Karkal (KA)

Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra, Karkal
District- Uddupi (Karnataka) Pin- 574104
Phone Number(s) 08258-233977, 233099
Nearby Main Cities: Mudbadri- 16km, Mangalore- 53km.

Karkal or Karkala is situated in the southern part of the state of Karnataka. The temples in the state are mainly located on hillocks in the outskirts of the city.

The Chaturmukha Basadi (temple) is a symmetrical Jain temple, situated on a rocky hill at Karkala in Udupi District. Consecrated by Vir Pandya deva, the king of Bairarava family in 1432, the temple was completed in 1586. It is built in the form of a square mandapa or hall, with a lofty doorway and pillared portico on each of its four sides.

Since four identical doorways in four directions lead to the Garbhagriha, it is called Chaturmukha Basadi. The roof is flat and is made of huge granite slabs. In the Garbhagriha, one can see the standing statues of Bhagwan Arahnath, Mallinath and Suyrata. Besides these, the images of the 24th Tirthankar and Yakshi Padmavati can also be found here.

There are a total of 108 pillars inside and outside the temple. This is the most celebrated temple in Karkala, and is referred to in the inscriptions as Tribhuvana Tilaka Jina Chaityalaya and Ratnaraya Dhama. Apart from this a 13 mt. high statue of Bhagwan Bahubali have also been crafted here.