Akkana Basadi

File:Rear view of Akkana Basadi from south west.jpg

File:Tower over the shrine with Jain saints under kirtimukha relief in the Akkana Basadi at Shravanabelagola.JPG shikhara (tower over shrine) at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola]]

According to art historian Adam Hardy, the basadi is a simple single shrine with superstructure (ekakuta vimana{{sfn|Foekema|1996|p=25}}) construction with a closed hall (mantapa). The material used is Soap stone.{{sfn|Hardy|1995|p=343}} The sanctum (garbhagriha) that houses the standing image of Tirthankara Parshwanatha (under a seven headed snake canopy) connects to the hall via an antechamber (vestibule or sukanasi). From the outside, the entrance to the hall is through a porch whose awning is supported by lathe turned half pillars. According to art historians Percy Brown and Gerard Foekema, all these features are commonly found in Hoysala temples.Brown in Kamath (2001), pp.134-135{{sfn|Foekema|1996|pp=21-25}} According to historian Kamath, the use of Soap stone as basic building material was a technique the Hoysalas adopted from the predecessors, the Western Chalukyas.Kamath (2001), p.136 The temple which faces east is enclosed with in a bounding wall (prakara), while the entrance is from the south. Typical of a Jain basadi, the outer walls of the temple are plain, giving it an austere outlook. The temple stands on a base (adhisthana) that comprises five moldings.

The tower over the shrine (shikhara) is plain. However, on a projection on the east side is a panel sculpture in relief that depicts a saint with his attendants (yaksha, the benevolent spirits) on either side and a Kirtimukha (imaginary beast) over his head. This is a work of merit. The tower comprises three tiers, each ascending tier diminishing in height. Above the third tier is a dome like structure. This is the largest sculptural piece in the temple with a ground surface area of about 2x2 meters (amalaka, "helmet" like structure). The shape of the dome usually follows that of the shrine (square or star shape).{{sfn|Foekema|1996|p=27}} The vestibule also has a short tower which looks like an extension of the main tower over the shrine. Gerard Foekema calls it the "nose" of the main tower.{{sfn|Foekema|1996|p=22}} The temple features a {{convert|5|ft}} idol of Parshvanatha sheltered by seven hooded serpent. The vestibule contains two free sculptures of the yakshas, Dharnendra and Padmavati.{{sfn|Sangave|1981|p=19}} The door lintel and jamb of vestibule and the sanctum are decorative and have perforated screens on either side. The hall ceiling is supported by four centrally placed large lathe turned, bell shaped and polished pillars that divide the ceiling into nine "bays". The bay ceilings are rich in relief.{{sfn|Foekema|1996|p=22}}

File:Closed mantapa in the Akkana Basadi (1181 A.D.) at Shravanabelagola.jpg|Ornate closed mantapa whose ceiling is supported by lathe turned bell shaped pillars

File:Decorative ceiling inside the Akkana Basadi at Shravanabelagola.jpg|Decorative "bay" ceiling in Akkana Basadi

File:Ceiling art in the mantapa of Akkana Basadi at Shravanabelagola 1.JPG|Decorative bay ceiling

File:Old_Kannada_inscription_dated_1182_A.D._at_the_Akkana_Basadi_in_Shravanebelagola.jpg|Old Kannada grant inscription (1182 A.D.) of King Veera Ballala II, at the request of Achiyakka, wife of minister Chandramouli

File:Entrance to Akkana Basadi mantapa at Shravanebelagola.jpg|Porch entrance to Akkana Basad with the awning supported by half pillars with old Kannada inscription on the side.

File:Image of Jain Tirthankar Parshwanath at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola.jpg|5 feet tall idol of the 23rd Tirthankar Parshwanath standing under a seven headed snake

File:Intricate relief on pillar at Akkana Basadi.jpg|Intricate relief on pillar at Akkana Basadi

File:Sculpture of Yaksha Dharanendra at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola.jpg|Sculpture of Yaksha Dharanendra

File:Sculpture of Yakshi Padmavathi at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola.jpg|Sculpture of Yakshi Padmavati

{{commons category}}

• Bhandara Basadi
• Jain Basadi complex, Halebidu
• Shravanabelagola
• Parshvanatha basadi, Shravanabelgola

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book | last=Foekema | first=Gerard | title=A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples | publisher=Abhinav Publications | year=1996 | isbn=81-7017-345-0 | url={{Google books|puhKEqJpElEC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} }}
• {{Cite book |last=Kamath |first=Suryanath U. |title=A concise history of Karnataka: from pre-historic times to the present |orig-year=1980 |year=2001 |publisher=Jupiter books |location=Bangalore |oclc=7796041 |lccn=80905179}}
• {{cite book |last=Rice|first=Benjamin Lewis|title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Rev. ed, Volume 2-Inscriptions at Shravana Belagola|year=1889|publisher=Government of Mysore Central Press|location=Bangalore}}
• {{cite book |last1=Jain|first1=Surendranath|last2=Jain|first2=Sarojini|title=Bahubali of Jainbadari (Shravanabelagola) and other Jain shrines of the Deccan|year=1953|publisher=SDJMI Managing Committee|location=Shravanabelagola|chapter=Bastis in Shravanabelagola Village}}
• {{cite book |last=Hardy |first=Adam | author-link=Adam Hardy (architectural historian) |title=Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation : the Karṇāṭa Drāviḍa Tradition, 7th to 13th Centuries |url={{Google books|aU0hCAS2-08C|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |year=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=9788170173120}}
• {{cite book |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |author-link=Vilas Adinath Sangave |title=The Sacred ʹSravaṇa-Beḷagoḷa: A Socio-religious Study | volume=8 | issue=8 | series=Murtidevī granthamālā |date=1981 |publisher=Bhartiya Jnanpith |location=Mumbai |isbn=9789326355599 |url={{Google books|nZ3S6CW5KKQC|page=19|text=|plainurl=yes}} }}
• {{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_karnataka_bangalore.asp|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments – Karnataka -Bangalore, Bangalore Circle, Karnataka|work=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts|access-date=12 July 2012}}
• {{cite web |url=http://asibengalurucircle.org/hassan-16.html|title=Akkana Basti|work=Archaeological Survey of India, Bengaluru Circle |publisher=ASI Bengaluru Circle|access-date=3 April 2013}}

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