By Rajat R, Team Mangalorean Mangalore
MOODBIDRI March 4, 2010: The Jain Kashi as it is called has many
heritage sites, some of them are suitable for declaring world
heritage sites, but not many are in good shape. Though the elite
Archealogcial Survey of India (ASI) is in command of these some
of them are in state of neglect one can say.
Recently the Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani (otherwise known as 1000
pillar Basadi) which gets an annual grant of Rs. 5 lakhs for its
upkeep has been withdrawn by the government putting the onus of
maintenance entirely on the ASI which does not have funds. As
a result the entire temple complex has now overgrown with weeds
and the lack of funds have begun showing its effects on the structure
too! The Swamiji of the Jain Math HH Charukirthi Bhattararaka
Panditacharyavarya has written to the government to restore the
fund and the MLA of Moodbidri has also taken up the issue with
the government without much effect.
There are Basadis (Jain shrines dedicated to Thirthankaras), Ishidis
(Mausoleums of Jain swamijis), ancient tanks built by the kings
of Vijayanagar empire and other structure which immediately need
professional attention for upkeep. But that is a cry in the wilderness.
One of the important heritage site is the Bhatrakere
which is built on a land of 80 cents and it is about 50 -60 feet
deep is now lying in a state of total neglect and it is a ASI
site. However the ASI has proudly put the signboard claiming the
ownership of the property but the ancient tank is a dismal sight.
The uniqueness of the tank lies in its square shape and the depth,
the lining of the walls and the deck of the tank. The tank is
stated to be built about 800 years ago which was constructed much
before the Vijayangar empire came into prominence.
According to the local oral historians the tank was built for
the purpose of water supply to the temples and its monks and Thirthankaras,
the tank was in good shape even under the British raj. It had
received regular grants for its upkeep. The tank used to hold
water till the end of May, but then it is time for the monsoons
to arrive, thus the tank used to be perennial in nature.
But now after India got independence and the ASI came into being
the tank has fallen into bad times. Its laterite stone lining
has collapsed on all four sides and the silt that has formed in
thick layers dries up the tank before December. The deck of the
tank is also crumbling. According to the local lake and tank experts
if nothing is done soon restore the tank's structure it would
soon collapse fully and confine it to the bowels of history. According
to the local experts the tank can survive only next couple of
years as the corner stones (also known as Key stones) now stand
exposed and are weathering fast.
The ASI officials were not in a position to answer when contacted
by Mangalorean.com at Mysore. They only said things are being
worked out to save the tank. However when this correspondent visited
the spot there were only few laterite stones freshly cut have
been dumped in the site and the local say that they were lying
there for more than a year.
The tank lies on the Moodbidri-Hosmar road next to the Ishidis,
the area is now kept out of bounds for people. Sometime back one
of the Jain philanthropists of Gujarat had offered to rebuild
the tank but the ASI had not given permission to rebuild it. Now
the people of Moodbidri are saying if the ASI and the government
cannot take it up and the ASI does not allow the local people
to rejuvenate the tank, it is sure that the historic tank will
be history soon.
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=171490
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