History of Mysore – Mysore city is situated in below the Chamundi hills. Sri Chamundeshwari acclaimed as Mahishasura Mardini is the preciding diety of the place. Mysore looks evergreen due to the Chamundi hills. Mysore has a long history the kings who ruled Mysore were Gangas of Talakad from 4th to 10th century. It was also ruled ruled by the Cholas till the 2nd decade of the 12th century. Hoysalas ruled the place with elegance. Mysore became a part of Vijayanagara kingdom in the latter centuries.
Wodeyars of Mysore – Yaduraya was the first ruler of the Wodeyar family in Mysore. It is said that he hailed from Yadu family at Dwaraka in Gujarat. He ruled Mysore from 1399 AD. Rajawodeyar remarked Mysore in its glorious history. He also renovated temples at Melukote and Srirangapattana. He instituted the Navarathri festival in 1610. Chamaraja Wodeyar enriched the glory of Mysore in all spheres of life. He was a great exponent of literature. The literary works like Ashwashastra, Aeyasara samuchaya and Brahmothara Kanda and also Chamarajakati Vilasa were written by him. Ranadheera Kanteerava Narasaraja Wodeyar was a pioneer in strengthening the administration. He was a great warrior and had patronage for literature. Chickkadevaraja Wodeyar and Mummudi Krishnaraja Wodeyar further constructed Mysore into a prosperous city. Chamarajawodeyar the IVth (1861) rejuvinated Mysore in the modern development. dewan Poornaiah waas the man behind many constructive events that took place in Mysore. Krishnaraja wodeyar IVth and Mr.M.Vishweshwariah developed Mysore technologically and converted the state into a model one. It was a golden age. Mysore University was founded in 1966 and it paved the way for the spread of education for and wide. Sir Mirzaismail was the great dewna. He strengthen the foundation of efficient administration. Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar was the last king of Mysore. The places of interest in Mysore include Chamundi hill, Mysore palace, the complex of temples arround the Mysore palace, the Zoo, Jaganmohana Palaces, Lalithmahal palace and Chamarajendra Technical institute. There are palaces in Mysore which were converted into offices and educational institutions.
Jain Temples – In Mysore there are 11 Jain temples in all among them 5 are Digamabara temples and the rest being Swethabara temples.
Digambara Temples –
Sri Shanthinatha basadi: It is situated on the Sayyaji Rao Road besides the Mysore palace and has Bhagwan Shanthinatha as the main diety. The 4 feet high idol of Shanthinatha is made out of black stone in the Kayotsarga posture. Marble idols of Bhagawan Parshwanatha and Bhagawan Shanthinatha in padmasana are consecrated on the left and right sides of the main deity respectively. We can also find the idols of Darendra yaksha, Padmavathi yakshi and many small Jain idols in this temple.
The temple built in 1896 at its present location was earlier situated inside the premises of the Mysore palace. But with the lapse of time as the influence of Jains in the administration of the Mysore kingdom detoriated, the king decided to relocate this temple outside the palace premises. It is said that inspite of the advice of many scholars that ” it is not wise to remove the installed idol of Bhagawan Parshwanatha and the removal of an installed idol would result in bad things to the kingdom”, the King ordered its removal and reinstalled it at the present location. It is said that as a result of the removal of the idol from its original place, the wooden palace of the Mysore kingdom was burnt during the marriage of the then king. The king very disappointed by this incident took special interest in the construction of the present temple and the inauguration of the temple was conducted very grandly along with the Pancha Kalyana Mahotsav.
