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GOMMATEŚVARA STATUES IN KARNATAKA
SHUBHACHANDRA
Sculpture is one of the ancient arts of India. As idol-worship went on gaining cultural importance, sculpture also gained equal prominence. In India sculpture has evolved fairly under the sponsorship of Jainism. We find several instances of idol-worship in the Jain canon and inscriptions. The Khāravela inscription of Hathigumphā belonging to the 2nd century B. C. refers to the idol of Tirthańkara Rşabhadeva prevalent even during 4th-5th century B. C.
Jaida idols generally mean to be the idols of the Tirtharkaras and of Bāhubali. These idols are usually found in Käyotsarga (also called Khadgāsana) a standing posture or Padmasana (also called Palyaikāsana) a sitting posture with crossed legs. Calm and comely countenance, lustrous body, serene ascetic face and nudity- these are the main characteristics of the Digambara Jina idols. There is no scope for a variety of sculptural manifestations in these Jina idols.
Gommațeśvara statues occupy an important place in the sculpture of Karnataka. In fact Gommațeśvara and Jainism have become almost synonimous with the overwhelming fame of Gommateśvara and his images. This image has sought some special importance in the Digambara sect of Jainism Gommateśvara's image essentially differs from other Jina images in one important aspect. All other Jina images may be found either in Khadgāsana or in Padmāsana but Gommateśvara can easily be identified as compared to other Jina images. The presence of serpents and ant-hills near the legs and or creepers on the hands and legs of the image confirms that it is of Gommateśvara.
It is rather interesting to study why Bahubali was called Gommageśvara. In Sravanabelgola inscriptions Cāmundarāya is usually referred to as Gommata and the image of Bāhubali that he got carved and installed as Gommateśvara.
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