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102
Gommagesvara Commemoration Volume
The Jaina scriptures prescribe performance of Pancakalyāņa rites to Tirthankaras only. But Bāhubali is not a Tirthaikara. According to Jaina Puranic legends no Pancakalyānas are said to have been performed by the divine beings, Indra and the others, to Bahubali as in the case of the Tirtharkaras. But the surging emotional devotion of the people at large-of any faith for that matteris generally too strong and forceful to be contained by the scriptural injunctions and sometimes overrule them. Being deeply touched with Bahubali's magnanimous sacrifice and attainment of mökşa, the devotees intimately and strongly desired to perform Pancakalyāṇa rites to the Bāhubali image also. Hence the celebration of the rites to the image were carried out. But it is unique. Expression of such popular emotional devotion in some other respects i. e., in sculptures is common. For instance, an image of Tirthankara seated in padmāsana (who has completely forsaken all worldly comforts) is depicted as having seated on a simhasana with cylindrical pillow having ornamental tassels at the ends behind him to lean on.
Incidentally the inscription describes in detail the profound scholarship and greatness of Sri Bhānukirtidēva in an unusual way. His accomplishments and qualities are enumerated in consecutively ascending order as e g., ēkatvabhūvanābhavitā tmarutrayõdašāchārasīlagunadhairyamansampannaruń".
The reference to the performance of these religious rites as early as 12th c. A.D. to Gommațēśvara in particular is only one of its kind and in Sravanabelgoļa in general. Elsewhere too inscriptions pertaining to the stately statues of Bāhubali (not described as Gommateśvara) at Karnataka' and Venur (both in South Kanara Dist.), mention only about their installations in Saka 1353 (1432 A. D.) and 1525 (1603 A.D.) by Sri Virapāndyēša, the son of Bhairarasa of Somavamsa at the initiation of Sri Lalitakirti muni of Desigana, Panasoge Bali and, by Ajila Timmarāja at the instance of Sri Cārukirti of Belguļapura (i.e., Sravanabe!go!a) respectively, and not the celebrations of the Pancakalyāṇa rites to them.
The text of the relevant inscription, with appropriate captions, is given below :
I. Invocation :
1. Srimatuparamagambhirasyādva 2. dhāmēghalañchanam jiyatryailo 3. kyanātasya sāsanam jinaśāsanam
II. Prasasti of Sri Bhānusiddhanta-cakravarti
4. Svasti samadhigata-pamchamahāsabha mahāmamdalā-chäryyādi 5. Praśastya-virājita-chimnnāļamkritarum vismbodhva 6. bõditarum sakaļa-kēvaļa-jnānunētratrayarum 7. ananta-jnanadarśana-viryya-sukhatmakarum viditātma-saddharmme
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