A recent find of five temple complexes at remote village of Artipura in Mandya district of Karnataka further establishes existence of Western Ganga rulers over South Karnataka region, besides throwing light on the earlier Jain identity.
ASI’s “scientific clearance” in the discovery of temple complexes at the Chikkabetta has also brought to light Artipura’s history that thrived earlier to the Shravanabelagola references.
Artipura is a small village 20 km south east of Maddur and five km east of Kokkare Bellur in Mandya district. It consists of two hills of local origin--Shravanabetta and Chikkabetta -- towards the east of the village that come under the Centrally-protected site of the Bangalore circle of ASI.
The study exposes the remains of the five temple complexes with two phases of constructions – both brick and stones.
“The main objective was to find if Artipura’s archaeological findings at Shravanabetta and Chikkabetta were incipient to the development that culminated at Shravanabelagola. The presence of Bahubali at Shravanabetta at Artipura is “more rudimentary” which, according to Dr. I.K. Sharma, is earlier to the establishing the famous Bahubali of Shravanabelagola,” said ASI (Bengaluru Circle) Superintending Archaeologist T. Arun Raj, who led the discovery. The other team members include P. Aravazhi, R.N. Kumaran, Rajanna, Basavaraj, Govindappa and Mulji Valji.
The basement of the brick temples found at Chikkabetta of Artipura are seen to be plastered with lime where various shapes of moulded bricks were used in the construction. The stone platforms were topped with sockets for installing pillars.
Four carved pilasters with Jain tirthankaras and goddesses on eight panels are seen exposed with sockets at the base. The stone architectural detailing includes the first tirthankara, Adinatha, which is said to belong to the Hoysala period.
