Shravanabelagola

From Freepedia

Shravanabelagola is a city located in the Hassan district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers.

There are two hills Chandragiri and Vindyagiri. The last shruta-kevali Bhadrabah and his pupil Chnadragupta (formerly the Maurya king) had meditated there. Chandragiri has memorials to numerous monks and shravakas who have meditated there, since 5th cent CE, including the last king of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Manyakheta. Chandragiri also has a famous temple built by Chamundaraya, who was a disciple of Acharya Nemichandra Siddhanta-chakravarti.

The Vindhyagiri hill is home to a 17.38 meter high monolithic stone statue of the Bhagwan Gomateshwara Bahubali, considered the world largest, built by Chamundaraya, a general of Ganga kings. Every 12 years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform theMahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony where the thousand-year-old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2005 A.D.

Shravanabelagola is the seat of the ancient Bhattaraka Math, belonging to the Desiya Gana lineage of Mula Sangha of Digambar monstic tradition. The Bhattarakas are all named Charukirti.

Shravanabelegola is 158 km from Bangalore.