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The town of Lakkundi was known as Lokkigundi in medieval times, the town was of considerable importance during the 11-12th century A.D. Western Chalukya rule. The Brahma Jinalaya was built in 1007 CE by Attimabbe, wife of Nagadeva, who served as general under both Taila II and Satyashraya Irivabedanga (997-1008 A.D.). Satyasraya Irivabedanga had the title ‘Sarvavarnadharmadhanu’ – meaning bow that respects all religions, without discrimination. The temple represents the second phase of Kalyani Chalukyas art. It is said that Attimabbe donated 1,500 jewel-studded statues of thirthankaras and 1,000 copies of the manuscript of Ponna’s ‘Santipurana’ written on palm-leaves book. With the waning of their power, in 1191 A.D., the noted Hoysala empire king Veera Ballala II made this town an important garrison. In 12th century, Chaturmukh Bharma was installed by villagers giving the temple the name Brahma Jinalaya. Historical records note that there were 5 Jain temples in the region but only this temple survives.

There are three notable freestanding sculptures in the temple. An image of Mahavira that is a little over 4 feet tall, made of black polished stone, and seated on a "lion throne" (simhaasana) is found outside the temple. Originally this idol was housed as the original mulnayak of the temple.  Neminatha is the mulnayak of the temple placed in the inner sanctum of the temple with yaksha and yakshi on either side. There is a beautiful sculpture of seven hooded Parshva in Kayotsarga position with yakshi and yaksha on both sides. The sculpture of Padmavati sitting with left knee upright besides Parshva depicts Goddess with goad and noose in right and left upper arms respectively and the lower hands are in varadamudra with fruit.

goddess Saraswati stands at the entrance to the vestibule. In each of her four hands she holds an attribute; a ankusa (elephant goad), a petaled flower, a book and a citron. In addition to these sculptures, the relief of a Jaina is carved on to the door lintel of the sanctum and outer hall, and an image of Gajalakshmi (Lakshmi with elephants on either side) exists over entrance to the vestibule.