Gometeshwara statue, 42 feet, monolithic, installed in 1432 AD by Vir Pandya of the Santara family. About 30 kms from udupi, the statue stands on a rocky hillock. Today it stands out as a sign of Jain’s architectural excellence in Dakshina Kannada.
The Jain religion is contemporary of Buddhism, believes in cycle of rebirths and consequently regards life as painful, longing for liberation, and came to Karnataka four centuries before the Christian era. The Gangas, Kadamba, Chalukyas and Hoysala kings had encouraged the Jainism. They have left innumerable shrines, Basadis, Gomata statues and stambhas (pillars).
In 1437 AD a Brahmadeva Stambha was set up in front of Gommata. The sculpture of Brahma on the top of the pillar is an example of excellent workmanship.On the base of the hillock on which “Gometeshwara” is installed, you can find the Chaturmukha Basadi of Karkala. It has four identical entrances in four directions. The garbhagriha has the standing statues of Ara, Malli, and Suyrata. In addition images of 24 Teerthakaras, Yakshi Padmavati could be found.
What’s more interesting about this place, with its deserted and forlorn look, entices anyone interested in stones to have monologues with monuments, and fills one with an ethereal feeling of liberation.
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