The charming bronze idol in the Kadire Manjunatha temple represents the Avalokitesvara (or Lokeswara), a former Bodhisatva, who was considered as embodiment of compassion and an incarnation of Buddha during the Tenth century CE.
In Nepal, Macchendra Nath is being worshipped as an incarnation of Avalokitesvara, a form of Buddha modeled after Shiva. It appears that Alupe King Kundavarma installed the bronze idol during ca.968-1068 CE posthumously in honour of Macchendra Nath whose cult was absorbed into Vajrayana Buddhism and was worshipped as Avalokitesvara in Nepal and other areas. The date of installation of the idol written in the inscription at the bottom of the idol has been interpreted as 968 CE by Dr. Gururaja Bhat, whereas Manjeswara Govinda Pai reinterpreted the date as 1068 CE.
The idol reflects the art of bronze casting that was perfected in Tamilnadu during the Chola period of ca.850-1150 CE. The bronze might have been cast in situ at Kadire or brought from the Chola kingdom.
Macchendra Natha
A chronological recapitulation: Macchendra Natha, a disciple of Adinatha, who founded the Shaiva Natha cult, a school of Hatha Yoga, came from Chandragiri in Bengal to Kadire by walk around the early tenth century CE, with his disciple Gorakh Natha and settled near the Buddhist monastery known as Kadarika Vihar, near Kadire, in Mangalapura. Natha historians claim that Macchendra and Gorakh along with some of their contemporaries discovered the Kundalini system of Yoga which was advancement over the older Patanjali Yoga. The Jogis of Natha cult are known for traveling widely all over the country. Natha cult was practiced by ‘split-ear mendicants’ who wore large circular rings in their ears.(Victor M Fic, 2003) Macchendra also founded the Kaula cult at Triambakeswar, in present Maharastra. During the Tenth century Karnataka, according to Kavi-raja-marga, is said to have spread from River Kavery to River Godavary, encompassing the present Maharastra.
After his death, the Natha cult of Macchendra was absorbed into Vajrayana Buddhism, which was also known for experiments in Tantra. The Natha cult also influenced the Baula cult (Sufism). Jnaneswar or Jnanadeva (b.1275 – d.1296 CE) was a disciple of Natha cult, but later his disciples founded the Warakari cult
Manju Natha
Macchendra while at Kadire installed a memorial stone in memory of his departed son Manju Natha in the tradition of spirit worship that was vogue in the region. The selection of the name ‘Manju’ shows combined influence of native Tulu word ‘manji’ (=dew, snow, fog) and Buddhist Pali word ‘manju’(=beautiful, charming).Following Macchendra’s incarnation as Avalokitesvara, the Manju Natha was regarded as incarnation of Manjusri, the Buddha of Wisdom, or Buddhist equivalent of Lord Brahma of Hindu pantheon. A bronze idol of Manjusri was installed. The township around the temple was designated Manjarur. The name Manjarur has been recorded by Arabian travelers like Ibn Battuta during 1342 CE.
Manjunatha
With passage of time the native spirit worship was absorbed into the mainstream Hinduism and Manjunatha was regarded as a form of Lord Shiva. The Manjunatha temple is estimated to have been built around 14th century CE by Dr. Gururaja Bhat.
Thus Kadire Manjunatha temple is a window to the theological heritage of Mangalore, a convergence of cascading transitions of overlapping religious cults of Buddhist, Natha, Spirit and Shaiva traditions.
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For my untrained eyes the idol appears to be mix of Brahma(four heads) and Vishnu (hands) :-).
ReplyDeleteI wonder about sound changes that happen when Arab/Persians pronounce Mangaluru. I know Srirangapattana was known as Siranjfatan during Tippu's time. We can see ga->ja change in that. Similarly, we can read Manjarur as Mangarur.
I think, Avalokiteswara (originally Avalokitasvara) was modelled after Brahma and Visnu initially and later identified with Siva (Chola period sculpture is identical to Kadri Avalokiteswara) as Buddhism merged with Saivism in South India.
ReplyDeleteRef:
Indo-Eurasian_research message
1.Avalokitesvara(=Lokesvara) has been depicted in several styles in diverse places: many heads and many hands were the common features.However, Kundavarma, the installer, has seen to it that the idol was described as 'Lokesvara' in the inscription at the bottom of the idol.
ReplyDelete2.I also got a feeling of Brahma because of the heads.
3.I too felt that Mangarur is a mis-pronounciation of Manjarur or Mangalur.But, the word Mangar(Mangar-kariya) existed among our people!
4.The suggestion of Dr Gururaja Bhat that the Manjunatha temple may be of 14th century( based on temple architecture, style etc)hints that merger of Buddhism with Shaivism occurred as late as 14th century in Karavali(ie. post-Macchendra period).Natha-Vajrayana style temples in Srilanka were built even during 14th century . These were re-absorbed into Buddhism there, unlike in Southern India/Karavali.
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion of Dr Gururaja Bhat that the Manjunatha temple may be of 14th century
ReplyDeleteWhat about the deities (Lokeswara, Manjusri)? Have they been dated?
Inscription at the base of Lokesvara idol declares the date of installation as 968 CE (Gururaja Bhat),otherwise corrected to 1068 CE(Govinda Pai).
ReplyDeleteManjusri date/inscription not available.