Jain Journal 1981 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 3

Gommata Colossus in Sravana Belgola
S. K. RAMCHANDRA RAO
The first of the twenty four Tirthankaras, was Rsabhadeva (called Adinatha), held in highest esteem. The subject of the Gommata colossus in Sravana Belgola, Karkala and Venur-all in Mysore State, is described in legends as the younger son of this first Tirthankara, the elder one being Bharata, after whom, according to the Jainas, India is celebrated as Bharatavarsa, Bharatakhanda or Bharatabhumi.
Rsabhadeva was a king before he became a saint. His parents, Maru and Puru, find a mention not only in Jaina Adipurāņa but in the Brahmana Bhāgavata-purāņa also. This Rsabhadeva had two wives, Yasasvini and Sunanda. Of his sons, Bharata the elder was born of the former, and Bahubali the younger of the latter : he had a large number of children besides these. When the king entered old age, he divided his empire amongst his sons and retired into a forest retreat for practising austerities. Bharata now became lord of Ayodhya, and Bahubali of Paudanapura. Bharata in due course aspired to become the sole lord of the whole country and directed his brothers, who were now independent lords of different territories as decreed by their father, to surrender their independence to his suzerainty. The brothers (whose number is given as a hundred) all except Bahubali, not approving of Bharata's mentality, relinquished their kingdoms and retired to jungle retreats in a fit of renunciation. But Bahubali protested against his brother's unjust demand and struck to his own ; he announced his resolve to resist any aggression. The indignant Bharata attacked Bahubali with a mighty force. A furious fight ensued between the brothers, as the counsellors on both sides decided that armies should not be involved. In the fight, Bahubali came out victorious and Bharata was humbled. Now Bahubali was the virtual emperor of the whole realm. But he was