Shantinatha Basadi, Jinanathapura

Shantinatha Basadi, Jinanathapura
Shantinatha Basadi in Jinanaathapura
Basic information
Location	Hassan district, Karnataka
Geographic coordinates	12°51′40.9″N 76°29′11.6″E / 12.861361°N 76.486556°E / 12.861361; 76.486556Coordinates: 12°51′40.9″N 76°29′11.6″E / 12.861361°N 76.486556°E / 12.861361; 76.486556
Affiliation	Jainism
Deity	Shantinatha
Festivals	Mahavir Jayanti
Date established	1200 A.D.

Shantinatha Basadi (or Shanteshvara basadi), a Jain temple dedicated to the sixteenth Tirthankar Shantinatha is located in the historically important temple town of Jinanathapura near Shravanabelagola (also spelt "Jainanathapura"). It is a village in Channarayapatna taluk in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. Jinanathapura was founded by Ganga Raja, a commander and an influential Jain patron in the early 12th century during the rule of the noted Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana. The Shantinatha Basadi (also spelt "basti") is a fine specimen of the Hoysala style of architecture and was built around 1200 A.D. during the rule of King Veera Ballala II. According to the art historian Adam Hardy, the Basadi is a single shrine (vimana) construction with a closed mantapa and the building material used is Soap stone. The monument is protected by the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Shantinatha Basadi exhibits interesting departure from contemporary austere Jain temples (such as the Akkana Basadi) because of its rich and bold exterior panel relief, an idiom that was more common with the contemporary Hindu temples built by the Hoysala kings or by influential persons associated with the empire. A Kannada language inscription on the pedestal of the seated image of the Shantinatha reveals the Basadi was built by Recana (also called Recimayya, Recarasa and Recaprabhu), a general and minister of the king Ballala II. It also gives some information about his Jain preceptors. Recana, who was earlier in the service of the Kalyani Chalukyas and later the Southern Kalachuris appears to have transferred his loyalty to the Hoysala king. Inscriptions reveal that he built Jain temples at Lakkundi and Arasikere as well.