The Chaturmukha basadi is a four faced symmetrical Jain temple or Jaina Basadi. The Chaturmukha Basadi, was built in the late 16th century by Immadi Bhairarasa Vodeya of the Santara dynasty in 1586. Chaturmukha Basadi is located at Karkala, Udupi district of Karnataka.
Chaturmukha basadi is one of the ancient Jain pilgrimage center in Udupi. The Basadi (temple) has four sets black stone statues of Tirthankara Aranath, Mallinath and Munisuvratnath facing in all four directions. It has four symmetrical faces and is thus called chaturmukha (four faces) basadi. The temple has 4 identical doorways in the north, south, east and west that all lead into the Garbhagriha.
Chaturmukha basadi is completely carved out of granite rocks, is known as Tribhuvana Tilaka Jina Chaityalaya or Ratnatraya dhama from inscriptions. Chaturmukha basadi is built on top of a small hill. It is built in Vijaynagara style of architecture.Chaturmukha basadi faces the famous Karkala Bahubali statue installed in the year 1432 by Veera Pandya of the Santara dynasty on February 13, 1432, on the instructions of the Bhattaraka of Karkala, Lalitakeerti. The construction of this temple is attributed to more than one person. Some believe that the Chaturmukha Basadi was built towards the end of the 16th century by the Santara dynasty’s Immadi Bhairarasa Vodeya.
Others attribute its design and construction to Queen Channabhairadevi. According to another legend, the temple dates back to the 15th century when it was built by Vir Pandyadeva, a Jain King.The Jain rulers who ruled Karkala at that period gave due importance to construction of basadis , which have stood the test of time.Main Deity here is Yakshi Padmavati and 24th Thirthankara
Chaturmukha Basadi is protected under the Archaeological Survey of India. tourism has not been advertised much but has many interesting locations nearby such as the Gommatta Betta, Anekere Basadi, and many more jain basadis in and around the area. The basadi has few interesting carvings.
Optical illusion carvings, of a bull and elephant, carved with two different body and head overlapping the other carving.
One of the reasons the temple is believed to have 108 pillars is because this number adds up to 9 which is thought of as the perfect Vedic number. Each of these 18-foot tall pillars has been carved out of a single granite block. The pillars feature intricate carvings of Jain and Hindu deities.
It is one of the most famous monuments in Karkala. Chaturmukha Basadi is located very near to Karkala Busstand.
Karkala is 60 kilometers from Mangalore and 7 hours drive from Bangalore. For travel enthusiast Karkala tourism and Karnataka tourism holds many places to be explored.Places near Karkala, such as Moodabidri , Malpe beach , Udupi offer tourists various choices for visit from beaches, nature treks, temples to jain mandirs.
Outer view of Chaturmukha basadi
Distant view of Chaturmukha basadi from adjacent Gommateshwara hill
Chaturmukha basadi is completely carved out of granite rocks, is known as Tribhuvana Tilaka Jina Chaityalaya or Ratnatraya dhama from inscriptions. Chaturmukha basadi is built on top of a small hill. It is built in Vijaynagara style of architecture.Chaturmukha basadi faces the famous Karkala Bahubali statue installed in the year 1432 by Veera Pandya of the Santara dynasty on February 13, 1432, on the instructions of the Bhattaraka of Karkala, Lalitakeerti. The construction of this temple is attributed to more than one person. Some believe that the Chaturmukha Basadi was built towards the end of the 16th century by the Santara dynasty’s Immadi Bhairarasa Vodeya.
Others attribute its design and construction to Queen Channabhairadevi. According to another legend, the temple dates back to the 15th century when it was built by Vir Pandyadeva, a Jain King.The Jain rulers who ruled Karkala at that period gave due importance to construction of basadis , which have stood the test of time.Main Deity here is Yakshi Padmavati and 24th Thirthankara
View of entrance of Chaturmukha Basadi from the foothill
Carvings on the outer wall of Basadi
carving on left has body of Bull and elephant on right side
The horns of the bull becomes the tusk of the elephant, and the hump of the Bull becomes the trunk of the elephant. Bulls ears become elephants mouth. The elephants head is the bulls nose and the eye is common to both.
One of the reasons the temple is believed to have 108 pillars is because this number adds up to 9 which is thought of as the perfect Vedic number. Each of these 18-foot tall pillars has been carved out of a single granite block. The pillars feature intricate carvings of Jain and Hindu deities.
It is one of the most famous monuments in Karkala. Chaturmukha Basadi is located very near to Karkala Busstand.
Karkala is 60 kilometers from Mangalore and 7 hours drive from Bangalore. For travel enthusiast Karkala tourism and Karnataka tourism holds many places to be explored.Places near Karkala, such as Moodabidri , Malpe beach , Udupi offer tourists various choices for visit from beaches, nature treks, temples to jain mandirs.
Video of Chaturmukha basadi
