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94
Gommafeśvara Commemoration Volume
Nothing grander or more imposing exists anywhere out of Egypt and, even there, no known statue surpasses Gommateśvara in height and faciál charm. It is larger than any of the Statues of Ramses of Egypt.
Gommateśvara has watched over India for over a thousand years, while the statues of Ramses of Egypt have gazed upon the Nile for more than 4000 years. The monolithic Indian saint is thousands of years younger than the prostrate Ramses or Guardians of Abu Simbal of Egypt, but he is more impressive both on account of his commanding position of the brow of the hill overlooking the wide stretch of plain and his astonishing size.
Owing to the great height of the statue and want of any point sufficiently elevated from which to take a picture of it, most of the representations fail to give a good idea of the features of the face, which are the most perfect part artistically carved and most interesting to see. Considering the size of the head which from the crown to the bottom of the ear measures six feet six inches the artist was skillful indeed to draw from the blank rock, the wonderous contemplative expression touched with a faint smile with which Gommateśvara gazes out the struggling world. The smile on his face is more wonderful than the smile on the face of the world famous Mona Lisa, painting of Leonardo da Vinci.
The nudity of the statue represents complete renunciation of all world attachments. Here Gommațeśvara has destroyed the bonds of karma. The statue of Gommateśvara is that of Jain saint caused to be erected during the years 974 A.D., to 981 A.D. by Cāmundarāya, General of Ganga King Rācamalla the IV, who was ruling this part of the country in the latter part of tenth century A.D A flight of 500 steps out in the granite hill leads to the summit of the hill upon which stands an open court surrounded by a corridor cotaining cells each enshrining a Jain God. The corridor is again surrounded at some distance by a heavy wall, a good part of which is picturesquely bound by boulders in their natural position. In the the centre of the court stands the colossal statue of Gommateśvara standing 57 feet high. The statue is facing north, the hairs on the head curled in short spirals. The figure has no support over the level of thighs. Upto that point, it is surrounded by ant-hills, from which emerge serpents and creepers entwining both legs and arms terminating at the upper part of the arms.
Measurements of the Statue :
57'.
7
Total height: Total height from the crown of the head to
the bottom of the ear: Total height from the foot to bottom of the ears : Length of the foot : Breadth across the foot :
50' 9'
4' 6"
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