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Venur – the seat of Jainism

    Mangalore (Karnataka), January 28, 2012: Venur, a small town, situated on the bank of River Phalguni was the capital of the Ajila Dynasty and also a great seat of Jainism. The most prominent king of them was Thimmannarasa Ajila who installed the 35 feet high monolith statue Lord Bahubali in 1604 AD.

    The 24th descendent of Ajila dynasty, Dr Padmaprasad says that it was but natural that the monolith was installed as they were Jains. “Because of this monolith, the Ajila dynasty is still remembered. It’s a feather in our cap,” observes Padmaprasad, will also guide religious activities during the nine day event.

    Thimmannarasa Ajila was an ardent follower of Swastisri Charukeerthi Bhattarakha seer of Moodabidri Jain Mutt and perhaps the guru was an inspiration to install the statue of Bahubali in his capital on a small hillock called as Bahubali Betta. Part of the inspiration may also have been due to the fact that the neighbouring King Veera Pandya had installed the 42 feet high Bahubali statue on the rocky hill of Karkala in 1432.

    But the whole process of installation of another Bahubali, perhaps to undermine the one in his kingdom of Karkala did not go too well with King Bhairavarasa, the descendent of King Veera Pandya. He waged a war against Ajila. “According to legend, my ancestor buried the monolith under the sand on the banks of River Phalguni. The war went on for months and later both reached a compromise and that’s how the Venur has its Bahubali,” said Padmaprasad. – News Courtesy: Times of India

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