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86
Gommateśvara Commemoration Volume
Vaibhaya, 8) Bhujabaliya Carite, śvara Carite, 11) Raja yaļi Kathe, 14) Bhujubali pūje etc.
9) Songs on Bhujabali, 12) Gommațādhyaya,
10) Belgolada Gommage13) Gommatës varcharita,
Out of the works mentioned above Gommata Stuti or Hadugaļu ( songs ) contain verses in praise of Bahubali. Some works contain very good verses of the highest category of poetry. In other works, the story of Bahubali runs alike. But the Poet Ratnākaravarại differes a bit from the earlier works. To know how Bahubali is depicted in Kannada works, it is enough if we examine the poet Pampa and the poet Ratnākaravarņi. Still, some works are important as they give historical information about the erection of the statues of Bahubali, about the Mastakābhişēkas etc. For example the Poet Candrama (1646 A. D.) in his work Karkala Gommațēśvaracarite has written about the installation of the statue at Kārkaļ by Pāņdya King in 1431 A. D. and also about the Mastakābhişeka performed in the year 1646. Pañcabāņa (1614 A. D.) in his work 'Bhujabali Carite' has written that one person by name Shāntavarņi performed Mastakābhişēka to Bahubali in 1612 A. D. and also about its installation by Cāvundarāya. This poet was the native of Sravanabelgola. Ananta (1780 A. D.) in his work Belagolada Gommateśvara Carite has written that one Virūpaksha Pandita-minister to the Mysore King Cikadēvarāya, performed Mastakābhisēka to Bahubali at Sravanabelgoļa in the year 1677 and also about another Mastakābhişēka which took place in 1777 A. D. This poet has written about a person by name Annayya who was responsible for the construction of Kalyāņi (i. e. tank) with the help of King Cikadēvarāya.
Now, we may see Bahubali as depicted in Pampa's Adipurāņa. Pampa is the first poet in Kannada and has written this purāņa in the year 941 A.D. Pumpa was a great poet and had read previous works in Sanskrit and Prakrit. So, in his Adlpurāņa, he has almost gone along the lines given by Jinasēnācārya in his pūrvapurāņa.
Ādinātha had hundred sons headed by Bharata and a daughter namely ‘Brāhmi' by his one wife Yashashvati and a son i.e., Bahubali and a daughter viz, Sundari by his another wife Sunandādēvi. Bharata was the eldest and was to become the King after his father. So, it is no wonder if Ādinātha had taken special care about him. But we notice that equal care was taken about Bāhubali by his father. While giving education, Ādinātha taught Bharatašāstra, Artbaśāstra to Bharata and; Kamatantra, Ayurvēda, the science of elephants, horses and jewels to Bahubali.
Adinātha installed Bharata as the King in Ayodhyā and Bahubali as. Yuvarāja in Paudanapura at the time of his renunciation. This again shows, how important a person Bahubali was! In his kingdom Bahubali was quite independant and happy.
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