Shri Mudbidri Tirth

Mulnayak: Nearly 450 cms. high, black-colored idol of Bhagawan Parshvanath in the Kayotsarga posture.

How to Reach: The nearest railway station of Mangalore is at a distance of 35 kilometers and 20 Kms from Venur. Bus service and private vehicles are available. There are board and lodging provisions.

Art and Architecture: tirthanakar    choubisi     meru    Shri Chandraprabh temple    memorial    Parsvanath    Yakshi ambika    Yakshi sruta devi    Bhagwan mahavira    Bhagwan suparsvanath and yakshi Mahamanasi

Historicity: Moodabidri (also Mudbidri), set amidst a countryside of hills, woods, lakes and fertile fields, and occasionally referred to as the Jaina Kashi (Varanasi or Benares) of South India, has been blessed with outstanding individuals among its Jaina community since early times, both men and women. They were the ones who had temples build, who collected and preserved valuable manuscripts, and who withstood, fearlessly and wisely, the not always peaceful attempts of kings and feudatories to eradicate Jainism altogether. At times, the temptation was great to yield to such pressures and change one's religious conviction for reasons of material gain or physical survival. Many succumbed, for Jainismdoes not subscribe to a doctrine of justifiable 'holy wars'. The religion of ahimsa must not be buiIt on himsa (violence). There is a story of a south Indian Jaina monk of high standing who refused to flee from a burning temple, but his martyrdom, though admired, was never advocated as an example to be followed.

Surprisingly, though the Jaina population of Moodabidri town has dwindled to about sixtiy-five and in the surrouning villages to approximately three hundred families, there are as many Jaina as Hindu temples in Moodabidri, namely eighteen each. Of the Jaina temples, most of them are located on both sides of a so-called Temple Street which places them within walking distance from the Diganibara Jaina Matha in the town's main thoroughfare. This matha, seat of the Bhattaraka Shri Charukirthi Swami, has an information office for pilgrims and tourists, a dharmshala for about a hundred pilgrims and some guest-houses. Overseas visitors are welcome.

Moodabidri is famous for its many old manuscripts and treasures of Jaina sculp- tures. One outstanding piece is an almost three metre high Parshvanatha image made of black stone that was, according to tradition, discovered in a bamboo grove under a heap of debris at the beginning of the eighth century. The temple in which it was installed and in which it still stands, popularly called Guru Basadi, was built in 714.

 

The math basdi is a famous temple here. The 1.56 feet high idol of Bhagwan parsvanath in kayotsarg posture is worshipped as mulnayak. a painting of Bharat-Bahubali Milan is very beautiful. one may also see the rare manuscript with the permission of the Bhattarak ji.

The idols at mudbidri have   distinction of collection of  in numerous varieties from 1 inche to nine feet (parsvanath  in gururbasdi) from stone to precious stones. The clay idol at leppad basdi is also a special feature. The description of a few  temples of mudbidri are:

Hosebasdi(chandranath basdi) also known as Tribhubantilak churamani basdi of 1000 pillars is near the math. this was built in 29 january, 1430. The gopurdwar- bhiradevi mandap-chitradevi mandap-namaskat mandap-tirthankar mandap- lakshmi mandap(gandhkuti) and gribhgriha -in all six mandap are connected and give the shape of a big temple to this hose basdi. these mandap were added later on. The stone carvings of this temple is of high quality and attracts one and all.   The  8 feet high five metal alloy idol of Bhagwan chandranath in KAYOTSARG POSTURE is very attractive. the images of ram sita as per jain ramayana and yakshi Jawalamalainmi are very artistic.  This is a three stored temple and idols are installed in other stories as well. The metal sahastrkut is very impressive.

GURU-Basdiis is also called the Siddhanta temple. Here are 35 idols of navratna (nine types of precious gems).  We know from reliable historical sources that Bhadrabahuswami got many temples built here in the fourth century B.C. In the eighth century B.C. a sadhu saw a tiger and a cow lovingly playing together and he was astonished to see this exceptional scene. While searching elsewhere, this large idol of Bhagawan Parshvanath was found in a place covered with thick growth of trees. Since Guru found this holy place, it is also called Guruvasadi. the mulnayak is an idol of bhagwan parsvanath of black stone (9 feet). The temple is called sidhant basdi after the holy scriptures named Dhawal-Jaidhawal and mahadhawal preserved on tad-leaves preserved in this temple. The paintings on the leaves depicting tirthanakaras and other natural scences are a rare sight. One must see these holy books and the rare paintings.

The other temples are : vadag basdi dedicated to Chandraprabh- shetti basdi mulnayak Bhagwan mahavir- heare basdi(ammanvar basdi) mulnayak Bhagwan Shantinath and clay idols of Devi sarasvati and devi padmavati- betkeri basdimulnayak Bhagwan mahavir- Koti basdi mulnayak Bhagwan Neminath- Vikram shetti basdi mulnayak Bhagwan rishabdev- kallu basdi Bhagwan shitalnath- Leppad basdi clay idols of bhagwan chandraprabh and Yakshi jawalamalini- Derramma basdi mulnayak bhawan mallinath- chole shetti basdi-Bhagwan sumitinath; Padamprabh; mallinath and Neminath-madhishetti(adinath) basdi bhagwan adinath- benki basdi choubisi with Bhagwan ananatnath as mulnayak- kere basdi mulnayak Bhagwan mallinath-Padu (east)basdi Bhagwan Vimalanth- Bhagwan ananatnath and dharamnath.
Trust:  Shri Charukirtiswamiji Jain Math, Mudbidri - 574227, Dist : manglore, State : Karnatak, India.