VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : "The remains of Jainism and Buddhism in Coorg/ Kodagu - Madikeri Fort Museum", Madikeri, Coorg District, Karnataka.

Tuesday, 4 August 2026

"The remains of Jainism and Buddhism in Coorg/ Kodagu - Madikeri Fort Museum", Madikeri, Coorg District, Karnataka.

The visit to these Jain and Buddhist sculptures in Madikeri Fort Museum, at Madikeri, in Kodagu District, Karnataka, was a part of “Kodagu Heritage Walk”, from 22^nd to 24^th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

In this museum, art objects belong to the Gangas, Kongalvas-Changalvas, the Hoysals, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Nayakas of Belur, the local chief, and the British period. The exhibits include the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain stone images. These images span various periods and were collected from different parts of Karnataka, especially the Kodagu region.

JAIN SCULPTURES

TIRTHANKARA - 01.

The record is not dated. On palaeographical grounds, it may be assigned to the 12th century C.E. Nayakirti Siddhanta Chakravartti mentioned in this record appears to be the same as the one mentioned in an inscription at Sravanabelgola as having died in 1176 C.E. Hence, the record may belong to the latter half of the 12th century C.E.

The image, on the pedestal of which the record is inscribed, is stated to have been prepared and donated by Hariyanna-heggade, a disciple of Nayakirti Siddhanta Chakravartti. Hariyanna-heggade is also stated to have been the head of the cavalry, but it is not known under which ruler he served.

The image, though not named in the record, is that of Anantanatha mentioned in inscription No. 19 as having been recovered from the Suvarnavati river.

Tirthankara - 01

TIRTHANKARA - 02.

This undated record is in 12th-century characters. It records the installation of the image of Santinatha by Maghanandi-bhattaraka of Tatangi, who belonged to Mula-sangha, Desiya-gana, Pustaka-gachchha, and Kondakundanvaya. Since Maghanandi-bhattaraka was the disciple of Nayakirti, who died in 1176 C.E., the record may belong to the latter half of the 12th century C.E.

This inscription, engraved above the attendant figure to the right, is in 14th-century C.E. characters. It furnishes the date Manmatha, Kartika su. 1, which is insufficient for verification. As the image belongs to the 12th century C.E., as pointed out above in No. 4, it is not clear which date it refers to. The meaning of the last line is also not clear.

Tirthankara - 02

TIRTHANKARA - 03.

No date is given in the record. It may be assigned to the 12th Century C.E. on palaeographical grounds.

It records that the nakharas of Tatangi, who were the disciples of Harishchandra-devaru of Heragu, prepared the image of Santinatha on whose pedestal the record is found. It is a beautiful image of Hoysala workmanship. According to inscription No.19 infra, this image and that of Ananthanatha were found in the Suvarnavati river during the 15th century C.E. and were consecrated in the basadi at Anjanagiri.