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Art and Architecture/221
from Śravanabelagola, now in the Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai, standing on a circular disk of 20 inches. Mādhavi creeper, done in high relief entwines Bahubali's legs, thighs and arms, and the hair is combed back in parallel rows with the curled locks placed on the back and across shoulders. The image of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa period is assignable to early ninth cent. C. E., i.e., the reign of Amoghavarṣa.
8.2.4.5. There are three other colossi/sculpture of Bahubali dated earlier to Gommata of Śravanabelagola. On the big hill at Are-Tippur (Mandya Dt, Maddur Tk) stands a Bahubali statue of 10' high, assignable to late ninth century. This is the earliest in India to be executed on the top of a hill with etheral firmament and space as its canopy, background and vestment. Are-Tippur was an ancient Jaina-tirtha with more than seven Jinālayas. It flourished as a Jaina settlement in the age of the Gangas and Rāṣṭrakūṭas. The Sagara-Manaleras developed it into a prominent pilgrim center [Sharma, I. K. 1992; Nagarajaiah, Hampa: 1995].
8.2.4.6. The Hombuja-kṣētra (Shimoga Dt, Hosanagara Tk), unique Jaina vital seat for 1250 years, was a residence of the Santras. Guddadabasadi 'shrine on the hillock', contains monolith colossus of 54 inches Bahubali consecretated in C. E. 898 by Vikrama Santara. On one of the pillars inside Bōgārabasadi, founded in the late 9th cent. a miniature bas- relief of Bahubali, beautifully executed within the frame of one foot, is something to be marvelled at.
8.2.4.7. Camunṇḍaraya, the illustrious minister and general of the last Ganga kings, installed magnificent Gommața colossus of 58 ft on the peak of the larger hill Vindhyagiri in C. E. 982-83. The serene and awe-inspiring colossal of Bahubali, which has been regarded as one of the wonders of the world, heralded a new trend in Jaina art. The colossal of Bahubali wrought of a block of gneiss in situ
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