Shravanabelagola, an ancient Jain pilgrimage centre is situated about 95 kms from Mysore, 157 kms from Bangalore and 52 kms from Hassan. It is nesltled between the Indragiri and Chandragiri Hills. The Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya retired to Shravanabelagola along with Bhadrabahu, a disciple of Lord Mahavira around 300 B.C to become a Jain ascetic, after handing over his kingdom to his son Bindusara. Thus, Jainism became popular in Karnataka during that period. There are some 500 inscriptions in Shravanbelagola recording the slow death by starving of the Jain ascetics.

 

A 58 feet tall monolithic statue of Lord Gomateswara stands atop the Indragiri hill. Gomateshwara , a Jain saint was so deep in his meditation, that creepers started entwining his legs. This monolithis statue is also depicted with

creepers around the limbs.

 

The giant statue of Gomateshwara was erected in 983 AD by Chamundaraya, a general and minister of the Ganga King, Rachamatta, by the sculptor Arstameni. The spectacular ceremonial worship of the Lord takes place once every 12 years - Mahamastabhishekam, when the statue is bathed with pots of milk, honey, curd, rice, coconut milk, ghee, sugar, almonds, saffron, coins, turmeric powder, vermillon, dates, bananas, by priests who climg a special structure raised for this purpose near the statue.