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A Guide to Sravana-Belgola Image of Gommatesvara
K. NARAYANA IYENGAR
The entrance to the court of the colossal image is called Akhandadvara or bagailu since a good part of the doorway is carved out of a single rock. The well carved architrave consists of a seated figure of Laksmi bathed by elephants standing on either side. The Gajalaksmi group is under an ornamental arch carved in low relief. On both sides of this entrance are two small shrines, the one to the right containing the figure of Bahubali and the left one enshrining a figure of his brother Bharata. Both the figures are carved in high relief out of the natural boulders. According to tradition this doorway was caused to be made by Camunda Raya. The images on either side of this entrance and also the flight of steps leading to this doorway were caused to be made by the general Bharatesvara in about 1130 A.D. To the right of this doorway stands a big boulder known as the Siddharagundu on which are carved numerous Siddha relievos and some inscriptions. At little distance there is another entrance known as the Gullakayajji Bagailu or doorway.
Immediately to the right of the entrance leading into the outer enclosure around the Gommatesvara image is a small shrine, facing west, known as Siddhara-basti. This shrine has only a garbhagṛha and a sukhanāsi. It is enshrining a seated figure of a Siddha. On both sides to the garbhagṛha doorway stand two fine, inscribed pillars which show elegant workmanship. Their tops are in the form of beautiful towers. The inscriptions are the epitaphs of two Jaina teachers named Panditarya, who died in 1398 and Srutamuni, who died in 1432 A.D.
Directly to the west of Siddhara-basti and opposite to Gommata is a Brahmadeva pillar with a pavilion at the top enshrining a seated figure of Brahmadeva. Below this pavilion stands the figure of a woman called Gullakayajji, about five feet high, facing Gommata and holding a gullakayi in her hands. There is a tradition that when Camunda Raya made elaborate arrangements for performing the abhişeka of Gommata, the milk did not descend lower than the thighs. But when the Guru
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