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Images of Bahubali in Deogarh
MARUTI NANDAN PRASAD TIWARI
Deogarh, in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh, has profuse Jaina vestiges of iconographic and art historical interest which distinctly suggest that the site was a stronghold of Jaina religion during the early mediaeval times. The Jaina vestiges of Deogarh, spread over the 9th to the 12th century A.D., are the products exclusively of the Digambara sect.1
Deogarh has immensely contributed to the evolution of Jaina iconography. Besides the rendering of the Jinas with the usual asta-prātihāryas, cognizances and the yakşa-yak și pairs, the site is also accredited to have
duced the earliest instance of the collective rendering of the 24 Yaksis, carved on the facade of the Temple No. 12 (A.D. 862). The figures of Bahubali, Bharata Cakravarti, Jaina Acaryas and several others exhibit such features which are otherwise not known at other sites, and some of them even indicate the innovations on the part of the artists. It has been our feeling that the artists at Deogarh used much of his vision and experience to introduce several new features, which, however, sometimes amount even to the violation of the tradition.8
Bahubali, the second son of the first Jina Rsabhanatha, was born of his junior queen Sunanda. His step-brother Bharata Cakravarti succeeding his father, ruled from Vinita, while Bahubali was ruling from Taksasila.4 Soon after the renunciation of Rsabhanatha, Bharata began to subdue the various principalities around him, and even wanted Bahubali and other ninety-eight brothers to bow before him. All, except Bahubali, gave up their kingdoms and became monks. Bahubali alone refused to surrender. So Bharata challenged Bahubali on the battlefield and engaged him in a duel. After gaining victory over Bharata, Bahubali renounced the world and performed very rigorous austerities. For one
· The earliest inscription at the site is dated in the Samvat 919 (=A.D. 862).
The inscription is inscribed on a porch pillar of the Temple No. 12, also called the
Santinatha Temple. * This can be noticed in cases of the 24- Yaksis, Bahubali, Bharata Cakravarti, Jaina
Acaryas and Neminatha figures. He is also called Gommata, Gommatesvara, Bhujabali and Kukkutesvara. He is
supposed to be the first amongst the Kamadevas of this avasarpini age. • The Digambara tradition makes Bahubali rule from Podanasa or Podanapura.
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