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whole year he stood in the kayotsarga-mudrā (the attitude of dismissing the body) and in the end obtained kevala-jñāna (omniscience). The fierce austerities of Bahubali have been narrated in literature, as well as suggested in sculpture.
The Bahubali representations show snakes issuing out of 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 figures of the snakes, lizards and scorpions shown creeping over Babubali's body also project and reinforce the same idea. The erect posture of Bahubali is symbolic of perfect self-control, while the nudity implies absolute renunciation achieved after a complete victory over passions. The great penance of Bahubali inspired both the Svetambara and the Digambara Jainas to worship him, since it is uniquely evocative of the ethos of the continuous self-sacrifice preached by the Jinas.
JAIN JOURNAL
The earliest reference to the fight between Bharata and Bahubali is found in the Paumacariya of Vimalasuri (c. 473 A.D.) and the Avasyaka Niryukti (c. 6th century A.D.). The Paumacariya although alludes to the renunciation of Bahubali and his attainment of kevala-jñāna, but there is no mention as to the creepers, snakes, lizards and scorpions." The detailed account of the tapas of Bahubali are found in the Padmapurāṇa (7th century A.D.), the Harivaṁśapurāṇa (783 A.D.), the Adipurāņṇa (c. 9th century A.D.) and the Trişaşṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (c. mid 12th century A.D.). These works mention that the creepers sprang up and entangled the entire body of Bahubali and snakes crawled up his legs. The rendering of deers, elephants, hawks, sparrows, lizards and scorpions is also envisaged by the texts. According to the Svetambara tradition, Bahubali despite his rigorous penances could not attain omniscience as he still harboured some pride. Hence Rsabhanatha asked his daughters, Brahmi
⚫ In some of the figures from Ellora (cave 32) deers, dogs and rats are also carved. • The Brahminical correspondence to such rigorous austerities would be the sage Valmiki around whom ant-hills and creepers had grown. See, Shah, U.P., 'Gommatesvara Bahubali, the Great Saint', Jain Journal, Vol. XV, No. 4, April 1981, p.135. 1 Paumacariya, 4.43-55.
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Padmapurana of Ravisenacarya, Vol. I.4. 75-76; Harivamsapurana of Jinasena, 11.98-102; Adipurana (Mahapurana) of Jinasena, 36. 106-85; Trisastisalakapurusacaritra of Hemacandra, Adisvaracaritra, v. 740-798.
⚫ valmikavivarodyatairatyugraih sa mahoragaih
syamadinam ca ballibhih vestitah prapakevalam
Also, Harivamsapurana, 11.98-102.
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