Humcha Jain Temples

The basadis of Humcha form a group of Jain shrines in Humcha village, Shivamogga district, ranking among Karnataka's leading Jain centres. Tradition links them with Jinadatta Raya, founder of the Santara dynasty, who set up a Bhattaraka seat here in the 7th–8th century; legend says he carried a golden image of Padmavati south from Mathura and, told in a dream to found his capital here, built the city of Pombuccapura. The site is especially important for the worship of Padmavati, the yakshi of Parshvanatha, whose present temple Vira Santara raised in 1061.

The largest surviving monument is the Panchakuta Basadi of 1077, built by Chattaladevi in Chalukyan style, with five sanctums on one plinth; three of the original images, of Neminatha, Shantinatha and Parshvanatha, remain. Before it stands a manastambha about 12 metres high on a tiered platform. The Humcha Matha looks after the complex, which is under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.