HOME > India > Karnataka > Sravanabelagola    

Shopping at Natural Nirvana

Art & Posters
Ayurvedic Medicine
Bags, Belts, Hats & Wallets
Beads
Buttons, Patches
Books
Children and Babies
Clothing
Vegan Cosmetics
DVDs & Videos
Vegan & Raw Food
Footwear
Bath Body, Mouth, Hair
Herbal Remedies
Jewelry
Music
Outdoor & Pets
Incense & Oil
Spiritual & Worship
Stickers, Cards, Calendars
Worship & Yantras

Amazon Herb
Aquazon
Arcozon
Calmazon
Camu C Serum
Chocamaca
Digestazon
Envirozon
Fiberzon
Fiberzon Plus
Graviola
Gavizon
Illumination
Lunazon
Kavazon
Metabazon
Peak Performance
Rainforest Matte Tea
Rainforest Recovery Pak
Rainforest Treasure Tea
Recovazon Tropical Gel
Recovazon (Caps)
Sangre De Drago
Stevia
Sumacazon
Travel Kit
Una De Gato
Warrior

A percentage of sales of the Amazon Herbs products above goes to maintianing this site. We can also recommend these herbs from personal experience as being natural, healthy and outstanding.

 

Sravanabelagola

Google

Pop: 4,000 Area Code: 08176

Sravanabelagola is one of the most important and most visited Jain pilgrimage sites. Chandragupta Maurya came here with his guru, Bhadrabahu, in the 3rd century BC. It is 51km southeast of Hassan, 95km north of Mysore, and 158km west of Bangalore.

The main reason to visit is to see the 17m (58 ft) high monolithic statue of the Jain sage Gomateswara (Lord Bahubali), said to be the world’s largest monolith statue.

Gomateswara (Lord Bahubali)
The statue of Gomateswara is on top of the Vindhyagiri Hill (also called Indragiri Hill). This statue can be seen from 24km away.

The statue was completed in 981 by the Ganga king Chavundaraya and named “Gommata,” the handsome one. It represents Bahubali, the son of the first tirthankara, King Rishabdeva of Ayodhya (also known as Adinath). Gommata renounced the world and sought enlightenment after he defeated his brother in battle for the right to their father’s kingdom. Realizing the futility of it, Gomateswara gave the kingdom to his defeated brother. The depth of his meditation is shown by the creepers growing up his legs and arms and the ant hill and snakes at his feet.

To see the statue, you must climb 600 steps (140m or 470 ft) to the top of Vindhyagiri Hill (approximately 30-min). You have to leave your shoes at the bottom of the hill. If it is sunny, it is a good idea to bring socks because the steps can become extremely hot. For those unable to make the climb, it is possible to be carried up the hill (Rs 100 both ways). If you have a bag, you can leave it at the office near the bottom of the steps.

Mahamastakabhi­sheka
Every twelve years, thousands of people come here for the Maha-mastak-abhi­sheka, when the 1,800-year-old statue is bathed with precious stones, milk, ghee, yogurt, saffron, and gold coins. The next abhiseka (bathing) festival will be held in 2005. During the last festival, Gomateswara was bathed with 1,000 litres of milk, 1,008 containers of water, 150 litres of sugarcane juice, saffron, ghee, sandalwood, and other substances.

Other Temples
There are many other Jain shrines on the way up Indragiri Hill. In the town at the bottom of the hill is the Bhandari Basti (1159), with images of the twenty-four tirthankaras.

At the end of the street there is a math (monastery) with a library containing rare palm-leaf manuscripts. Next door, there are 10th century bronze statues of the tirthankaras and murals depicting the life of Parswanath.

There are also Jain temples on the top of the nearby Chandragiri Hill. The Chandragupta Temple (12th century) has nice carvings depicting the story of Chandragupta and his guru, Bhadrabahu. It is said that Chandragupta, the Maurya emperor, starved himself to death on this hill around 300 BC. There are also intricately carved pillars and a 24m high pillar. Also on the hill is the Chamundaraya Temple, dedicated to Parswanath.

Practicalities
There is a friendly Karnataka State Tourist Office (open daily 10 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5.30 pm).
There are limited accommodations here, which include several basic pilgrim lodges managed by SDJMI (57258), a Jain society. Their office is near the bus stand, going toward town, set back from the road on the right side. The Tourist Canteen and Rest House is basic and cheap.

Shriyans Prasad Guest House at the foot of the hill is even more basic. It has dormitories and double rooms for Rs 60. The best of these places is the Yatri Nivas, which has rooms with bath for Rs 125.

Hotel Raghu (57238), near the bottom of the steps going up Indragiri Hill, has basic rooms for Rs 80/125. It has a vegetarian restaurant.

Travel
There are morning buses to here from Mysore and direct buses to Hassan (three daily), Bangalore (three daily), Belur (three daily), and Mysore (one daily). Most of them leave in the morning. To get here from Hassan or Mysore, you can take a bus to Channarayapatna (1 hr, first bus 6.30 am), and from there catch a bus to Sravanabelagola (30 min).

