Jain Siddhant Bhaskar

SR No.: 010062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hiralal Jain, Others
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1940
Total Pages: 143
Language: Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 7 MB

Page 121

No. IV ] BAHUBALI STORY IN KANNADA LITERATURE.
145
shoulder. It was a very critical moment. Had Bahubali thought of using that weapon on his elder brother he would have done so,. killed his brother, and been himself the emperor. But he was a true Jaina. To him the moment proved to be one of internal awakening. He felt disgusted with the covetousness of empire in his brother, which showed no consideration even for a brother. This brought on him aversion for life. He took dikșă and performed severe penance. In spite of his mastery over Jainagama he could not conquer his mana-kaṣāya, on account of which he was not soon blessed with Kevala-jñāna. This was pointed out to Bharata by Adinatha. The hint was taken by him and Bahubali was informed accordingly. Taking action on this suggestion he conquered that weakness of his and attained Kevala jñāna. In course of time he attained Mokşa
In this Purana, Ādı-Pampa does not mention of Bharata consecrating at Paudanapura the image of Bahubali 525 bow-lengths high. Cavunḍaraya in his Cavuṇḍaraya-purana (about 978 A D.) gives the same story very briefly.
The third account appears in the Shravan-Belagula inscription No. 234 of about 1180 A. D. composed by Boppana who had the title Sujanottamsa. It is this poet who, for the first time, relates the story of an image of 525 bow-lengths erected at Paudanapura by Bharata out of respect and affection for his brother Bahubali. As time rolled on, the inscription further states, the region around the image having become infested with innumerable Kukkuṭa-sarpas (fowls with serpent heads) the statue came to be known as Kukkuteśvara. It afterwards became invisible to all except the initiated. But Cavundaraya having heard a description of it set out with his mother with a desire of seeing it. Finding however that the journey was beyond his power owing to the distance and inaccessibility of the region, he resolved to erect such an image himself; and with great effort succeeded in getting the Image made and set up.
The fourth account is given by Pañcabāņa in his BhujabaliCarite (about 1614 A. D.). In this the author' tells how Padmavati and Brahmadeva appeared in a dream before Cavuṇḍaraya when