Worship of Lord Brahma, Part 80

BY: SUN STAFF

Manastambha at Chandragiri Hill

Apr 24, 2018 CANADA (SUN) — A serial exploration of places of Lord Brahma's worship.

Iruva Brahmadeva Temple, Sravanabelgola, Karnataka

In Volume 20 of the Encyclopaedia Indica, we find the following explanation of Jainism's relationship to Brahmadev: 'It is very strange that the Brahma cult disappeared in India. It was popular where Jainism flourished later, i.e., from Ajmer to Saurastra, and there is the well known temple of Pushkar.

Parallel to Padma Purana, which was mainly devoted to Brahma, the Jains evolved their own Padma Purana which was devoted to Rsabha, and he was called Brahma. It is possible that the seat of Brahma, who was pure in all his characteristics, was shifted to Rsabha and the incarnations concept was changed to Tirthankaras concept.

It is not an accident that the Brahma cult disappeared and Jainism flourished in this area. The researches of T.P. Bhattacharya have shown that out of 24 Tirthankaras, more than 16 may be shown to have more or less connection with the cult of Brahma.

This area of Brahma, i.e., Ajmer to Saurastra, developed purity and vegetarianism to the extent that the hunting was prohibited in this area, and that became a definition for Brahmavarta, vis a vis Aryavarta. The sacrifices were done less and the Apastambha school developed in the Bay of Khambat only.'

There are many images of Lord Brahma found amongst the Jain ruins, either in the form of shrines, temple deities or murtis, Brahmastambhas (tall pedestals), or Brahma Theertham (sacred kunds or tanks). The Brahma Theertham alone are far too many in number for us to catalog.

Chandragiri Temple Complex

In the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka is the Chandragiri (Chikkabetta) Hill complex, which is home to the Iruve Brahmadeva Temple. Just opposite of the Vindhyagiri site, the small hill of Chandragiri is situated. Steps have been cut into the hill to make ascent easier for the pilgrims. Iruve Brahmadeva Temple is one of some twenty monuments residing there.

Vindyagiri Hill at Sravanabelagola

The murti of Lord Brahma at Iruve Brahmadeva is carved out of solid rock, done in the Late Phase of Jain basadi sculture. The image is fairly small. The temple sits to the north in the main Chandragiri complex. There, the solitary shrine consists of a garbhagriha, with the low relief murti of Brahmadev. An inscription on the doorway dates the temple to about 950 A.D.

Kuge Brahmadev Stambha

The Brahmastambhas

Nearby is the imposing Kuge Brahmadeva pillar, which stands at the south entrance of the enclosure. A small seated figure of Brahmadeva is positioned at the top, facing east. The pillar stands on a high platform of three tiers; the lowest is broad and squared, the middle one octagonal, and the upper one circular. The pithas were originally held in place by eight elephants, each oriented towards the diks and vidiks (the four directions), but now only a few remain. Lions are carved at the middle tier, with the asta-dik-palakas with retinue and musician are represented. An inscription on the pillar notes the death of the Ganga king Marasimha II, in 974 A.D., so the stambha was likely installed not much after that date.

The Tyagada Brahmadeva pillar stands 2.30 meters high. It was erected in front of the enclosure leading to the colossal Bahubali shrine. The pillar has a small gopura on top with kalasa as the crown. Inside is the seated figure of Lord Brahma. The four side of the pavilion on top contain Jain figures, facing the four directions.

Chandragupta Basadi at Chandragiri Hill

The erection of free-standing pillars like Kuge Brahmadeva represents an interesting aspect of Ganga art. Jain pillars are generally of two types: Manasthambas and Brahmasthambhas. The Manasthambhas, also known as Indrasthamba pillars, are those which have a pavilion at the top contains figures that face the four directions. In the case of Brahmasthambhas, a seated figure of Lord Brahma sits at the top. The huge Kuge Brahmadeva pillar at Chandragiri and the Tyagada Brahmadeva pillar at Vindhyagiri are excellent examples of free-standing pillars from this period, and both stand as witness to the importance of Brahmadev in the Jain cult.

Another fine example of a Brahmastambha is found at Shantishwara Basti, Kambadahalli, at Guruvyankeri. This 12th century pillar is unique in its size and construction, having a series of five tiled roofs, almost pagoda-style. The central pillar itself is the Brahmastambha, which was surrounded by a second structure comprised of four pillars and the large, multi-tiered roof.

