The Hindu : Karnataka News : Basadi being renovated after 100 years

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Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008
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Karnataka

Basadi being renovated after 100 years

Raviprasad Kamila

First phase of work taken up by a Jain math has been completed

— PHOTO: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

SPLENDOUR: A view of the thousand-pillar basadi at Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada.

MOODBIDRI: An important tourist attraction of Dakshina Kannada — the thousand pillar basadi — is getting a facelift. The 500-year-old basadi has special significance for Jains.

The first phase of renovation of the basadi taken up by the Jain math here after more than 100 years has been completed.

A four-day religious ritual to conclude the renovation of this 15th century old basadi called Tribhuvana tilaka chudamani basadi will be observed here from April 11 to April 13. The ritual is called as “bimba shuddhi” and “dhama samprokshana”, according to Bhattaraka Charukeerthi Pandithacharyavarya Swamiji, head of the math.

The seer told The Hindu that the basadi was renovated last in 1894. Later, the last seer of the math, who is no more, initiated the renovation in 1998. The renovation actually began in 2003. Roof works were included in the first phase.

As part of it, the old wooden ceiling in three-storeys has been replaced with new teak wood. It has been covered with copper sheets. In addition, the metal statues of the 24 tirthankaras and other statutes are being cleaned.

The second phase, which is yet to be taken up, will include works of walls and floor. It will continue from the next month. “So far, we have completed 80 per cent of the renovation work. A major portion of renovation has been completed. The balance will be completed in two years,” he said.

The seer said the entire renovation will cost Rs. 1 crore. Of that, Rs. 79.50 lakh has been spent. The money spent included Rs. 32 lakh released by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Rs. 43 lakh from the Jain math which covered grants from donors and Rs. 4.50 lakh from the Department of Tourism. The Department of Tourism had released the amount for arranging lighting facility.

He said that the four-day rituals would be a low key celebration. This was because Moodbidri town did not have enough infrastructure to accommodate large number of tourists and pilgrims. It lacked a “yatri nivas”, toilet and bathroom facilities, and drinking water. The government should take the initiative to provide these facilities. The math would extend its cooperation.

As part of the rituals, a 1,008 kalasha abhisheka will be performed to the statue of Chandraprabha Swamy on April 13. The car festival at the basadi will be held on April 19 and April 20.

“Vivekabhyudaya”, a journal of Shrimathi Rama Rani Jain Research Institute of Jain Studies, Moodbidri, has in its March 2008 issue, said that the basadi was built in phases.

The construction began in 1430 by the Jain math of Moodbidri on a land given by Devaraja Odeya, a chieftain of Vijayanagara king Devaraya II. The “mukha mantapa” was built in 1451 and the 50 ft high “manasthamba” in 1461. Apart from “garba gudi”, the basadi has five mantapas. According to the journal, this basadi had been renovated four times earlier.

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