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BAHUBALI COLOSSI
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sounds are not uncommon in Kanarese-as in kodu (to give)= kudu; 'todu' (to put on) = 'tudu'; mogge (a bud) = mugge; more to hum, to buzz)= mure; moradu (roughness, unevenness) = muradu; bogari (a spinning top) = bugari etc. Gommata, Gummata are therefore merely varients and interchangeable forms.
So it is quite clear on phonological grounds that Gommata (short 'o'), Gomata (long 'o'), Gommatta (short 'o'), Gomatta long 'o') and Gummata (short 'u') are all merely the 'Tadbhava' forms of the Sanskrit word Manmatha, meaning Cupid or Kamadeva.
Now, how could the colossus of Bahubali come to be called by the name Manmatha or Kamadeva ? Was ever Bahubali known as Kamadeva or Manmatha ? Had he any such name?
(1) Yes. In all the works, whether in Sanskrit, Prakrit of Kanarese, Bahubali, the son of the first Tirthankara by his second wife, has been called the Kamadeva (Cupid) of his age, or the incarnation of Kamadeva, or even simply as Kamadeva, e.g.. 'Adipurana' (circa 850 A.C.) of Jinasenacarya, xvi, 9: xvi, 25.
(2) Kanarese poet Pampa in his 'Adipurana' (941 a.c.) states, 'Bahubali was the cupid of his age and therefore was called by all the names which Cupid has' (viii, 52-53).
(3) Kanarese prose-work of Camunda Raya himself (978 A.C.) says: 'To Sunanda Devi was born a son called 'Bahubali'; who was the Cupid of that age.'
In addition, all these works point out that Bahubali was taught the science of erotics by his father, the first Tirthankara (Jinasena's 'Adipurana', xvii, 123: Pampa's 'Adipurana', vii, 60).
(4) Inscription no. 234 (circa 1180 A.c.) at Sravana Belgola has: 'Is he of unequalled beauty? Yes, he is Cupid (Smara) himself. May he (Bahubali) who is the very Cupid (Ananga) bestow on us auspicious good fortune' lines 28-29). “As Cupid he (Bahubali) had formerly (i.e., before his renunciation) taken upon himself the glory of the empire of love'.
To sum up. In accordance with the facts recorded above, and the conclusions thence deduced, I hold that, as Bahubali himself was well known as Manmatha (Cupid), the colossus
31 Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
