Lord Shri Anantanatha Basadi (Majjigana Basadi)

The origin of the name Majjigana can be traced to a word in an inscription. In the phrase ‘Namilura Sirisanghada Ajigana,’ the term ‘Ajigana’—from Shrimat plus Ajigana—later became Majjigana. Inscriptions found near the Basadi record that many monks of the Navilur Shrisangha undertook vows and died here, suggesting that members of that gana built it. About eleven inscriptions name this group, all dating to the eighth century.

The present Majjigana Basadi has been restored many times. It contains a sanctum, open vestibule, navaranga, and a small entrance hall. The Anantanatha image in the sanctum is Hoysala-period work. Of the navaranga pillars, the one to the left of the doorway is soapstone and the others are hard stone; the bracket is also hard stone. The navaranga ceiling bears an eight-petalled lotus. The jambs on both sides of the doorway have lotus-petal ornament, and the walls contain decorated stone panels added during restoration. Since the Ajigana inscriptions were found nearby and this has been identified as their Basadi, it was probably built in the eighth or ninth century. Repeated restorations subsequently gave it its present outward form.