About
About Shri Neminatha Basadi at Bastihalli
- Year of establishment
- Around the 12th century
- Established by
- Chikka Nemichandra Deva
- Main deity
- Lord Neminatha
- Timings
- Usually open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Location
- Open map
At Bastihalli, about four kilometres from the sacred centre of Shravanabelagola, stands a simply designed Basadi of Lord Neminatha Tirthankara built around the twelfth century. The village itself took the name ‘Basadihalli’ from this shrine. The sanctum contains a majestic five-foot image of Lord Neminatha, and the tower is an attractive pyramidal phamsana structure. An inscription on the pedestal of the Hoysala-period image states that Chikka Nemichandra Deva—disciple of Nemichandra Pandita Deva, who was himself a disciple of Nayakirti Siddhantachakravarti of the Mulasangha, Deshiya Gana, Pustaka Gachchha, and Kundakunda lineage—commissioned Lord Neminatha. Thus Chikka Nemichandra Deva is understood to have built the Basadi. The five-foot standing image of the twenty-second Tirthankara, Lord Neminatha, is installed on a one-foot lion-throne. Two fly-whisks appear near its shoulders. Beside the feet of the black-stone image are Neminatha’s attendants, Gomeda Yaksha and Ambika Yakshi. A triple parasol rises over the head, and a beautiful scrolling makara arch forms the backdrop.
