Chathurmukha Basti - The Jain temple, Manjeshwaram

The Chathurmukha basti here is an old Jain temple. The advent of Aryan religions like Jainism, Buddhism,and Hinduism from the north changed the Dravidian way of life that existed in ancient Kerala. Jainism was the first to come. The Koodalmanikyam temple in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district, is believed to have been originally a Jain temple. Jainism started declining in Kerala around the eighth century A.D. and nearly disappeared around the 16th century A.D. Jain shrines still survive in Wayanad, Kasaragod, Alappuzha and Kochi. The Chathurmukha Basti is unique because there are four idols of Vardhamana Mahaveera facing four directions. Hence the name chathurmukha (four faces) and basti (temple).