________________
A Note on Some Bahubali Images from North India*
Bahubali, the second son of the Jina Rsabhanatha was born of his junior queen Sunanda. His step-brother Bharata who became Cakravartin succeeding his father, ruled from Vinita; while Bahubali-known as Gommatesvara in South India-was ruling from Taksasila. (The Digambara tradition makes Bahubali rule from Podanasa or Podanapura). After gaining the victory in a duel with his elder brother Bharata, Bahubali turned ascetic and performed very rigorous austerities. For one whole year he stood in kāyotsarga-mudra (the attitude of dismissing the body) and in the end obtained kevala-jñāna (omniscience). The fierce austerities of Bahubali have been narrated in literature,1 as well as suggested in sculpture.2 The Bahubali representations show snakes issuing out of the ant-hills which developed near his feet and creepers entwined round his body, suggesting the long period of time in which he was absorbed in tapas and meditation. Furthermore, the
1
MARUTI NANDAN PRASAD TIWARI
* The author offers his heartfelt thanks to Sri M.A. Dhaky, Research Associate, American Institute of Indian Studies, Benares, for his kind help and valuable suggestions in preparation of the present paper. He is also thankful to Sri P.P.P. Sharma, Research Scholar, and Dr. R. A. Pathak, Puranic Research Section, Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University, for their help. The author is also obliged to the University Grant's Commission for providing monetary assistance which enabled him to visit and make first-hand detailed study of the Jaina iconic data at several important sites and museums, namely, Khajuraho, Deogarh, Kumbharia and State Museum, Lucknow.
Adipurana (Mahapurana) of Jinasena (c. 9th century) 36-106-85: vol.II, pp. 209-217, ed. Pt. Pannalal Jain (Jnanapitha Murtidevi Jaina Granthamala, Sanskrit Grantha no. 9), Varanasi, 1965; Paumacariyam of Acarya Vimala Suri (close to the 3rd century), 4.54-55: part I, pp. 34-35, ed. H. Jacobi (Prakrit Text Society Series, 6), Varanasi, 1962; Harivamsa Purana of Jinasena (last quarter of the 8th century), 11.98-102, p. 205, ed. Pt. Pannalal Jain (Jnanapitha Murtidevi Jaina Granthakala, Sanskrit Grantha no. 27), Varanasi, 1962; Trisastisalakapurusacaritra of Hemacandra, Adisvaracaritra (c. mid 12th century) v 740-798: vol. I, pp. 323-26, transl. H. M. Johnson, (Gaekwad's Oriental Series, LI) Baroda, 1931; Padma Purana of Ravisenacarya (7th century), I 4.75-76, p. 62, ed. Pannalal Jain (Jnanapitha Murtidevi Jaina Granthamala, Sanskrit Grantha no. 20), Varanasi, 1958.
2 Shah, U. P. 'Bahubali: A Unique Bronze in the Museum', Bulletin of the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, 4, 1953-54, pp. 32-39; M. N. P. Tiwari, 'Jaina Silpamen Bahubali', Anekanta, 24, 1, April 1971, pp. 8-11.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
