Moodbidri ANCIANT JAIN MATH

Moodbidri is variously called as Moodabidure, Moodubidre and Moodubidri. The North Indians calls it Moolbidri. In ancient rock edicts it is called Bidire. Perhaps the place got its name from bidiru (bamboos) which grew here aplenty. In Sanskrit it is called Vamshapura, Venupura, Kshema Venupura and Prag-venupura. In Sanskrit vamsha and venu means bamboo.

Therefore it is suggested that both the Sanskritic and indigenous names are derived from bamboo which grew here copiously. Since there is another Bidre on the shores of the Arabian Sea on the west (padu), this Bidre on the east (moodu) might have been called Moodbidre. As both these names are indigenous, the word bidre occurring in both names suggests bamboo. Since religious people used to receive religious oath from the Mutt here, the place was also called Vratha-pura, vratha meanining oath or vow.

The Ahimsa Dharmapeeta

All the records relating to religious and developmental activities in Moodbidri have reference to Swasthi Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Pandithacharyavarya math established origin independently 1220 a.d at moodbidri ,moodbidri jain math  branches are nalluru jain math,shrvanthapur, byakodu harige, sagar taluk shivmogga district bilagi, (shwetapura)sangeethapur  haduvalli ,kumta honnavara,bhatkal  uttar kannada district Karnataka state

swamiji charukeerthi bhattaraka manageing trustee of all the 18 basadi

later 1970 16 basadi and ramani reserch centre saraswati mandir ,shastra bandaram and jain math incluse still swamiji is 18 institutes manageing trustee present swamiji successor and took position of manageing trustee 29th aug 1999

And Abhinava Charukeerthi Pandithacharyavarya of the Jain Mutt of Moodbidri. They refer to permission granted and guidance offered. There are statements about him having granted land for the construction of the Thousand Pillar Basadi of Sri Chandranatha Swami and also having given guidance on it from time to time. Studies show that the role of Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka in the renaissance of the social, religious and cultural life of Moodbidri is great. However the date of the establishment of this mutt1220 also muni parampara begin desiya gana mool sang  pattavali  parshwanatha muni  and shruta kevali badra bahu,acharya kund kund 2000 years before observe tapasya here  by the study of records.

The first ever recorded reference to Swasthi Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Pandithacharyavarya can be seen in a rock edict of Lokanatha Devarasa of Guru Basadi at Hiriyangady, Karkala,  dating to A. D. 1334. In that edict, Devarasa calls himself as  ballaalaraayachittha chamathkaararum manthravaadi makaradhvajarumappa sreemathu chaarukeerthi pandhitha devara divyashreepaadapadmaaraadhaka. But this Mutt of Moodbidri must have been established still earler. Even Dr. Gururaja Bhat says that the date of establishment of the Mutt is hard to be determnined.

But Pandit Lokanatha Shasthri in his book ‘The History of Moodbidri’ informs us that the Mutt came to being in A. D. 1121. It seems to be right. As we have noted before, prior to 9^th century A. D. this area was the centre of Shakthi worship. But Jainism had come to coastal Karnataka earlier and, having won the hearts of people, was spreading and had come to Moodbidri also. Perhaps there was a clash between Shakti worship and the Ahimsa of Jainism. Having attracted the people greatly, Jainism came on top. It is quite natural that Jains exerted their attention to attract the people toward them and gain their co-operation and thus to gain an upper hand by cultural activities at a time when Jainism was spreading around Moodbidri and Buddhism (Kadri in Mangalore was a Buddhist centre) was on the wane. Religious literature must have been composed and Jina Mandirs must have been established to acquaint people of the inner strength and superiority of Jain culture when social differences came to the fore in Moodbidri which was home for many castes and creeds. The necessity to establish a Mutt to safeguard the Jain interests and for guidance of people must have been realized.

An earliest Charukeerthi Swamy, the protector of the HOYSALA KING Ballals, comes to Nallur near Karkala in coastal Karnataka from Shravanabelagola with his regnant elephant with a view to promoting religiosity in society, the alleviation of diseases and suffering and taking the Jain precept to the people. Being influenced by him, large sections of people take to the worship of Mother DIETY  Kushmandini Devi. The Mother, pleased by the calm and hallowed surroundings, suggests Her inclination to stay there permanently.

Listening to the plea of the religious people of Moodbidri, Pujya Swamiji arrives here for the spread of the Jain precept and guidance. As part of propagating Jainism he establishes a Mutt here. In future a Brahmachari well-versed in the precepts is sent to the Sri Mutt in Shravanabelagola. At that time it was convenient practically easy to name this Mutt after Shravanabelgola. Therefore the Head of the Mutt here also was designated Shrimannijaghatikasthana, Delhi, Kanakadri, Shwetapura, Sudhapura, Sangithapura, Shreemad-belagola, Kshema-venupura Siddhasimhasanaadheeshwara Swasti Shree Bhattaraka Charukeerthi Pandithacharyavarya.

Because of the popularity of Jainism and the stature of the Head of the Mutt, Moodbidri grew as a major Jain cultural centre. The Head of the Mutt offered support and encouragement to the achievements of the people around. For that reason he has been referred to and eulogized reverently in many literary works. Besides the edict of Hiriyangady, in the edict of Harihara of 1312 A. D. he has been referred to as Shree Mathu Abhinava Charukeerthi Panditha Deva  In the edicts on the walls of the Thousand Pillar Basadi he is referred to as Nathanripamakutamanipraarchchithapadayuganakhila shaastra parinathanu vrithathilavrithram sheelonnathanabhinava charukeerthi panditha munipam and also as shreemadraaya raajaguru bhoomandalaachaaryavarya mahaapaada vaadeeshvararaaya vaadipithaamaha sakala vidvajjanachakravarthigalumappashreemadabhinava chaarukeerthi panditha devaru.