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Shravanabelagola
occupies a unique and prominent place as an abode of innumerable Jain
temples of Digambara sect in south India since 5th century. In addition
to its archeological and religious importance the artistic and
antiquarian richness of the place has merited it immensly. It has
derived its name Belagola from two Kannada words bel means
white and Kola means pond. The name Belagola
is been found in an inscription of A.D. 650 and also A.D. 800. Hence the
word Shravanabelagola means the place of white pond where in Shravanas
or Jain ascetics live. It is a picturesque place lying between two rocky
hills Indragiri and Chandragiri. It is situated about 13 Kms from
Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district. Shravanabelagola abounds in
inscriptions denoting Ganga, Rashtrakuta, Hoysala, Vijayanagar and
Mysore Wodeyars reign of the place. The shrines,
canopies, monuments, tanks, Nishadi stones, manasthambhas and other
relics of the past have incessantly carved the message of Jainism through
out the land from time to time. It has enjoyed both the royal patronage
and the common-folk alike. These have been maintained in good state and
preserving heritage. Hence it is reckoned as one of the flourishing
centre of Jain pilgrimage. Further more the historians, art lovers and
research sacholars are see thronging at the place very frequently. The
near by places such as Kambadahalli Jinanathapura and Halebelagola also
bear the testimony as the satellite centers of the religion. The temples
are beckoned with cultural niche in terms of tradition of sculpture and
architecture. The temples situated on the top of Indragiri and
Chandragiri Hills, in the township and around Shravanabelagola narrate
the history of the place in a lucid way. These are built mainly out of
granite stone available in the place. Where as the temples constructed
during the Hoysala period are mainly soap stone.
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