BELUR TEMPLE - COBBLERS' SUBSTITUTING THE WORN OUT CHAPPALS WITH NEW ONES

The story goes that the Hoyasalas, the rulers of this region were staunch supporters of Jainism which came along with Candragupta Maurya, as early as in the 3rd Century BC, and got entrenched itself with headquarters at Sravanabelagola - the seat of Bhadrabahu, the renowned teacher of Chandra Gupta. It spread rapidly in this region under the patronage of powerful monarchs of Kadamba dynasty first, valorous Gangas and Kongalvas.  Later Hoyasalas who rose to power and held it for more than four centuries from tenth century were Jains in the beginning. Their religious toleration was worthy of emulation. The versatile Santala Devi, the queen - consort of Bittideva, the illustrious Hovasla king confessed - "Vishnu is the God, of course, but I am fond of adoring Lord Jina = Vishnu Daivam, Jinanatham tanagendu aptam". What transpired between Bittideva and Ramanuja, when they met first at Tonnur, near Melkote records are silent, but the impact is tremendous, more on religion than on anything else. Slowly the Jain patron found himself drifting towards Vaishnavism. It was at this moment. he chanced to visit the Mahalakshmi temple at Doddagaddahalli in Hassan district, built by a merchant. Its architectural splendor exuding sculptural profusion deliberately employed to play a predominant role touched his heart and moved him most. And it became a turning point in his life. His faith in Jainism shaken due to the contact of the Acharya slowly solidified into dynamic Vaishnavism. Soon he launched the construction programme on a scale gigantic, and vigor unheard of. That observation and belief ended in emancipation of pancharamas to a certain degree. So hats of. Hasn't haste won laurels in this case?

Location: The temple lies in Belur, accessible by four wheelers from Hassan Karnataka.

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