“Kolavidu halugolanovidu amurtagolanovidu, Gange nadiyo Tungavodriyo Mangala-gauryavidu, rundavanavovidu shrangartotavo, Ayi ariya ayi ariye vale tutta vale tirlta jaya jaya jaya jaya ! “
Inscription No. 123
In the sixteenth century when a pious pilgrim visited the sacred Shravanabelagola, he became wonderstruck and enchanted with the beauty of the spot exclaimed, “Oh, is it a pond of milk or panacea? Or is it one of the rivers whether Ganges, Tungabhadra or Mangalagauri? Or is it Vrandavan or Viharopavana? Oh, look, how wonderful is this Tirtha?”.
In fact Shravanabelagola with its amazing Bahubali colossus is a wonder of the world. The opinion of the pious pilgrim of yore as depicted in the inscription cited above, has been supported and supplemented by a modern foreign traveller as well. He remarked,”In the whole beautiful State of Mysore it would be hard to find a spot where the historic and the picturesque clasp hands so firmly as here.” The Jain Shramanas had a rare conception of scenic beauty and a gift of selecting delightful sports which were suited for religious meditation as well as for furthering the cause of material existence. Shravanabelagola
certainly is such a spot. It is rather a national treasure.
chandragiri_7thc_oldkannada_inscription
Introduction : A Famous historic city of Bijapur. Situated on the north border of Karnataka is in South India. In the heart of the city, there are world famous huge gigantic historic monuments like Golegumbaz etc. In this city of Bijapur, there is an Athishay Kshetra by name Mahendragiri in which there is internationally famous Shri. 1008 Sahasraphani Parshwanath Digambar Jain Mandir. In the words of Jagadguru Karmayogi SwastiShri Charukeerti Bhattarak Mahaswamiji Shravanabelagola. “Reliously Highly cultured India is the abode of God in the residence in the form of the world”, So is our Kshetra at Bijapur. The idol (Moorti) of Sahasraphani Parshwanath Bhagwan having Athishay Prabhavana Guna, is architecturally unique in
India.
With Bhaamandal shree parshwanath at Bijapur
About the Kshetra : Hundreds of years ago a Shravaka ,who was a merchant used to come to Bijapur from Indi for his trade. When even he stayed here, he used to see Jina Bimba of Parshwanath Bhagwan appearing in his dream. He was actually in dilema of a few days, he was very mucle surprice to here a divine voice “I am here, I am here” again and again repeatedly in his dream. He thought that really this is a holy place in which something mistary hidden. When that place was dug, there appeared an old black stone built huge Jinalaya without Jina Bimba and a cave meant for meditation by Jinalaya in which Sahasraphani Parshwanath Jina Bimba is kept hidden safe under ash. Then it was established in Garbha Griha with due Vidhi-Vidhanas. Very much obliged to our ancesters who with their long sight, protected such a beautiful and rare statue from the sight of Moorti Breakers.
charan's at Cave in BijapurSeen from Abhisheka
