The Varanga Jain Temples of Karnataka

The Jain temples of Varanga, in the Udupi district of Karnataka, form an old centre of the Jain tradition in the coastal country of the state, honoured for their shrines and above all for the celebrated Kere Basadi. The Kere Basadi is a basadi, or Jain temple, that stands in the middle of a lake and is reached by boat, a remarkable setting that has made it the best-known of the Varanga shrines. Alongside it stand other Jain temples and basadis that together make Varanga a notable place of devotion and heritage. Set among the forested hills and waters of coastal Karnataka, Varanga preserves a long tradition of Jain worship, part of the rich temple heritage described in our guide to Indian temple architecture. This account keeps to broadly established history where particular dates and details are uncertain.

Key Takeaways

• The Jain temples of Varanga are in the Udupi district of Karnataka, in the coastal country of the state.
• They form an old centre of the Jain tradition in coastal Karnataka.
• The most famous is the Kere Basadi, a Jain temple standing in the middle of a lake.
• The Kere Basadi is reached by boat across the water of the lake.
• Varanga also has other Jain temples and basadis that serve the devotion of the community.
• The temples preserve a long tradition of Jain worship in the region.

Read on for the history, culture, and legacy in detail.

Quick Facts

What Are the Varanga Jain Temples?

The Varanga Jain temples are a group of Jain shrines at the village of Varanga in the Udupi district of Karnataka, forming an old centre of the Jain tradition in the coastal country of the state. The most famous of them is the Kere Basadi, a basadi, or Jain temple, that stands in the middle of a lake and is reached by boat, a remarkable setting that has made it widely known. Alongside the lake temple stand other Jain shrines and basadis that together make Varanga a notable place of devotion and heritage. These temples honour the Tirthankaras of the Jain tradition and serve the worship of the community. Set among the forested hills and waters of coastal Karnataka, Varanga preserves a long tradition of Jain faith and temple building. As an old Jain centre, the temples of Varanga are valued both for their religious role and for their place in the heritage of coastal Karnataka, drawing pilgrims and visitors alike.

Where Is Varanga Located?

Varanga is located in the Udupi district of Karnataka, in the coastal country of the state, where the Western Ghats descend towards the Arabian Sea. The village lies amid the forested hills, fields and waters that mark the landscape of coastal Karnataka, a region with a long heritage of Jain and Hindu temple building. The setting of Varanga among this green and watered country gives its temples, and especially the lake shrine, their distinctive and serene character. The position of the village in the coastal district places it within a wider landscape rich in the heritage of the faiths of the region. The natural beauty of the setting, with its lake and hills, is part of the appeal of the Varanga temples. The location of Varanga in the Udupi district of coastal Karnataka is central to understanding its temples as part of the Jain heritage of this part of the state, long a home of the Jain tradition.

What Is the Kere Basadi?

The Kere Basadi is the most famous of the Varanga temples, a basadi, or Jain temple, that stands in the middle of a lake, so that the shrine appears to rise from the water. The name combines the local word for a lake or tank with the word basadi, which denotes a Jain temple, so that the name itself describes the remarkable setting of the shrine. Reached by boat across the water of the lake, the Kere Basadi presents a striking and serene sight that has made it the best-known of all the Varanga shrines. The temple honours the Jain tradition, and its unusual position in the midst of the lake gives it a special character among the basadis of the region. The journey by boat to reach the shrine is itself part of the experience of worship and pilgrimage. The Kere Basadi of Varanga is celebrated both for its sanctity and for its remarkable setting in the middle of the water.

How Is the Kere Basadi Reached?

The Kere Basadi is reached by boat, for the temple stands in the middle of a lake and is surrounded by water on every side. Pilgrims and visitors who wish to reach the shrine cross the water of the lake by boat, in a passage that is itself a distinctive part of the experience of the place. This approach by boat sets the Kere Basadi apart from the ordinary run of temples, which are reached on foot, and adds to the sense of the shrine as a sacred place set apart in the midst of the water. The crossing to the temple, over the still lake, carries the worshipper from the shore to the island shrine in an atmosphere of serenity. The need to come by boat is one of the features that have made the Kere Basadi so widely known. The approach by boat across the lake is central to the character of the Kere Basadi as a water temple of the Jain tradition in coastal Karnataka.

What Other Basadis Stand at Varanga?

Varanga is home not only to the celebrated Kere Basadi but also to other Jain temples and basadis that together make the village an old centre of the Jain tradition in coastal Karnataka. Such centres commonly gather a number of shrines, which serve the devotion of the community and honour the Tirthankaras of the Jain faith. At Varanga, these temples stand among the hills and waters of the coastal country, forming a complex of Jain devotion around the famous lake shrine. The temples reflect the long tradition of Jain temple building in the region and the gathering of basadis at a sacred place. The precise history and detail of these shrines belong to the study of the site and are best treated in general terms. Together with the Kere Basadi, they make up the Jain heritage of Varanga. The basadis of the village contribute to its standing as a notable centre of Jain worship in coastal Karnataka.

