One of the file photos of the manastambha that has been defaced.
Mandaragiri (Tumkur District, Karnataka), January 3, 2013: The manastambha & a chaturmukha (four faced) idol of Jain Tirthankara installed on the manastambha have been defaced by miscreants on the ancient Mandaragiri hillock in the early morning hours of Thursday January 3, 2013. The gate leading to the group of temples on the hillock has also been dismantled. Certain parts of the manastambha & one side of the chaturmukha idol are ruined.
It is assumed that they are reported to have been defaced in search of gold/silver/treasure that might have been put below the manastambha & idol at the time of installation.
Mandaragiri is an ancient Jain Heritage Centre that traces its history to more than 1000 years ago. It has a group of 7 temples installed on the hillock including that of Lord Chandraprabha, Brahma Yaksha & other Jain Tirthankaras.
Vereendra Heggade condems idol defacing – Dr.D.Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala; Sri D.Surendrakumar, president of Bharatiya Jain Milan & Sri S.Jitendrakumar have condemned the attack & have called upon the Government of Karnataka to provide proper protection to the Jain places of worship.
WWW.JAINHERITAGECENTRES.COM (JHC) condems idol defacing – Dr.H.A.Parshwanath, renowned writer, Jain scholar & co-founder of JHC and Sri Nitin H.P., executive director & founder of JHC have condemned the attack and have urged the Government of Karnataka to provide proper protection Jains, Jain ascetics & Jain places of worship. – Jain Heritage Centres News Service