Acclaimed
as the 'Jain Varanasi' of South India, the landscape of Mudabidri is
dotted with 18 Jain basadis. Basadis are Jain monasteries or temples
where an image of one of the twenty-four tirthankaras (saints) is
installed and worshipped. The crown jewel among the Jain Basadis is the Tribhuvana Tilaka Choodamani Basadi, also known as the thousand pillars basadi. This 15th century magnificent architecture, culmination of about 50 years of painstaking craftsmanship, has one thousand exquisite carved pillars each ornamented with different designs.
The sanctum of the Basadi contains an image of Chandranatha which is more than seven feet in height and is made of Panchaloha (five alloys). In addition to a valuable collection of jewel-encrusted metallic images of Jain tirthankaras, Manasthamba, the free standing pillar is another attraction. The Jain Mutt near the main temple entrance has a library preserving some beautiful 12th and 13th century palm leaf manuscripts.
