KARKAL TIRTH

Categories : All Jain Tirth

KARKAL TIRTH

SHRI KARKAL TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Shri Neminath Bhagwan in black color, seated in a semi-lotus posture and of height 137 Cms in a shrine near the village of Karkal (Dig).

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

The reference is available that in Vikram year 1514, Raja Abhinav Pandya Dev had made a gift of substantial cash to this temple. This shows that this shrine is of an earlier period.

Just opposite the temple, there is a pillar for glory (Manastambh) which is 1798 Cms high (about 59 feet) made out of a single rock, the like of which is difficult to be seen anywhere else.

In order to carve the forge idols, the stone found here is considered to be the hardest and the best in all respects. Even today the art of idol-makers here and the idols made by them are found in plenty in holy temples and private family houses. This is the specialty of this place.

Near the village on a mountain, the 41 feet tall standing idol of Sri Bahubali Bhagwan according to opinion, was ceremonially installed and consecrated by Jain King Sri Vir Pande Bhere in Vikram year 1525 on the auspicious day of the 16th of February 1468. At that time on the occasion the Jain King of Vijaynagar Sri Dev Rana was present.

On one side on the mountain there is a temple of Sri Adhishvar Bhagwan in which the idol has four faces in four directions. In Hire Agadi nearby there are 8 more temples. The idol is very artistic and one can find a lot of idols here.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

Nearby Mangalore station is 51Kms away and the temple is 1.5 Kms away from Karkal temple. This shrine is located on Mangalore-Shimoga road. There is a tar road upto the temple. Taxis and rickshaws are available. Varang is 22Kms, Udipi 38 Kms and Mudbidri is 17Kms from here.

AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :
Nearby the temple there is a dharamshala for lodging with all facilities. Food can be arranged for on advance information here.