Brahmastambha at Kambadahalli

SERIES INDEX:

Part 1 - Brahma-Karmali in Carambolim, Valpoi, Goa
Part 2 - Pushkar, Rajasthan
Part 3 - Chinch & Asotra, Rajasthan
Part 4 - Eklingji, Udaipur, Rajasthan)
Part 5 - Vasantgarh, Rajasthan)
Part 6 (Rajasthan: Bijoila, Mewar; Chandravati, Sirohi; Kiradu & Sevadi, Jodphur)
Part 7 (Khokhan, Himachal Pradesh)
Part 8 (Tihri-Uttarsal, Himachal Pradesh)
Part 9 (Una, Himachal Pradesh)
Part 10 (Dudhahi, Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh)
Part 11 (Gaya, Bihar)
Part 12 (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh)
Part 13 (Alampur, Andhra Pradesh)
Part 14 (Kaleshwar, Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh)
Part 15 (Sampradaya Acarya - Lingampally, Andhra Pradesh)
Part 16 (Manthani, Andhra Pradesh)
Part 17 (Gurramguda Village, Andhra Pradesh)
Part 18 (Tirusulam, Tamil Nadu)
Part 19 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 20 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 21 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 22 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 23 (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 24 (Syncretistic Forms of Lord Brahma)
Part 25 (Thirupachur, Tamil Nadu)
Part 26 (Pancheshti/Pancheti, Tamil Nadu)
Part 27 (Pallavaram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 28 (Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu)
Part 29 (Mandagappattu, Tamil Nadu)
Part 30 (Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 31 (Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 32 (Thirumukkoodal, Tamil Nadu)
Part 33 (Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu)
Part 34 (Thirunaraiyur, Tamil Nadu)
Part 35 (Thirunaraiyur, Tamil Nadu)
Part 36 (Thiruvengadu, Tamil Nadu)
Part 37 (Thiruvelliyankudi, Tamil Nadu)
Part 38 (Kuthanoor, Tamil Nadu)
Part 39 (Lalgudi, Tamil Nadu)
Part 40 (Kulithalai, Tamil Nadu)
Part 41 (Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu)
Part 42 (Thirupattur, Tamil Nadu)
Part 43 (Pullamangai, Tamil Nadu)
Part 44 (Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu)
Part 45 (Sri Rangam, Tamil Nadu)
Part 46 (Tanjore, Tamil Nadu)
Part 47 (Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu)
Part 48 (Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu)
Part 49 (Darasuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 50 (Thirukkannapuram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 51 (Malayadipatti, Tamil Nadu)
Part 52 (Thiruvadi, Tamil Nadu)
Part 53 (Thirukandiyur, Tamil Nadu)
Part 54 (Thiruparangundram, Tamil Nadu)
Part 55 (Kodumudi, Tamil Nadu)
Part 56 (Thottiyam, Tamil Nadu)
Part 57 (Nallur, Tamil Nadu)
Part 58 (Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu)
Part 59 (Purusha Sukta - The Hymn of Creation)
Part 60 (Kottakkal, Kerala)
Part 61 (Thirunavaya, Kerala)
Part 62 (Triprayar, Kerala)
Part 63 (Kodakkal, Kerala)
Part 64 (Chottanikkara, Kerala)
Part 65 (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala)
Part 66 (Thiruvallam, Kerala)
Part 67 (Tulunadu to Ur - Proliferation of Brahma Cult)
Part 68 (Lord Brahma and Abrahamic Cult)
Part 69 (Kolar, Karnataka)
Part 70 (Mullur, Karnataka)
Part 71 (Somnathapur, Halebid & Belur, Karnataka)
Part 72 (Sringeri, Karnataka)
Part 73 (Palli, Udupi, Karnataka)
Part 74 (Brahmalingeswara - Kanajaru, Karnataka)
Part 75 (Brahmalingeshwara - Maranakatte, Karnataka)
Part 76 (Brahmalingesvara Temples, Karnataka)
Part 77 (Brahmalingesvara Temples, Karnataka)
Part 78 (Aihole & Badami, Karnataka)
Part 79 (Lakkundi, Karnataka)
Part 80 (Sravanabelgola, Karnataka)

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