________________
represented by snakes, lizards and scorpions either near him or creeping over his body. The posture of Bāhubali is symbolic of perfect self-control, while his nudity implies total renunciation. The profound austerities formed by Bāhubali inspired both the Śvetāmbara and the Digambara Jains to worship him, specially the Digambaras. As a result, Bāhubali became a powerful symbol and also a materialistic image, evocative of the ethos of selfsacrifice and ahimsā, as preached by the Jinas. It is further believed that Bāhubali was perhaps the first to propound the policy of no war, preferring a duel to a battle between the armies. The entwining creepers and the figures of scorpions, lizards and snakes on the body of Bāhubali perhaps also are symbolic the intimate relationship between man and nature and their rhythmic coexistence. Gradually, the popularity of Bahubali worship reached to such heights in the Digambara sect that a cult around him almost formed. The invariable features of the Jina images like the aştaprātiharyas and the Śāsana-devatās were also associated with him to project his project his status, equaling him to the Jinas.
Page 290 of 317
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
