Ms. Vathsala Shetty, a graduate student of Dr.T.M.A. Pai College, Kunjibettu, Udupi, recently took up a study and produced a Visual Presentation C.D. on the famous Barkur Jaina Basadi or Katthale Basadi as a part of her project, under the guidance of Mrs. Usha Hande, lecturer in history at the same college.

Barkur online is happy to present the extracts from the CD for the benefit of our visitors.

"Jaina Basadi of Barkur. (Katthale Basadi)

Though this Basadi is popularly known as Katthale Basadi, the actual name is Parshawanatha Basadi, was built in the year 1808 by a king named Pandya Bhoopala from Kalasa Karkala. The Basadi faces west and the roof is constructed completely with stone slabs, resting on the stone pillars. The Navaranga contains a Naga Kallu, believed to be one of the top Gods of Hindu religion.

The Basadi belongs to 7-8^th century. There is no much stone carving is observed here. The whole structure is in a rectangular shape and it contains the inner and outer , two 'Prdakshina Patha's, which is considered as a specialty.

This is one of the three Jaina Basadi's situted in Barkur in three directions. The other two are in Manegara Keri and Moodukeri.

The architectural style of this Basadi resembles that of a Eeshwara Temple. A beautiful 20 feet monolithic Manasthambha towers in front of the Basadi as one can usually find a Flagpole in front of a temple. Mythological carvings like Mayoora, Chakra, face of Ugra Narasimha and a half man-half animal like creature can be found on the Manasthambha.

A six-pillared empty pendal stands left to the Parshawanatha Basadi. Next to it is the Chouveesa Theerthankara pendal. It is believed that there were 24 statues of Jaina Theerthankaras were being worshipped in this pendal. But now these statues are missing and only the remains of the same can be seen. This pendal has two types entrances.

One Shaiva and a Vaishnava temples stand behind the Parshawanatha Basadi.

The Shaiva temple has a Shivalinga and a inner 'Pradakshina Patha'. A statue of Nandi is situated in front of the temple. The base of the Nandi contains stone designs of the Navagraha.

The Jaya -Vijaya statues standing in front of the other temple are the proof that it is indeed a Vaishnava temple. The Garbhagudi and the Navaranga of this temple are one and the roof is very beautiful.

Inscriptions:

The inscriptions here contain the embossing of Sun, Moon, Nandi and Eeshwaralinga. The 1300 Keravase inscription has information about this Basadi and according to it, the king of Karkala was performing worship here and arranged donations for the Sages. This Basadi belongs to the time of 1^st Devaraya of Vijayanagar and has the architectural style of the early Vijayanagara.

Jaina architectural style and the statues of Barkur are very unique and special. Jains normally never built a Basadi in Gajaprastha style. The Basadi in Moodukeri is built in Gajaprastha style by Shantharas and the Saraswathi statue found here is the most beautiful among the statues found in Barkur and also very important in the statue carving styles."

-Vathsala Shetty.