History of Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 36

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DETAILS OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS Earliest Bāhubali colossus to be executed on the crest of a hill, with the etheral firmament and space as its canopy, background and vestment. It is on the Savanappana Betta, a hill of the Śramaņas at Are-Tippūru - Tirtha (Mandya dt, Maddūr tk), carved out of a granite monolith (not in situ) standing nude in samabhanga posture, a typical yogamudra. The usual motif of anthill and hooded cobras moving freely near the feet is absent; but the Mādhavi creepers, spring like a lotus stem at each foot, entwining twice round each leg and arm. Two ladies, standing one on each side, believed to be Brāhmi and Sundari, own sisters of Bāhubali, are holding the creeper as if to pull down. Bāhubali's face is round shaped, ears elongated, hair in crisp curls; a simple and single line drawn unornamented nimbus; c. early 9th cent. C.E. Earliest phase of Tippūru [Tipperur : EC. VI (R) Sr 66 (IV Sr 160) C. 559 A. D. p. 397; EC. VII (R) MD-100. A.D. 916-17. o. 312 line : 10. Kūligere] starts from 6th-7th cent., and gets accelerated from Mārasimha Ereyappa during the reign of Śivamāra-II (791-819) with gifts to Muļavalli basadi [ARMAD 1920, p. 24. Vaidyanāthapura (Mandya dat); ASMAR-III, p. 15). A kola (cf. Belgola), a pond on the flattish granite hillock containing Jaina relies including some loose dethroned images of Tirthankaras; besides there are 14 Jina images in khadgāsana & paryarkāsana, in low relief in a row (the rock-cut images are not seen in the plate). Misplaced vestiges on the hillock. A lone slab, with an inscription, on the small hill giving details of the glory that is gone. A displaced cauri-bearer.
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