Helebid
Tirth
Statue
of a Jina in standing posture at Helebid museum
Mulnayak: Idols of Bhagwan Adinath; Bhagwan Parsvanath and
Bhagwan Shantinath
Art and architecture:tirthanakar mandankai tirthanakar drummers temple temple
How
to reach: Helebid (Dwarsamuderam) is 34 Kms from Hasan AND 17 kms from bellur. The temples
are near the Helebid museum.
Historicity:
Helebid was the capital of Hoysala Kings. Helebid means ‘old capital’. It is
stated that the Hoysala dynasty came to power with the blessing of a Jain ascetic. Bittiga
was earlier follower of Jainism before reposing his faith to vaishnavite under the
influence of Sant Ramanuja. However her queen, Shantala Devi remained Jain and helped in
construction of numerous Jain temples. Near the museum, three Jain temples dedicated to
Parsvanath, Bhagwan Adinath and Bhagwan Shantinath are in active worship the pillars in
these temples are of ‘Touch stone’.