Venur

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Venur(ವೇಣೂರು)
—  village  —
Monolith of Bahubali in Venur
Location of Venur(ವೇಣೂರು)
in Karnataka and India
Coordinates 13°01′N 75°05′E / 13.01°N 75.08°E / 13.01; 75.08Coordinates: 13°01′N 75°05′E / 13.01°N 75.08°E / 13.01; 75.08
Country India
State Karnataka
District(s) Dakshina Kannada
Nearest city Belthangadi
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)

Venur or Venoor (ವೇಣೂರು)is a small village on the banks of the Phalguni river in the South Kanara of Karnataka, India. It was once the seat of Jainism and the capital of the Ajila Dynasty.[1] It is on the Dharmasthala-Moodabidri-Karkala route on the costal religious circuit in the Karnataka State of India. Venur belongs to Belthangady taluq in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka.

Contents

[edit] Ajila Dynasty

Venur is a small town in South Kanara District of Karnataka state situated on the bank of river Gurupur. Venur though a small town was once a great seat of Jainism. It was the capital of the Ajila Dynasty and one of the most prominent Kings of them Thimmanna Ajila built a colossus of Gommateshwara 35 feet high in 1604 AD. He was a direct descendant of Chamundaraya, who built one at Shravanabelagola. Venur colossus is the shortest of all the three Gommateshwara’s within the radius of 250 km around it. It also stands in an enclosure, on the same pattern as that of Shravanabelagola. The Kings of Ajila Dynasty ruled here from 1154 AD to 1786 AD. The current descendant of the Ajila Dynasty is Thimmnnarasa Dr. Padmaprasad Ajila.[2]

[edit] Bahubali Statue

Venur's claim to fame is the monolith of Bhagawan Bahubali also known as Lord Gomateshwara.[3] The single rock statue is 38 feet in height and was erected by the Jain ruler Timmanna Ajila in the year 1604. The statue is supposed to have been sculptured by Amarashilpi Jakanachari. The statue stands facing westward on a high platform on the banks of the river Phalguni. This statue of Bahubali is one of the four giant monoliths (of the same Jain monk) found in Karnataka (the others being at Shravanabelagola, Karkala and Dharmasthala).

[edit] Mahamastakabhisheka

The last mahamastakabhisheka or the head anointing ceremony of the statue (typical of all the four Bahubali statues) was held in the year 2000. The second mahamastakabhisheka of this century will be held from 28th January 2012 to 5th February 2012 under the guidance of Acharya Vidyananda.[4] It will be inaugurated by D.V.Sadananda Gowda, Chief Minister of Karnataka.[5]

[edit] Jain Temples at Venur

  • Akkangala Basadi or Eda Basadi - Timmanajila's first wife Padyakka Devi or Vardhamanakka built this temple with Lord Chandranatha as the main deity.[6][7]
  • Binnani Basadi or Bala Basadi - The second wife Parshwandevi or Binnani built the Shanthishwara Basadi called as Bala Basadi to the right of Bahubali idol.[6][7]
  • Parshwanatha Swamy Basadi - Records indicate that the renovation of this temple was carried out in the year 1936 by his Holiness Swasti Sri Charukeerthi Bhattarakha Swamiji of the Moodabidri Jain Mutt.[6][7]
  • Kallu Basadi or Dodda Basadi or Shanthinatha Basadi[6][8]
  • Adinatha Basadi - This Basadi is situated to the left of Kallu Basadi. It has an idol of Lord Adinatha in padmasana as the main deity.[6]
  • 24 Tirthankara Basadi/Ammanavara Basadi - An inscription found to the right of this temple mentions that it was built in 1537.[6]
  • Vardhamana Swamy Basadi[6]

[edit] Reaching Venur

Venur lies along the Dharmasthala Moodabidri Karkala route in the Belathangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada District. It is situated at a distance of 20 Kms from Moodabidri and 30 Kms from Dharmasthala. It has good approach roads from Mangalore, Dharmasthala, Moodabidri, Karkala and many other important places in Karnataka. The nearest railway stations are Mangalore and Udupi. The nearest airport is at Mangalore.[9]

[edit] Accommodation

Venur is a small town with not many options as far as accommodation is concerned. People visiting the place should make arrangements at nearby places such as Dharmasthala, Moodabidri, Karkala and Mangalore.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Venur, Karnataka". http://www.jainteerth.com/teerth/venur.asp. Retrieved 2007-01-26. 
  2. ^ "Mahamastakabhisheka 2012 Committee". http://www.venur.in/?page_id=129. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  3. ^ "South Kanara , Venur". dsal.uchicago.edu. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V14_363.gif. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
  4. ^ "Venur Mahamasthakabhisheka 2012". http://www.venur.in/?page_id=30. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  5. ^ "Inauguration Mahamastakabhisheka 2012". http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/index.php/news/news-updates/916-venur-mahamasthakabhisheka. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Jain Temples at Venur". http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/index.php/news/news-updates/916-venur-mahamasthakabhisheka. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  7. ^ a b c "Other Basadis at Venur". http://www.venur.in/?page_id=171. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  8. ^ "Kallu Jain Temple at Venur". http://www.venur.in/?page_id=213. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  9. ^ "Reaching Venur". http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/index.php/news/news-updates/916-venur-mahamasthakabhisheka. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  10. ^ "Accommodation Details". http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/index.php/news/news-updates/916-venur-mahamasthakabhisheka. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 

[edit] Further reading

  • Shetty, Dr. S.D.. "Tulunadina Jaina Dharma - Ondu Samskruthika Adhyayana". Udupi: Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Samshodhana Kendra, 2002.

[edit] External links


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