WELCOME TO JAIN TIRTH OF KARNATAKA

The survey of Jainism in South India gives an apparent picture that it was popular in south India during and even earlier than the period of tirthankar Mahavir. The monument of Lord Bahubali at Sharvanbelgola has the distinction of being the largest statue of 57 feet carved out of a single stone. Numerous idols made of Diamond and other precious stones are still preserved at Karnataka. Karnataka is a very ancient  and important center of Digambara Jain faith. Karnataka is also refered to as the place of  Temples and sculptures of Ahimsa. The structure of wood, stone and even caves were carved for the  temples. Karnataka has the distinction of  having the India's first free-standing monolithic statue of colossal size of 57 feet hewn out of an upright boulder of granite. We do not know for certain when Jainism entered Karnataka and the other regions in the south; yet having encountered Gujarati Jaina monks and nuns at places like Kolhapur and Bangalore in the far south and southern monks from Belgaum in far  away Bihar, one is inclined to favour the view of those scholars who consider it likely- that Jaina ascetics must have walked southward soon after Mahavira's death, learned the language of the people they met and started to  spread Jaina culture. The first Ganga King  was converted into jainism by  the Jaina Monk Achraya Simhanandi around 3^rd centry AD.  In the course of time other kings followed Jainism, notably those of badami and Halebid. Karnataka is the land of great personalities like  Acharaya Bhadrabahu, Bhagwan Kundkund Dev, Siddhantchakravarti  Acharaya Nemichander, Veer Chamundaraya, Mahimamayi Kalaldevi, Akkandevi, Queen Pattamahadevi Shantala

Karnataka is very rich in the artitecture and statue carving. Besides the 57 feet high Bahubali statue at Sharvanbelgola, there are other very huge statue 42 feet high at Karkala and also at venur and dharmasthal. Here we can see the idols of gold, silver, panchdhatu (five metal alloy) astadhatu (8 metal alloy) and that of precious stones. Karnataka is also known for the harmony among the followers of various faiths- Jains and Vedic religion. According to old dedicatory inscriptions queens and the mothers and sisters of kings who were followers of Vedic Hindu religion commissioned a great number of Jaina temples and sculptures. Here the nature has given its best in the form of beautiful rivers, ponds, lakes and forest full of wild life and many more interesting things for the tourists and pilgrims.A rich treasure of art and architecture is preserved in South India.