Kanakagiri is the only place among Jain centers where Kalasarpadosha Remedial Puja is performed. Kanakagiri is one of the major Jain pilgrimage centers known as Hemanga Desha in ancient Jain literature. Countless devotees, Jains and Hindus flock here to perform Kalasarpadosh Puja. Kanakagiri Temple is a fort-enclosed area.
Kanakagiri Hill is 199 kilometers from Bangalore and 54 kilometers from Mysore, 26 kilometers from Chamarajanagar and 32 kilometers from Nanjangudu.
Darshan timings at Kanakagiri Jain Theertha are from 08 am to 5 pm.
The Kanakagiri temple has four main parts, namely Mukhamantapa, Navranga, Sukhanasi and Garbhagruha. A unique feature of this temple is that it has five main deities together – Lord Parswanath, Goddess Padmavati, Goddess Jwalamalini, Goddess Kushmandini and Kshetrapala Brahma Yaksha. Lord Parswanath is in Garbhagriha while others are in Sukhanasi.
The main temple on a 350-step hill is surrounded by a fort, a monastery was established here by the Jain saint Acharya Pujyapad in the 5th century. It is believed that Lord Mahavira visited this place during his southern journey. There is evidence in history that Lord Mahavira held a Samavarana Divya Sabha.
It is said that Queen Deverammanni of the Mysore royal family once suffered from Kalasarpadosa and found relief by worshiping the goddesses here. So he gave the temple a unique snake-headed idol with figures of Dharanendra and Padmavati. The idol is currently kept at Sukhanasi. There are 3 temples of 24 Tirthankaras and an 18-foot monolith of Baahubali. There are caves where Jain saints meditated on the hill. There are also some caves where Jain sages meditated on the hill.
Inside the small stupas outside the fort enclosure are the footprints of all the twenty-four Tirthankaras. They are spread across the hill. The views from this place are amazing and the cool breeze is refreshing.