Jain Journal 1981 04

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

Page 6

APRIL, 1981
121
Jaina ascetic Bhadrabahu Srutakevalin. He settled down in Sravana Belgola as Muni Bhadrabahu resolved to end his life there. On the Candragiri stands to this day a cave known to pilgrims as "BhadrabahuGuhe”, where the Muni is said to have passed away. Even the emperor Candragupta ended his life by 'sallekhana' (the Jaina practice of fasting unto death). Since then the place is a Jaina sanctuary.
Sravana Belgola, however, has achieved celebrity all over the world because of the remarkable colossus, Gommata. It was installed there at the instance of Camundaraya, as the inscription in loco testifies. The pious man is known to history as the able premier and general under Ganga ruler of Talakadu, who were devotees of Jainism. The king that saw the statue rise was Rajamalla (reign 974-984), who was so pleased with the piety of his minister that he bestowed on him the distinction of 'Raya' (king) and made him Governor of Southern Madhura (probably the modern Maddur). The inscriptions call Camundaraya the dvitiya-vibhavam' (second in glory) of Rajamalla, who was 'Gangakulacandra' (moon of the Ganga race). This general was a renowned scholar and a pious devotee, besides being an efficient administrator ; he was also the author to a couple of religious tracts both in Kannada and Sanskrit. His religious preceptors were the famous Jaina ascetics, Ajitasena and Nemicandra ; the latter was the author of Prakrit Gommatasarapancasangraha which work probably fired the noble disciple with an enthusiasm for the installation of the colossus.
The story goes that when once this Camundaraya, with his mother and Ajitasena, was on a pilgrimage he camped at Sravana Belgola fo night. Ajitasena had related to the Raya and his mother the story of Bahubali and about the Paudanapura golden image of the great saint. Great was the desire of the royal mother to visit Paudanapura which was now in the midst of an impregnable forest. But here in Sravana Belgola Camundaraya dreamt of the gigantic statue of Bahubali and determined to satisfy the desire of his mother by erecting a similar statue right there on the Vindhyagiri hillock. Next morning he looked around and saw in a huge boulder of living rock the suggestion of Bahubali's image. He immediately sent for artisans and artists and sculptors and set them to work out his idea. Nearly twenty years must have elapsed before the 56% feet tall image of wonderful execution came to shape. The date of installation is determined by Manjeswara Govinda Pai to be March 13,983 A.D. It is estimated that for over 130 years the colossus stood all alone, without any surrounding structures or buildings in close vicinity. Gangaraja, whom we find mentioned in an inscription dated 1116-1117 A.D., constructed the surrounding pavilions that we see today.