Why Is Varanga an Old Jain Centre?

Varanga is regarded as an old centre of the Jain tradition in coastal Karnataka, a region that has long been a home of Jainism in the south of India. The Jain community has a deep and ancient heritage in coastal Karnataka, where many basadis and sacred sites bear witness to centuries of devotion and temple building. Varanga, with its lake temple and its other shrines, is one of these old centres, preserving the faith and the traditions of the Jain community in the region. The antiquity of the site reflects the long presence of Jainism in this part of the state, though the precise dates of its temples belong to the detailed study of the site and are treated with appropriate caution. The standing of Varanga as an old Jain centre links it to the wider heritage of Jainism in coastal Karnataka. Its role as a historic place of Jain worship is central to its significance in the region.

What Tirthankaras Are Revered at Varanga?

The temples of Varanga, in common with the basadis of the Jain tradition, honour the Tirthankaras, the great teachers and spiritual victors who are the central figures of Jain devotion. In Jainism, the twenty-four Tirthankaras of the present age are revered as those who attained the highest spiritual realisation and showed the path of liberation, and their images are enshrined in the temples of the faith. The basadis of Varanga enshrine images of the Tirthankaras, before which the community offers worship in the manner of the Jain tradition. The particular Tirthankaras honoured at the shrines belong to the devotional life of the site and are revered accordingly. The reverence shown to the Tirthankaras reflects their central place in the Jain faith. At Varanga, this devotion is expressed in the temples and their images, gathered around the famous lake shrine. The worship of the Tirthankaras at Varanga is at the heart of its character as a Jain centre of coastal Karnataka.

What Is a Basadi?

A basadi is a Jain temple, the term used in Karnataka and the neighbouring country for the shrines in which the Jain community offers worship to the Tirthankaras. The basadis of the region house images of the Tirthankaras and provide the setting for the rituals and devotion of the Jain faith, in the traditions developed over centuries in the south of India. The word basadi is widely used in coastal Karnataka, a region rich in the heritage of such temples, and it appears in the very name of the Kere Basadi of Varanga. The basadis vary in their form and scale, from modest shrines to larger temple complexes, but all serve the worship of the Jain community. The tradition of basadi building is a notable part of the heritage of Jainism in Karnataka. At Varanga, the basadis, and especially the famous lake shrine, express this tradition. The basadi is thus the characteristic form of the Jain temple in the region, central to its devotional life.

Who Built the Varanga Temples?

The temples of Varanga were built and maintained through the patronage of the Jain community of coastal Karnataka over the course of its long history, in keeping with the traditions of the faith. The building of basadis in the region was supported by the devotion and the resources of the Jain community, including its lay patrons and its religious institutions, who honoured the Tirthankaras through the raising of temples. The precise identity of the patrons of the Varanga shrines and the exact dates of their building belong to the detailed study of the site, and are treated by historians with appropriate caution. What is broadly accepted is that the temples grew as part of the long heritage of Jainism in coastal Karnataka. This patronage reflects the deep roots of the Jain community in the region. The building of the Varanga temples, including the celebrated lake shrine, is part of the wider history of Jain temple patronage in Karnataka, of which the site is a valued example.

How Does the Lake Temple Reflect Jain Tradition?

The Kere Basadi, standing in the middle of a lake and reached by boat, reflects the Jain tradition both in its devotion to the Tirthankaras and in the serene and secluded setting that befits a place of worship. The waters that surround the shrine set it apart from the ordinary world, in a manner that suits the Jain ideals of detachment and inner peace. The lake temple honours the Tirthankaras in the way of the Jain faith, and its unusual setting adds to its sanctity and its appeal. The tradition of placing shrines in or beside water is found at other sacred sites of the Indian faiths, and the Kere Basadi is a notable example in the Jain tradition of coastal Karnataka. The beauty and serenity of the setting enhance the devotional atmosphere of the temple. The lake temple of Varanga thus expresses the Jain tradition through both its worship and its remarkable setting, making it one of the most distinctive of Jain shrines in the region.

What Architectural Features Mark the Temples?

The temples of Varanga display the features of the Jain basadi architecture of coastal Karnataka, adapted in the case of the Kere Basadi to its remarkable setting in the middle of a lake. The basadis of the region are generally built to house the images of the Tirthankaras, with the sanctum and the halls arranged in the traditions of Jain temple building developed in the south of India. The Kere Basadi, standing in the water and reached by boat, is distinguished above all by its unusual island setting, which gives it its fame and its serene character. The other shrines of Varanga follow the forms of the Jain temples of the region. The architecture of the temples reflects both the devotional traditions of Jainism and the building customs of coastal Karnataka. The detailed study of the temples belongs to the specialist history of Jain architecture. The architectural features of the Varanga temples, and especially the lake shrine, form an important part of their heritage.

