shikhara'' (tower over shrine) at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola According to art historian
Adam Hardy, the basadi is a simple single shrine with superstructure (
ekakuta vimana) construction with a closed hall (
mantapa). The material used is
Soap stone. The sanctum (
garbhagriha) that houses the standing image of
Tirthankara Parshwanatha (under a seven headed snake canopy) connects to the hall via an
antechamber (
vestibule or
sukanasi). From the outside, the entrance to the hall is through a
porch whose
awning is supported by lathe turned half pillars. According to art historians Percy Brown and Gerard Foekema, all these features are commonly found in Hoysala temples. According to historian Kamath, the use of Soap stone as basic building material was a technique the Hoysalas adopted from the predecessors, the Western Chalukyas. The temple which faces east is enclosed with in a bounding wall (
prakara), while the entrance is from the south. Typical of a Jain basadi, the outer walls of the temple are plain, giving it an austere outlook. The temple stands on a base (
adhisthana) that comprises five
moldings. The tower over the shrine (
shikhara) is plain. However, on a projection on the east side is a panel sculpture in relief that depicts a saint with his attendants (
yaksha, the benevolent spirits) on either side and a
Kirtimukha (imaginary beast) over his head. This is a work of merit. The tower comprises three tiers, each ascending tier diminishing in height. Above the third tier is a dome like structure. This is the largest sculptural piece in the temple with a ground surface area of about 2x2 meters (
amalaka, "helmet" like structure). The shape of the dome usually follows that of the shrine (square or star shape). The vestibule also has a short tower which looks like an extension of the main tower over the shrine. Gerard Foekema calls it the "nose" of the main tower. The temple features a idol of
Parshvanatha sheltered by seven hooded serpent. The vestibule contains two free sculptures of the
yakshas,
Dharnendra and
Padmavati. The door lintel and jamb of vestibule and the sanctum are decorative and have perforated screens on either side. The hall ceiling is supported by four centrally placed large lathe turned, bell shaped and polished pillars that divide the ceiling into nine "bays". The bay ceilings are rich in relief. ==Gallery==