Kere Basadi – Varanga

In and around Udupi, there are a lot of Jain temples or basadis. Each one has its own unique feature. Kere Basadi is one such a Jain temple at Varanga, a town located in Udupi district.

Kere Basadi offers a magnificent sight as it is built in the middle of a pond (kere). Hence the name. The whole structure is built on a star shaped platform. It has four entrances from four directions. On the outside, there is a separate “PradakshinaPatha” and “Garbhagudi”. It is believed that the idols in the “Garbhagudi” belong to the 12th century.

To reach the temple, worshippers have to take a boat which are generally plied by the priests of the temple. The calm atmosphere resonates with the beliefs of the peace loving Jains.

The deities worshipped here are Bhagwan “Shri Mallinatha Swami”, Goddess “Padmavathi” and Shree “Parsawnatha Swami”. It is believed that by offering horse gram in the surrounding water, one can rid of their worldly problems.