Megala Basadi

The Megala Basadi, meaning "Upper Temple" in Kannada, is a 10th-century Jain shrine built around 995 CE by Jinadeva, the son of the Western Ganga commander Chavundaraya. Located on Chandragiri Hill in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka, it is uniquely situated directly on the upper storey or roof level of the Chavundaraya Basadi. Inside the upper sanctum, a 4.5-foot black granite statue of Lord Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthankara, stands in a meditative, sword-standing posture under a carved serpent canopy. Visitors can access this upper shrine by climbing a narrow, historic stone staircase located inside the main ground-floor hall. An ancient inscription etched on the pedestal of the main idol serves as a critical historical record, officially documenting Jinadeva as the creator of this sacred upper temple. Over the centuries, the shrine underwent expansions, including an extended open porch area added during the reign of King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala Empire. Today, it remains an architectural marvel of Dravidian design and a vital pilgrimage site within the cluster of ancient rock-cut monuments on the hill.