Jettappa Nayakana Chandranathesvara Basadi, Bhatkal, Karnataka

Jettappa Nayakana Chandranathesvara Basadi, Bhatkal, Karnataka

Jettappa Nayakana Chandranathesvara Basadi is a Jain Temple dedicated to Jain Thirthankaras located in Bhatkal Town in Bhatkal Taluk in Uttara Kannada District in the Indian state of Karnataka. This basadi is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

History

This basadi was built in 1556 CE by Narayana Nayaka, son of a commander of Chenna Bhairadevi (Pepper queen) of Gerusoppa as per the inscription in the basadi. This basadi was mentioned as Vardhamana Basadi in the inscriptions. Bhatkal was named after the ninth century Jain grammarian Bhattakalanka Deva, who hailed from Haduvalli, the capital of the Saluvas. Bhatkal was also called as Bhatta Kala / Batikula / Bhatkala / Batikala during ancient times. Bhatkal was also mentioned as Vrittapura in a 16^th century CE inscription.

The Basadi

This basadi is facing towards east. The basadi consists of two blocks of buildings joined together by an intervening porch. Both these buildings are of two storeys. The lower storey is larger than the upper storey. Each storey of these buildings consists of three cells enshrining images of Jain Thirthankaras. The temple consists of agrasala, bhogamandapa and basadi. A dwaja sthamba stands on a platform of about 14 sq.ft can be seen in front of the main entrance.

The sthamba is about 21 feet tall and surmounted by a quadrangular capital. There is a small pillar called Yaksha Brahma Khamba behind the basadi. This pillar is about 19 feet tall.  It stands on a platform with four pillars at the corners, with lintel laid over them. The temple is noted for its sloping roof and the arrangement of stone screens. There are two stone tablets with inscriptions on either side of the porch. The present entrance to the basadi is from its behind and the main entrance is at the rear of the complex.

Connectivity

The basadi is located at about 1.5 Kms from Bhatkal Bus Stand and 2 Kms from Bhatkal Railway Station. Bhatkal is located at about 14 Kms from Murdeshwar, 21 Kms from Baindur, 37 Kms from Honnavar, 55 Kms from Kundapura, 88 Kms from Gokarna, 90 Kms from Udupi, 128 Kms from Karwar, 142 Kms from Mangaluru Airport and 144 Kms from Mangaluru. Bhatkal is situated on Karwar to Mangalore route (NH – 66). Bhatkal Railway Station is one of the major railway stations along the Konkan Railway line, which runs between Mumbai and Mangalore.

Location