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Gommates vara Commemoration Volume
and of his size". Thus these words of a great art historian has to be taken as a valid appreciation of the beauty of this great image.
Another remarkable feature is that this is a dated image. Though there has been some controversy regarding the date of Camuşdarāya, it has been possible to arrive at the correct date. Cāmundarāya was the minister under Rācamalla who ruled from 974 to 984 A. D. According to R. Narasimh char, the image was set up in 983 AD. since the consecration took place during the time of Rācamalla. But the main objection for this is the absence of any mention of it in the camundarāyapurāņa which was written in 978. Perhaps this was not begun when the above work was composed. Thus this image is a good example of Ganga sculpture the date of which can be fixed.
Thus the Gommațeśvara statue has been a great creation of the artists of Karnataka at least a thousand years ago and has been guiding the people to follow the path which will elevate them to higher life.
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