If you know of a informationthat is not correct or if you would like to help update our listings, please e-mail us at:

 

Vegetarian Fast Food Options

World Vegetarian Restaurants Guide

Amazing Colon Cleaning Program

Our own Vegetarian, Vegan, Alternative & Spiritual Sales Shop

 

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More

 

Please Help Support This Site and buy our own USA Vegetarian Restaurants Book

Please check out our Natural Nirvana Store, which we started to help pay for the maintenance of this Website. Natural Nirvana is dedicated to selling vegetarian, spiritual and alternative products. We sell only animal-friendly and cruelty-free clothing, gifts, health foods, books and beauty products.

!! DVD Kurma Great Vegetarian Dsihes Cooking Videos Set for just $49. Individually each video costs $14.95.for a savings of over $100

24 Devotional DVD Set for just $99 Individually each video cost $14.95 for a savings of over $200

Fantastic Natural Herbs from the Amazons
(Best source of natural herbs in the world)

Infomation on Partnering with John Easterling &Amazon Herb formulas
Make a steady Income distruibuting natural herb products

Amazon Herbs Articles

Good News from the Amazon An interview with John Easterling

Interview with Sherrill Sellman

Journey to Porveneer
by Kosa Ely

How the Amazon Rainforest
Can Improve Our Relationships

By “Amazon John” Easterling

Returning to our Roots The Evolution of Environmental Consciousness
by Kosa Ely


CamuC Serum
Nature’s Ultimate Recipe for Glowing, Youthful Looking Skin

VEGAN BAGS
Hemp Bags
Vegetarian & Animal Rights Message Bag

Hemp Backpacks
Indian Quilted & Embroidered Bags
Ecolution Bags
Splaff Bags

CLOTHES
Vegetarian T-Shirts
Animal Rights T-Shirts
Vedic Gods T-Shirts

Hemp Gloves
Vegan Message Hats
Animal Rights Beanies
Hemp Hats
Vegetarian Message Hats
Indian Men Clothing
Indian Women Clothing
Scarves
Indian design Stoles
Indian Sarongs
Sacred Threads Tops
S. T. Dresses
S. T. Pants
Sacred Threads Children Clothing

Bedding & Pillows (beautiful)
Indian Bedspreads
Indian Design Quilts
Indian Design Pillows

FOOD
Raw Foods

Vegan Foods

AYURVEDIC MEDICINES
Ayurvedic Medicines
Neem Products
Ayurvedic Books
Herbal Vedic
NeemAura
AyurvedicSupplements
Ayurvedic Incense
Organic South Neem
Ayurvedic Soaps
Ayurveda Toothpaste
Ayurveda Massage Oil

VEGAN HEALTH
Vegan Vitamins
Vegan Herbal Remedies
Massage Oils
Sport Supplements
Vegan Protein
First Aid Products
Cold Medicines
Olbas
Well-In-Hand
Skin & Blemish
Herbal Salves & Balms

VEGAN BODY CARE
Vegan Soaps
Vegan Shampoos
Vegan Hair Spays
Vegan Toothpaste
Tongue Cleaners
Neti Pots
Vegan Perfumes
Vegan Sun Care
Lip Balm
Contact Len Cleaner
Skin Treatments
Men's Products
Dental Floss
Natural Mouthwashes
Vegan Hair Removal System

INCENSE & OILS
Incenses
Essential Oil
Vegan Candles

VEGAN BELTS & WALLETS
Vegan Wallets
Hemp Belts
Vegan Belts
Hemp Guitar Straps

VEGETARIAN & VEGAN BOOKS
Vegan Books
Vegetarian Books
Vegan Cookbooks
Vegetarian Cookbooks
Restaurant Cookbooks
Raw Food Book

VEG COSMETIC
Eyeshadows & Liners
Nail Polish
Blush
Lip Stick
Mascara
Powders
Nail Polish

VEDIC & SPIRITUAL
Mandala Publishers
OM Jewelry
Krishna Photos
Radha & Krishna Dolls

JEWELRY
Anklets
OM Jewelry
Nose Rings & Studs
Toe Rings
Astrological Gems
Earrings
Pendants
Silver Tulasi Beads
Neckbeads
Necklaces
Silver Jewelry
Gold Jewelry

BUTTONS STICKER
Animal Rights Buttons
Vegan Patch
Jam Bands Stickers
Jam Band Stickers (20 stickers for $5)

SPIRITUAL BOOKS
All Books
Holy Places
Vedic Scriptures
Mandala Publishing
Art Books
Kurma Cook Books
Bhagavat Gita
Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Children
Srimad Bhagvatam
Spiritual Biography
Vedic Coloring Books

SPIRITUAL MUCIC
Bhajans
S. Prabhupada Bhajans
Kirtana
New Age
Musical Instruments
Spiritual Lessons
Audio Vedic Books


VEGETARIAN VIDEO
Vegetarian Cooking
Vegetarian

SPIRTUAL VIDEO
Devotional Movies
Interactive CDs
Vedic Puppet Shows
Vedic Art & Culture
Indian Music Lessons
Bhativedanta Swami Prabhupada

Spiritual Photos & Art
Krishna Posters
Krishna Pictures
Vedic Gods Photos
Vedic Gods Posters

OTHER PRODUCTS
Putumayo World Music
Pet Products
Outdoor Neem
Air Garcia T-shirt

Bob Marley Reggae
Hats
Shirts
Key Chains
License Plates
Scarves
Books

         
Copyright ©2004 John Howley and Spiritual Guides