"MATHADA BASTI: FINEST ARTS OF THE GANGA DYNASTY"

In this show of our documentary travelogue on Steemit, "Bharat Darshan: exploring the unexplored", Sukhnidhey Films (www.sukhnidhey.com) takes you 1700 years back in time to the ancient Karnataka, when the Western Ganga Dynasty ruled over most of the region. The Ganga rulers were great patrons of art and architecture; and their rule can be described as the "Golden Age" of Karnataka arts. One of greatest ministers ever in the Kingdom was Chamundaraya, also called Chavundaraya, who was also a celebrated poet and a great admirer of art.

You might have heard of the world's largest monolithic statue of Gomateshwar in Sravanbelagola. However, did you know, downhill in this town lie some ancient, forgotten Jain temples, which have some of the finest specimens of Ganga arts, sculptures and frescoes in the whole world. We explore the first of this temple chain, called, "Mathada Basti", "Srimath", "Shreemath", or "Math ki Basti" where the word "basti" or "basandi" means a temple in local folklore.

Mathada basti was built by Chamundaraya nearly 1200 years ago, and it was here that he also established the monastry of his guru, Shri Nemichandra. From the outside, the temple exhibits distinct features of Ganga architecture in the beautiful scluptures, rigid supporting pillars, etc. As we enter this magnificient temple, we spot some of the rarest and most magnificent specimens of sculptures above. One of them is that of the Jain tirthankara, Lord Parshvanatha, depicted with a hood of 5 snakes above his head. What makes this distinct is the fact that Lord Parshvanath is usually depicted with 3, 7 or 11 cobra heads! We see an intricately sculptured motif called the "Ganda Barunda" on the walls which is a mythological bird with two heads, standing as a symbol for power. Such motifs are fund in several contemporary temples in Karnataka. The symbol was also the emblem of the Wodeyar dynasty.

Next, we show you around some of the finest ancient specimens of murals and wall paintings (frescoes) in the world. Depicted in these paintings are Jain tales, the Panch Parmeshtis, Jain monks and munis, the tirthankaras,etc. We spot out the coronation ceremony of Jainism's first tirthankara, Lord Rishabhdeva, the king of the Ikshvaku dynasty. His subjects celebrate with great joy and fervour, playing drums, and several musical instruments.

The rain and war God Indra's mount, the Airavata elephant with 7 trunks, is also shown. We see the Samavasarana, which are large magnificient halls where Jain monks preach after enlightenment. In these divine, heavenly halls, knowledge is said to have been delivered in such a language and form which even lower organisms like the animals could understand. The court of King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III is also depicted. Scholars believe that these frecoes were painted using powdered coal, pigments and dyes and constitute some of the finest, rarest and oldest frecoes and murals in Jainism!

The temple has three Garbhgrihas, or Sanctum Sanctorum. We are left awe-inspired by the most beautiful idol of Lord Chandrprabhu. An interesting fact is that in Jainism, each tirthankara has a "Yaksha" and "Yakshini: or "Yakshi" associated as guardian deities. In the temple, we see Devi Amra Kushmandini devi, also called as Devi Ambika,the Yakshini (guardian deity) of the tirthankara Lord Neminath.

Finally, we also observe the ceremonial "Abhisheka" of the Lord, wherein the idols are bathed with water, milk and flowers with utmost love and devotion. The sight of sparkling milk drops falling down on the idol, representative of the Almighty is the supreme expression of devotion and dedication to the Supreme Divine, and leaves us mesmerized.

So, hold your breath, tighten your seat belts and come along with us as we take you to this exciting and forgotten place, gather and document historical evidences on this enchanting journey, studying the architectural features and critically examining the events as described in the ancient Indian texts, and as we see them first hand.

"BHARAT DARSHAN: exploring the unexplored", every Thursday at 12 pm EST on Steemit