Kanakagiri Jain Shri kshetra, Jain temple in Karnataka, India.
Kanakagiri Jain Shri Kshetra is a Jain temple complex in Karnataka, India, built across a hilltop and made up of three main shrines linked by carved stone steps. The site also features caves, inscribed pillars, and several smaller structures spread over the elevated rocky terrain.
The site was founded in the 5th century by the monk-scholar Acharya Pujyapada, who established a monastery at the meeting point of what are today Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Its position at this crossroads helped it grow into a gathering place for Jain communities from across the south.
The shrines here are dedicated to the 24 Tirthankaras, the enlightened teachers of Jainism, and draw pilgrims from across southern India. Visitors can observe acts of worship, hear prayers, and watch devotees walk the stone steps between shrines as part of their pilgrimage.
The complex sits on a hill, so visitors should be ready for a climb on stone steps before reaching the shrines. Rooms and shared halls are available on the grounds for those who want to stay overnight, and the nearest railway station is at Kalvande.
The site holds 27 stone inscriptions that document the practice of Sallekhana, a Jain ritual of conscious fasting observed by devoted followers. This makes it one of the rare places in southern India where this practice is recorded in such numbers.
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