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In the 14th century, in Shravanabelagola (Karnataka), a world-famous Jain pilgrimage site, there was a female disciple named Mangai, who was the head of the court dancers. She was a disciple of the renowned Jain religious leader Charukirti Panditacharya o
Yes, your description is essentially correct.
- In Shravanabelagola (Karnataka), there is indeed a Jain temple known as Mangayi Basadi (also written Mangai / Mangayi Basti).
- It was built in 1325 CE by Mangayi, who is described in local Jain tradition as a highly respected royal dancing girl (court dancer) of the Vijayanagara period.
- She was a disciple of Bhattaraka Charukirti (Charukirti Panditacharya) of Shravanabelagola.
- The basadi is a plain but historic structure, notable for the two beautifully carved stone elephants at its entrance.
- The main deity (mūlanāyak) of this temple is Lord Shantinath Bhagwan (about 4 ft in height).
- In old records it is also referred to as “Tribhuvana Chudamani”.
So the story you mentioned about a woman disciple named Mangai (Mangayi), a head court dancer who became a disciple of Charukirti Panditacharya and built a Jain temple at Shravanabelagola, refers to this very temple, Mangayi Basadi, and is supported by traditional Jain accounts of the kṣetra.
