The Kanakagiri Hill, close to Maleyuru in Chamarajanagar district, is one of the important Jain pilgrim centres of Karnataka. Away from the humdrum of the cities, this quiet settlement dominated by a moderate rocky hill, has a deep religious history.

Known in ancient times as Hemanga Desha, it is believed that Lord Bhagawan Mahavira once passed through this place during his southern sojourn. Eversince, the place has gained much acclaim. Later during the 5th century, Acharya Pujyapada, the most revered Jaina muni, chose this hillock for his penance and attained salvation. He was an eminent scholar, having authored many great works on spiritual subjects and also practised ayurveda.

In the years that followed, many more saints visited the place and gained kaivalyajnana.
There is an interesting story behind the name of the hill. Pujyapada's nephew Nagarjuna, who lived here, was driven to poverty after the death of his father. He undertook rigorous penance in a cave on the hill and acquired the power to convert everything he laid his hands on into gold. Ecstatic with newly found magical powers, he began to convert the entire hill into gold. However Padmavathi Devi, who had granted him the boon, prevented him from the foolish pursuit and ordained that a temple be built there instead. Accordingly, he built the present temple of Sri Parshwanatha on the hill.

It is said that in those days fragments of gold could be seen strewn around the hillock. And it was thus named Kanakagiri or Kanakadri. With the temple having sprung up, it became Athishaya Kshetra Kanakagiri. After the Hoysala kings worshiped here and won a major battle, they called this Vijaya Parshwanatha. So much for the name. About 370 steps have been cut out from the rock face to enable the devotees to climb up to the shrine. A motorable road is also being laid, side by side, to the top. The flight of steps passing through the arches leads to the northern entrance of the temple. But the eastern doorway with a well carved stone arch is very attractive.
The sanctum has an attractive three foot image of Parshwanatha. The images of Kushmandini and Padmavathi Devi are facing each other. A rare feature of the images is that the goddesses are an embodiment of Rahu and Kethu respectively and they are so placed in order to generate a special force, Divyashakthi, between them which can eliminate the ill-effects of Rahu and Kethu, known as Kalasarpa Dosha. It is only here that Rahu and Kethu face each other and nowhere else. Many people troubled by planetary effects visit the place. Even Queen Deveerammanni from Mysore visited the temple to find a solution to her problems and once her problems were solved, she presented a specially made snakehood with the figures of Dharanendra and Padmavathi to the temple.

A walk behind the temple takes one to Nagarjuna Gufa, the cave where he penanced. The pond nearby has fresh water all through the year and this water is used for abhisheka in the temple. The entire rocky terrain of the hill is punctuated by small, pink coloured cells with the footprints of Jain Thirthankaras. There are 24 of them in all, spread out on the hill, and it is a pleasure to stroll along the neatly made path that leads to each of these lovely structures. In the centre is a rather large mantapa which has the feet of Pujyapada. The view from the top of the hill is panoramic.

Down at the base of the hillock, the math serves free meals as prasada for all the visitors everyday. Under the patronage of Swasthishree Bhuvanakeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji, besides good facilities for pilgrims, many a social service is being rendered to society like the free ayurvedic hospital, care of orphan children, maintaining a goshala with 25 cows, running a school in Chamarajanagar and Sri Jain Education Society in Mysore.

Travel Tips

How to reach: Driving from Nanjangud towards Chamarajanagar, turn right after 19 km and continue for 10 km. The latter stretch of the road is not very comfortable.
Maleyuru is connected by bus with Mysore, Nanjangud and Chamarajanagar.
A kilometre beyond Maleyuru can be walked up.

Where to stay: A guest house, yathrinivas and a dormitory are available.

Where to eat: The math offers free food to visitors. There are no hotels.
Other attractions: Maleyuru also has a well built temple of Sri Adinatha, worth a visit.

For more information, contact: 08226-296786, 296809.