Bangalore to Shravanabelagola on bike: Chapter 3: Chandragiri: Part 5: Chavundaraya Basti Karnataka AdmirableIndia.com

Bangalore to Shravanabelagola on bike: Chapter 3: Chandragiri: Part 5: Chavundaraya Basti

7th December 2009, 06:25 pm

Chavundaraya Basti (rear view): Architechturally very interesting and historically immensely important, the Chavundaraya basti was either built by Chavundaraya or named after him. The granite structure is a perfect specimen of Ganga workmanship (10th century) and of Dravidian architectural features. Though, the outer walls are plain, the parapet and the tower are ornate. A row of swans below the eaves, the horse shoe shaped arches on the cornice, a row of sea horse or lion faced fish at the lower most row of the parapet, a row of large reliefs of Tirthankaras, Yakshas, Yakshis, Gandharvas, elephants, and other reliefs and the gable shaped crowning architectural members are of absorbing interest. We find here some of the finest creations of the Indian artists. The architectural pattern is repeated on the tower. The tower is perfect, proportionate and compact. The sanctum houses an image of Neminatha carved by a famous Hoysala artist Gangachari, son of Hoysalachari. In the vestibule are the sculptures of Sarvahna Yaksha and Ambika Yakshi of Hoysala period 912th century). A narrow staircase at the south east corner leads to the upper storey. There is a standing image of Tirthankara of 10th century AD in the upper storey of the temple. An inscription on the pedestal of this image states that it was made by the son of Chavundaraya.