Epitome of Jainism

SR No.: 006737
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K B Jindal
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi
Publication Year: 1988
Total Pages: 248
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 16

An Epitome of Jainism Channarayapatņa Taluq of the Hassan district in Mysore. The word 'Śravaņa' is used before Belgola to distinguish it from two other Belgolas which are known as Hale Belgola and Kodi Belgola. Belgola in Canarese indicates "white lake;" and in many inscriptions we have references to “Dhavala-sarovara," "Dhavala-sarasa" and "Sveta-sarovara," all signifying the "white lake;" and the place must have derived this name from the beautiful lake situated on the spot. There are two hills, one on the north and the other on the south of the village, which are respectively known as Chandragiri and Vindhyagiri, on which there are temples and images established by the Jainas and numerous inscriptions throwing a flood of light on the ancient history of this faith. Chandragiri according to a tradition derives its name from Chandragupta, who followed his spiritual teacher Bhadrabâhu, when the latter with twelve thousand disciples, at the approach of a terrible famine, left Pâtaliputra and moved towards the south. It was on Chandragiri that Bhadrabâhu left his mortal body, and in his last moments there was only one disciple, the above mentioned Chandragupta, who was present. If we accept the tradition of the Jainas we shall have to come to the conclusion that this Chandragupta, the disciple of the sage Bhadrabâhu, was none other than the celebrated Maurya emperor of the same name.
It was on Chandragiri that Châmunda Râya erected a magnificent temple containing the image of the twenty-second Jaina Tirthankara, Neminâtha. Subsequently, the upper storey of the building was added by the son of Châmunda Râya and an image of the twenty-third Tirthankara, Pârśvanátha, was placed in it. Both these storeys were built in the tenth century A.D. and give a fine idea of the beautiful architecture of that age.
On Vindhyagiri, Châmunda Râya erected a colossal image of Vâhuvali or Bhujabali, more commonly known as Gommat Svâmi or Gommateśvara. Later on, imitating Châmunda Râya, the chief Vîra-Pândya erected another statue of Gommateśvara at Karkala (South Canara) in 1432 A.D. ; and afterwards a similar figure of Gommateśvara was established by the chief Timmarâja at Yenur (South Canara) in 1604 A.D.
These "colossal monolithic nude Jain statues......are among the wonders of the world."* These are "undoubtedly the most remarkable of the Jain statues and the largest free-standing statues in Asia......All three being set on the top of eminences, are visible for miles around, and, in spite of their formalism, command respectful attention by their enormous mass and expression of dignified serenity. The biggest, that at Śravaņa Belgola, stands about 56 feet in height, with a width of 13 feet across the hips, and is cut out of a solid block of gneiss, apparently wrought in situ. That at Karkala, of the same material, but some 15 feet less in height, is estimated to weigh 80 tons. The smallest of the giants, that at Yenur, is 35 feet high. The three
* Imperial Gazetteer of India, page 121.