A grand Pancha Kalyana Mahotsava was conducted in 1996-97 to commemorate the centenary of the temple. The Mahotsava was held under the guidance of His Holiness Swasti Sri Charukeerthi Bhattarakha Swamiji of the Shravanabelagola Jain Mutt. This temple is being maintained by Sri Shanthinatha Seva Samiti, Mysore. The Samiti conducts the annual pooja mahotsav during the month of July on the day of the Sri Shanthinatha Moksha Kalyana.Sri Parshwanatha Basadi: This temple was built in the year 1904 by Mothikane Vardhamaniah. It has the idol of bhagwan Parshwanatha as the main deity. We can find many other Jain idols in the temple. this temple is present in the Chandragupta road of Mysore and is maintained by Mothikane Vardhamaniah family trust. Lodging facilities to pilgrims are available at this temple. The temple compound is being popularly called as M.L. Vardhamanaiah Jain Boarding Home.
Sri Parshwanatha Temple: Another Digambara Jain temple is found at the Jain Brahman Vidyarthi Nilay in the Chamundipuram area of Mysore with Bhagwan Parshwanatha as the main diety.
Sri Sammedhagiri Digambara Jaina Mandir: This Jain temple is found in the house of Mr.Anandkumar in the Jayanagar area of Mysore. It has the idol of Bhagawan Parshwanatha as the main diety.
Sri Mahavir Swamy Digambar Jain Temple: This temple was consecrated in 2003-04 under the guidance of His Holiness Swasti Sri Bhuvanakeerthi Bhattarakha Swamiji of the Kanakagiri Jain Mutt. It is located in the premises of the Sri Mahavir Jain Hostle in the Tonachi Koppal Layout of Mysore.
Swethambara temples –
Sri Kunthunatha basadi: This temple being situated in the Indira Nagar (Ittegegood) area of Mysore has the idol of Bhagwan Kunthunatha as the main diety. On the left side of this idol is found the idol of Bhagwan Vasupujaya and on the right is found the idol of Bhagwan Parshwanatha. This temple was inaugurated on 18-5-1997. We can find the paintings of Sammeda Shikarji and Shatrunjana hill in this temple.
Sri Sumathinatha basadi: This temple has the idol of bhagwan Sumathinatha as the mulanayaka. On the right of this idol id found the idol bhagwan Shanthinatha and the idol of bhagwan Parshwanatha on its left. This temple was presented to the Jain community on 26-5-1928 by the then Maharaja of Mysore Sri Krishnarajendra Wodeyar. This temple being situated very near to the Parshwanatha basadi. We can find the paintings of the different Jain pilgrimage places inside the temple. The glass work depicting the different Jain principles can be found in this temple. This temple is situated besides the Sangam theater in the Mahavira Nagar area of Mysore.
Sri Vasupujya basadi: This temple has the idol of bhagwan Vasupujya as the mulanayaka and to the right of this idol is found the idol of Goodi Parshwanatha and to the left is the idol bhagwan Mahavira. These idols are found on the first floor of the temple. On the ground floor of this temple is found the idols of Dada Jinadutta Suri, Dada Manidhari Jinadutta Suri and Dada Jina Kushal Suri. This temple is maintained by Jain Dhadawari Sangh. This temple is located in the Tyagaraja road of Mysore.
Gurumandir: This mandir is being situated in the Manasara road of Indiranagar area in Mysore. This mandir built in the year 1999 has a big prayer hall on its first floor and on the ground floor we can find the rooms built for the Jain saints. This mandir is being maintained by the Sanathana Jain Mandal of Mysore.
Sri Shanthinatha Basadi: The temple with Bhagwan Shanthinatha as the main deity is situated behind the Devaraja Urs road.
Sri Munisuvratanath Basadi: The temple with Lord Munisuvrata (the 20th Jain Tirthankara) is located in the Vinaya Marga of Siddartha Nagar. This temple was consecrated in 2003.
How to Reach – Mysore is situated at a distance of 139 Kms from Bangalore and 117 Kms from Hassan. It is well connected by rail and road with all the majors cites in Karnataka and India. The boarding facilities are available at the M.L.Vardhamanaiah Jain Boarding Home located besides the Parshwanatha Basadi. We can also find many lodges and hotels in Mysore with very good accommodation at an affordable cost.