Gommatasara Jiva Kanda

Author(s): Nemichandra Siddhant Chakravarti, J L Jaini
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 18

"the leader in battle," Vira Mártanda, "the sun among the brave," Rana Raja Sinha, “a great Lion in battle," Vairí Kula Kála Danda “The sceptre of death for the hosts of enemies," Bhuja Mártanda "The sun among the powerful-armed." Samara Parshurama, "Parashurama in battle," Satya Yudhisthira, “Yudhisthira in speaking truth.” He was great scholar also. He wrote a commentary* on Gommațasára, in the Canarese language in presence of the author Shri Nemi Chandra Siddhanta Chakravarti. He also composed Chámunda Ráva Purana in Canarese and Charitra sára, a treatise on the practices of ascetics in Samskrit.
Appreciative mention of Rájá Chámunda Ráya has been made by the author in Karma Kánda Gáthá 966 to 972. Raja Chámunda Raya took vows of a layman from the Great Saint Ajitasena, who was a disciple of the order of Acharya Aryasena, as stated in Gatha 734 of Jíva Kánda. Rájá Chámunda Ráya constructed a beautiful Jaina. Temple now called Chámunda Ráyá Basti at Chandragiri in front of Vindhvagiri at Shravana Belgula, district Hasan, Mysore, containing a beautiful image of Shri Nemi Náth to whom our author has offered obeisance on several occasions in Gommațasára.
He constructed in 983 A. C. the great and wonderful image of Shri Bahubali, called Gommața Swami, Gommateshvara, "the Lord of Gommata" after his name.
Bahubali was one of the sons of the first Tirthankara Rishabha Deva and ruled at Podnápore. He had a contest with his eldest brother Bharata and defeated him. But he felt so distressed on this account that he renounced all temporal power and adopted an ascetic life. He practised the severest austerities. He stood unmoved for a whole year, in the standing posture, in meditation, so deep and concentrated that creepers spread and entwined themselves round his legs and arms. He was the first who obtained omniscience in this Avasarpiní cycle in Bharata Kshetra even before Lord Rishabha. His unsurpassed severe austerities have been very often extolled in Jaina Shastras. The wonderrul image at Vindhyagiri represents this exemplary attitude of meditation..
The grandeur of the Image, as also its serene-looking and peace-inspiring presence, are well-known to all Jainas and nonJainas who have had the good fortune of visiting it. When I visited the sacred place in 1910, I met some English men and women missionaries, who out of respect for the Holy Image took off their shoes and visited it in their bare feet. They also held the opinion
*Keshava Varni has based his Commentary on Gommatasara on this work.