Karkala
Karkala is a small town located in the southern part of the state of Karnataka. There are about 18 temples basadis, which are mainly located on a hillock on the outskirts of the town. Karkala was a great Jain centre from the ancient times and was the capital of the Santra family. The huge Gommateshwar statue here was was built and installed in 1432 A.D. by Veera Pandyadeva a ruler of Bhairarasa(Santra) family of Karkala, who ruled here during the 14th century. This statue has been carved out of a single stone standing on a 300 feet high hill. On the foot steps of the hill there lies a beautiful pond named as Ramasamudra. The famous Shanthinatha Basadi was built in 1334 A.D..Chaturmakha Basadi also known as Tribhuvantilak temple was built in the 16th century. This temple stands on 108 pillars which are very attractive with beautiful carvings on it. On the three sides of this temple are installed the idols of Bhagwan Arahnatha,Bhagwan Mallinatha and Bhagwan Munisuvrat Nath and on the fourth side are installed the idols of the 24 Tirthankaras. The Karkala Jain muth has Sri Sri Sri Lalithakeerthi Bhataraka Swamiji as the Bhataraka. The other temples in Karkala include: Parshwanatha Basadi:Which has an idol of Bhagawan Parshwanatha and an idol of Padmavathi Devi. 2. Chandranatha Basadi:it has in it the idol of Bhagawan Chandranatha in the Kayotsarga posture along with the idol of Yakshi Kushmandini. ”’Chaturmukhi Basadi”’
Chaturmukha Basadi is a symmetrical Jain temple, situated on a rocky hill at Karkala in Udupi District of Karnataka. Consecrated by Vir Pandya deva, the king of Bairarava family in 1432, the basadi 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 Ara, Malli, and Suyrata. Besides these, the images of the 24th Tirthankar and Yakshi Padmavati can also be found. 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.
