Jain Journal 2005 07

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

Page 17

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JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XL, NO. 1 July. 2005
worshipped it. When they started moveing, then Hanumanta put another rock across this sketch to protect it from destructors. It is the same rock hit by Camuṇḍaraya with an arrow, and later found this figure there.
There is also another version of this legend. According to that Rāvaṇa, the anti-hero in the Rāmāyaṇa, on seeing the Bahubali statue erected by Bharata at Paudanapura tried to lift it to Sri Lanka. He could not move it. Then he heard a voice from the sky. It told him not to continue that effort as it would be impossible. He followed the advice and went on. When he came to this place which was a thick forest, he saw this huge rock atop the hill. He was attracted by its great size, stood there, and with his sword he drew the sketch of the Bahubali statue (of Paudanapura) which had firmly impressed him.. Later, the same drawing was worshipped by Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. And much later, Camuṇḍaraya got the statue carved out of that drawing.
These legends express two idealogies nurtured by the Indians:
1. Great ideas geminate in great minds only.
2. If something good is done today, it fruits definitely, no matter how late, it will be.
Such legends also express the well-known psychology of human mind- a person or community tries to create older history to things which it revers most. And in this process, it creates its connection with great personalities.
II Legends related to persons (Legends on people)
Out of many recorded legends of this catagory, two could be quoted here.
1.) Story of Gulakayajji
This is related to goddess Padmavatī (according to some other versions - it is Küṣmāṇḍinī). It tells about trimming down the ego of Camuṇḍaraya by this goddess.