Saavira Kambada Basadi

Saavira Kambada Temple (Sāvira Kambada Basadi) or Tribhuvana Tilaka Cūḍāmaṇi), is a basadi or Jain temple noted for its 1000 pillars in Moodabidri, Karnataka, India. The temple is also known as "Chandranatha Temple" since it honours the tirthankara Chandraprabha, whose eight-foot idol is worshipped in the shrine. The town of Moodabidri is noted for its 18 Jain temples, but Saavira Kambada Temple is considered the finest among them. The temple is considered an architectural wonder and is a major attraction of Moodabidri. History The Basadi was built by the local chieftain, Devaraya Wodeyar in 1430 and took 31 years to complete, additions to temples were made in 1962. The shrine has a 50 feet tall monolith manasthambha erected by Karkala Bhairava Queen Nagala Devi. Architecture The temple is built in dravidian architecture and is considered an architectural wonder. The temple is full of elaborate sculptures and decoration. The doorway of the temple has intricate carvings and is enclosed with ornate walls. The massive pillars of the temple are carved to resemble an octagonal wooden log with one baring inscription. The 1000 pillars with exquisite detail, support the temple and no two pillars are alike. The sloping roof of veranda are made of wood coated with copper tiles resembling the temples of Nepal. The temple complex has seven mandapas supported by beautifully carved pillars built in the Vijayanagara style. The main mandapa of the temple consists of two interconnected column halls. The fourth mandapa houses a sculpture of Bhairavadevi. The top two storeys are carved in wood and the lowest one in stone. The hall interiors are massive, with elaborately decorated columns and a door flanked by two protector deities. The wooden panels inside the temples have carvings of Tirthankara flanked by elephants, guardian deities and female attendants holding flowers. Several bronze Jain idols in ornated frames are placed inside the garbhagriha. The 8 ft idol of Chandranatha Swami made of panchadhatu present in the garbha griha. The temple are built similar to temples in Nepal. The interiors of the temple are richly and variedly carved. A large number of tombs of Jain monks are present near the temple premise. The manastambha in front of the temple is noteworthy. The pillars inside the hall bear carvings of dragon and giraffe resulting from the influence of trade with China in 15th century. The image of Nandishwar-dweep dated 16th century is notable. Saavira Kambada Basadi along with Shravanabelagola, Kamal Basadi and Brahma Jinalaya are considerest the most important Jain centers in Karnataka. Other Jain temples in Moodabidri Guru Basadi Guru basadi is the earliest of the Jain monuments built in 714 AD. A black stone idol of Parshwanatha, about 3.5 metres (11 ft) tall, is installed in the sanctum of this basadi. The temples also house 12th-century Jain palm leaf manuscripts known as ‘Dhavala texts’ are preserved. These texts were brought from shravanabelagola to here during the Mughal invasion. This basadi is also called Siddantha Basadi and Hale Basadi. All Jain temples in Moodabidri Moodabidri is noted for its 18 Jain Temples, mentioned as follows: Moodabidri Jain Math There is a matha at Moodabidri responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of temples in Moodabidri. It is known as the Jain Varanasi of the South. Bhaṭṭāraka Charukeerthi A bhaṭṭāraka seat exists at Moodabidri responsible for administering the 18 temples at Moodabidri and the other temples in the surrounding areas. The name given to the bhaṭṭāraka of Moodabidri is Charukeerthi. In popular culture The temple is listed as one of the temples in the Fodor's "India's Jain Temples Are Incredible Architectural Marvels" series. In 2025, Airavata, a 3 metres (9.8 ft) mechanical elephant, was installed at the Thousand Pillar Jain Temple. Gallery See also Chaturmukha Basadi Jain Bunt Jainism in Karnataka References Citation Sources Books Abram, David (2003). The Rough Guide to India. Rough Guide Travel Guides (4th ed.). Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843530893. Balfour, Edward (1885). The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia: Commercial, Industrial and Scientific, Products of the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms, Useful Arts and Manufactures. Vol. 1. Bernard Quaritch. Butalia, Tarunjit Singh; Small, Dianne P. (2004). Religion in Ohio: Profiles of Faith Communities. Ohio University Press. ISBN 978-0-8214-1551-1. Chavan, Shakuntala Prakash (2005). Jainism in Southern Karnataka: (up to AD 1565). D.K. print world. ISBN 978-81246-0315-4. Cort, John E. (2010). Framing the Jina: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-538502-1. Fergusson, James (1876). 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