Gommateshvara Commemoration Volume

SR No.: 012066
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 198
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Smruti_Granth & Articles
File Size: 8 MB

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Gommagesvara Commemoration Volume
ing to its installation is fully depicted by the poet Cadura Candrama in the Karkasada Gommaļcsvara Carite, a Kannada work in Sāngatya form. Starting with the blessings of Sriguru Lalitakirti Bhattāraka the story proceeds with the finding of a suitable rock (vajrasile), carving the statue and transporting the same to the top of the hill. Candrama's descriptions bear a historical significance. After the rough statue was carved it was carried on a cart with 20 wheels. The statue was pulled on to the cart with ten thousand livers and even one thousand men could not drag it for more than a yard. Next day the cart was provided with one thousand pulleys and wild tuskers pushed the cart upto the hill. Even then it could move about for 7 or 8 yards only. Thus it took a whole month to transport the statue to the top of the hill. On the hill the statue was laid on a net-work of seventytwo pillars and final touches were given which took one more year. Then the statue was ceremoniously installed on the hill.
The other Gommațeśvara statue is in Veņūr in the South Canara district. This statue which is 35 feet tall was installed by Timmannäjila in 1604. It is found on a plane level ground with walls on all the four sides. There is an interesting story about the controversy that occured at the time of installation of this statue. It seems that Timmannājila also wanted to become famous as Cãmundaräya and hence got this statue chiselled in his kingdom. But Bhairavaräya II, who was ruling at Kärkala at that time, wanted that no statue similar to the one erected in Karkala should be installed anywhere else. He demanded that the Venur statue should be surrendered to him. Then Timmanņājila, a brave warrior, decided to fight. He buried the statue in sand, and installed the same later, only after winning the battle. But we have no evidence to corroborate this story either in inscriptions or in literature. This has only a legendary value.
There is another Gommațeśvara statue of 18 feet height in Gommatagiri, a place at a distance of sixteen miles from Mysore city and to the South of the river Cauvery. This statue is situated on a huge rock which is about 100 feet in height. This small hill looks like a Chariot if it is seen from a distance. We do not have any document or inscription or reference about the installation of the statue. But however the Kings of Changaļva family who were the heirs of Cāmundarāya as well as the rulers of that region are understood to have installed this statue. The exceptional feature of this statue which is not found in any other Gommațeśvara statue is that it is facing towards the east and has got the hands almost touching the open hoods of the serpents. There are no ant-hills near the feet.
Behind the Krishnarajasagara reservoir, to the north of the river Cauvery, there is a Gommateśvara statue 18 feet in height at Basti Hosakoțe near Mavinakere village, Krishnarajapet taluk in Mandya District. This is known to be a statue chiselled out of soap-stone. Surrounding this statue there are relics of Jaina temples built during the time of the Gangas and Vişnuvardhana. This