The Humcha Jain temples or Humcha basadis are a group of temples found in Humcha village of Shimoga district in Karnataka, India. They were constructed in the 7th century CE in the period of the Santara dynasty and are regarded as one of the major Jain centres of Karnataka.[1][2] The Padmavati Basadi is the most well-known of these temples.[3]
Humcha has been a major Jain centre since the establishment of the seat of the Bhattaraka (head of Digambara institutions[4][5]) in the 7th–8th century CE by Jinadatta Raya, founder of the Santara dynasty.[1][6][7] The current structure of the Padmavati temple was built by Vira Santara in 1061 CE.[8]
Vikrama Santara built Guddada Basadi, dedicated to Bahubali, in 897 CE, and the Parshvanath temple in 950 CE.[9] The Santara rulers granted land, gold, and other gifts as offerings for worship and religious activities. Bhujabala Santaradeva, of the Chalukya dynasty, made similar grants to Bhujabala Santara Jinalaya.[10]
The Bhattaraka's seat at Humcha is one of fourteen surviving seats of the original 36.[4] The earliest inscription dates back to the 9th century CE.[6] An 11th century inscription refers to a shrine dedicated to the cult of Padmavati. The Ratta and Shilahara dynasties also worshiped Padmavati as their tutelary deity.[11] Humcha received royal patronage until Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala Empire converted to Hindu Vaishnavism in 1117 or 1132 CE.[12] A 12th century nishidhi stone mentions a woman named Piriyarasi performing Sallekhana during the reign of Mahamandaleshwar Bomma Santi Deva, a local chief under Western Chalukya Empire.[13] According to an inscription dated 1530 CE, the viceroy of Sriranganagara converted from the Franconian faith to Jainism under the influence of Āchārya Vidyananda.[14] A total of 43 inscriptions has been discovered at this site.[citation needed] According to Pārśvanātha-Padmāvatī-labdhavaraprasanna in seal, the bhaṭṭārakas of Malkheda were confirmed at the Padmavati Basadi.[15]
The basadi complex is maintained by Humcha Matha and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.[16][2][17] The temples have since undergone repairs, renovations, and modifications.[18]
Jinadatta, a royal prince of Mathura in the Solar dynasty, fled home after his father, Sahakara, attempted to murder him. Sahakara, under the influence of his second son Mardatta, had sought to ensure that the latter would be the successor to the throne. Jindatta fled to South India, and, heeding the counsel of Jain monk Muni Siddhanta, carried a golden idol of Padmavati on his back to protect him on his journey.[19] On the way, while resting under a kari lakki tree, Jindatta had a dream in which Padmavati told him to establish his capital at that place, with the help of people living in the forest.[20] Jinadatta proceeded to found the city of Pombuccapura (modern-day Humcha)[11] and built two temples dedicated to Parshvanatha. He also founded a shrine of Padmavati near the tree where he had his dream, installing an idol of the Goddess as presiding deity of the temple.[19][21]