Bathery. Usually the custom of buildings temples in
Kerala are with Wood, on the contrary this
Jinalaya was built with full of granite stones. It was told that Tippu sultan used this Jain's Temple / Basadi / Jinalaya to store arms and ammunition.
As per
ASI, This Jinalaya is one of the few 9th
to 15th Century ancient Jain Temples exists in Kerala. The Jainism received patronage of the Chera
Kings of the Magothayapuram and Ay ( ?) Kings of South India. However the
Jainism declined after 11th to 12th Century. As per the
records in and around Sultan Bathery ( Battery ) 12 streets are with Jain
populations. The Hannera bidi ( 12 streets) is one among the traditional Jain settlements in Sultan Bathery. The Sultan Battery was Known as Ganapathi Vattam
in inscriptions. This Jain Temple is
datable to the 14th Century CE on stylistic grounds. This is an example of the cloistered temple facing east consists
of a Sanctum, antarala, closed maha mandapa, mukha mandapa and a Namaskara
mandapam.
The
sanctum is square shaped with out any images. The lalata Bimba of the sanctum and the closed maha mandapa has
sacred Jain images. These are shown in padmasana with dhyana mudra. The image
has Lotus depiction. The door jambs are decorated with different motifs.
THE TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The
sanctum has a circumambulatory mandapa as a path way. The
Maha mandapa followed by a mukamandapa is accessed through a flight of steps.
Its balustrade is decorated with yazhi motifs. The mukha mandapa stands on molded
padma banda adhisthana containing upana,
Jagathi, Padma, tripatta Kumuda, gala and Pillars are highly evolved type and
are decorated with various designs such
as floral motifs, serpabanda ( entwined serpents ), garland decorations, stylized
Vajra, Tirthankara, goose, etc,. All Tirthankaras are not shown with Mukkudai (
triple umbrella ).
The
detached Namaskara mandapam is supported on 4 pillars. The two pillars has the
Tirthankara ( ? ) reliefs with out Mukkudai. In addition to this old structural parts also kept
on display. Its roof is missing now. The temple originally had cloistered wall which is now in ruins. This
monument is under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).
Pillars of Namaskara mandapam
Pillar Pothyal / Capital
HOW TO REACH:
Sultan
Bathery is easily accessible from Gundlupete of Karnataka through Bandipur
Tiger Reserve and National Park forest. ( Please note this route is closed
during night times for the movement of animals. ).
From
Mysuru / Mysore
Sultan
Bathery is 97 KM from Kozhikode.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
A Nagabandam relief
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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