- Kyatanahalli in H.D. Kote taluk, 28 km from H.D. Kote & Mysuru, H.D. Kote Taluk, Mysuru Dist., Karnataka, India.
- 4.5 feet high and 2.5 feet wide Tirthankar idol in Kayotsarga flanked by Yaksha and Yakshi idols.
- Could be Dharmanath Tirthankar idol based on the iconographic features of Yaksha.
- Efforts on to preserve the idol by constructing a new temple or shifting the idol to a near by Jain temple.
- Kyatanahalli has 12 Jain Namadhari Gowda families, with 100 more within a 5 km radius, highlighting its Jain roots.
Kyatanahalli, Mysuru District, Karnataka | 21st January 2025: An ancient Jain Tirthankar idol from the Hoysala period has been discovered in Kyatanahalli village. The idol, in Kayotsarga posture, was found unexpectedly while a farmer was ploughing his field with a tractor. Measuring 4.5 feet in height and 2.5 feet in width, this significant relic has brought excitement to the Jain community and history enthusiasts alike. Kyatanahalli is situated in Heggadadevanakote (H.D. Kote) taluk, is approximately 28 km from H.D. Kote and Mysuru, and 33 km from Sargur.
Expert Confirmation of Hoysala Origin – Soon after the discovery, architecture expert Prabhakar Manevarthe and researcher Pawan Mourya Chakravarthy from Mysuru visited the site. Both confirmed that the idol’s intricate design and craftsmanship are characteristic of the Hoysala period, a golden era of temple architecture and sculpture.
Identifying the Tirthankar – The idol, though beautifully carved, lacks any inscriptions or symbols to definitively identify the Tirthankar. However, its Yaksha and Yakshi sculptures provided critical clues.
According to Nitin H.P., Jain researcher and founder of Jain Heritage Centres, “The Yaksha beside the idol has six hands, which aligns with Kinnara Yaksha, the guardian deity of Tirthankar Dharmanath, the 15th Tirthankar in Jain tradition. Based on this iconographic evidence, it might be concluded that the idol represents Tirthankar Dharmanath.”
Preserving the Idol: Community Efforts – The idol has been temporarily relocated to the premises of the Lakshminarayana Temple in Kyatanahalli for safekeeping. Members of the Jain and Namadhari Gowda Jain communities from nearby villages like Saraguru, Chakkuru, Niluvagilu, Gujjappana Hundi led by S.S.Somaprabha and Mysuru led by N Prasanna Kumar gathered at the site to discuss the next steps.
The Jain community has proposed two options:
- Constructing a Jain temple in Kyatanahalli to house the idol.
- Shifting the idol to a safer location where it can be properly protected and worshipped.