What Pilgrimage and Worship Take Place at Varanga?

Pilgrimage and worship at Varanga centre on the devotion offered to the Tirthankaras at the basadis of the village, with the famous Kere Basadi as its most striking focus. Pilgrims and devotees come to honour the Tirthankaras, crossing the lake by boat to reach the island shrine and offering worship in the manner of the Jain tradition. The worship at the temples follows the customs of the Jain faith, with reverence for the Tirthankaras and for the sacred places of the community. The crossing by boat to the lake temple is itself a memorable part of the devotion. Such pilgrimage reflects the deep place of sacred sites in the spiritual life of the Jain community of coastal Karnataka. The worship at Varanga continues the long tradition of Jain devotion in the region, gathered around the basadis and the lake shrine. The pilgrimage and worship at the site remain central to its life as an old Jain centre.

How Does Varanga Fit Coastal Karnataka's Jain Heritage?

Varanga holds an important place in the Jain heritage of coastal Karnataka, a region that has long been one of the strongholds of the Jain tradition in the south of India. The coastal country of Karnataka is rich in basadis and sacred sites that bear witness to centuries of Jain devotion and temple building, and Varanga, with its lake temple and its other shrines, is one of these centres. The site reflects the deep roots of Jainism in the region and its long tradition of worship and patronage. The place of Varanga within this heritage links it to the wider history of the Jain community in coastal Karnataka. The celebrated Kere Basadi has made Varanga one of the best-known of these Jain sites, drawing pilgrims and visitors from beyond the region. The role of Varanga in the Jain heritage of coastal Karnataka is central to its significance as an old centre of the faith in this part of the state.

What Is the Setting and Landscape of Varanga?

The setting of Varanga, among the forested hills, fields and waters of coastal Karnataka, is one of the features that give its temples, and especially the lake shrine, their distinctive beauty and serenity. The village lies in the green and watered country where the Western Ghats descend towards the sea, a landscape long associated with the heritage of the faiths of the region. The lake in which the Kere Basadi stands is part of this watered country, providing the remarkable setting for which the temple is famous. The hills and forests around the village add to the sense of seclusion and peace that befits a place of worship. The natural beauty of the landscape is part of the appeal of Varanga for pilgrims and visitors alike. The setting of the village among the hills and waters of coastal Karnataka is central to the character of its temples. The landscape of Varanga enhances the sanctity and the beauty of its Jain shrines.

The Varanga Jain Temples Today

The Jain temples of Varanga are valued today both as living places of Jain worship and as a notable part of the heritage of coastal Karnataka, drawing pilgrims and visitors to the village in the Udupi district. The celebrated Kere Basadi, standing in the middle of its lake and reached by boat, continues to draw interest with its serene beauty and its sanctity, as the best-known of the Varanga shrines. The other basadis of the village continue to serve the devotion of the Jain community, honouring the Tirthankaras in the traditions of the faith. The setting among the forested hills and waters of coastal Karnataka preserves the distinctive character of the site. For the Jain community, Varanga is an old and revered centre of the faith, while for the wider world its lake temple is a monument of remarkable beauty. For readers of Indian heritage, the Varanga Jain temples offer a vivid example of the Jain tradition in coastal Karnataka, with the famous lake shrine at its heart.

Sources & Further Reading

• Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in).
• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka (karnatakatourism.org).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Varanga Jain temples?

The Varanga Jain temples are a group of Jain shrines at the village of Varanga in the Udupi district of Karnataka, forming an old centre of the Jain tradition in coastal Karnataka. The most famous is the Kere Basadi, a Jain temple standing in the middle of a lake and reached by boat.

What is the Kere Basadi?

The Kere Basadi is the most famous of the Varanga temples, a basadi, or Jain temple, that stands in the middle of a lake and is reached by boat. Its name combines the local word for a lake with the word basadi, and its remarkable setting in the water has made it the best-known of the Varanga shrines.

How is the Kere Basadi reached?

The Kere Basadi is reached by boat, for the temple stands in the middle of a lake and is surrounded by water on every side. Pilgrims and visitors cross the water of the lake by boat, in a passage that is itself a distinctive part of the experience of the place.

What is a basadi?

A basadi is a Jain temple, the term used in Karnataka and the neighbouring country for the shrines in which the Jain community offers worship to the Tirthankaras. The basadis of the region house images of the Tirthankaras, and the word appears in the name of the Kere Basadi of Varanga.

Why is Varanga an old Jain centre?

Varanga is regarded as an old centre of the Jain tradition in coastal Karnataka, a region that has long been a home of Jainism in the south of India. With its lake temple and its other shrines, Varanga preserves the faith and traditions of the Jain community, though the precise dates of its temples are treated with caution.

Where is Varanga located?

Varanga is located in the Udupi district of Karnataka, in the coastal country of the state where the Western Ghats descend towards the Arabian Sea. The village lies amid forested hills, fields and waters, in a region with a long heritage of Jain and Hindu temple building.