Shravanabelagola temple

Shravanabelagola is located at 13 km to the south-east of channarayapatna in the cannarayapatna taluk of hassan district of Karnataka . it is at a distance of 51 km south-east of hassan, the district center. the statue of gommateshavar bahubali at sravana belgola is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations injainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage  of western Ganga dynasty of talkad. chandragupta is said to have dide here in 298 bc after he became a jain monk and assumed an ascetic life style. the 57-feet tall monolithic statue of gommateshvara is located in vindyagiri hill. it is considered to be the worlds  largest monolithic stone statue. the base of the statue has an inscriptions in kannada as well as the oldest evidence of written marathi, i.e. devnagrari script, dating from 981 ad. the inscription praises the king who funded the effort and his general, chavundaraya, who erected the statue for his moter. every twelve years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the mahamastakabhisheka. a spectacular ceremony in which the statue is covered with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins.