Shri Parshvanatha Basadi at Halebelagola

Halebelagola is a small village six kilometres north of Shravanabelagola. Scholars identify it as the original settlement of Shravanabelagola, where monks arriving in the region first lived for many years. They state that the Parshvanatha Jain Basadi here was built in the ninth or tenth century by Jinnanadeva, son of the Ganga minister Chamundaraya. The structure follows the Ganga architectural style. During the Hoysala period it was restored, a Jina image installed, and an entrance hall added. The ruined Parshvanatha Basadi was restored again in 2018. Its interior navaranga hall is rich in sculpture. In the central Bhuvaneshwari ceiling, the eight directional guardians and their consorts are beautifully shown riding chariots; at the centre is a five-hooded image of Dharanendra Yaksha. Inscriptions record that Ereyanga, father of Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana, granted Rachenahalli to the Jain teacher Gopanandi for restoring Belagola’s Jinalayas. Scholars therefore believe this Basadi may have been built around Shaka year 1016. Carved stones from Basadis are found in the village tank, leading scholars to suggest that several more Basadis once stood here and may have been dismantled to build the tank embankment.