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Description and Chronology of Caves Penance of Bahubali
Another popular scene is the story of Bahubali, son of the first tirthankara, Rşabhanātha, who renounced the world after almost winning the duel with his brother Bharata over the kingship of the entire world and meditated for a long time standing in one posture, but achieved liberation only when his two sisters/vidyadharis came down from the heaven and made him realise that he still had some ego/pride left. The main features of this scene are a meditating figure of Bahubali covered by creepers and anthill and surrounded by animals, female figures flanking him and trying to clear the creepers from his body and the figure of Bhārata, shown seated near Bahubali's feet and paying his respects
Bahubali is shown standing either on a lotus or a round pedestal. On his arins and the thighs are the creepers, shown twisted between his legs. He has a halo and a single chhatra. In some cases the head is shown plain, while in some cases the hair is shown in the lines. The long strands of hair fall on the shoulders. In most cases, there is an uşnişa on the head. In J14, there is a chauri on each side of the head. Near his feet are shown two or three animals, mostly deer. However, in J18 even a scorpion, snake and a rat are shown. In J19, only a snake is shown coming out of an anthill.
Flanking him is a large female figure, standing either on a lotus or a round pedestal. These female figures can be identified as Bahubali's sisters as per the Svetāmbara version of the story or vidyadharis according to the Digambara version. But since these caves belong to the Digambara sect, they should be identified as vidyadharis. They hold the creepers in one or both the hands in an attempt to clear it and are shown standing either turned to Bahubali or facing the front. Above each female is shown a flying couple. The male carries a garland in both the hands, while the female either holds a flower or a pātra. These figures are absent in J3, J25 and J26. In J3, another pair of females is carved above these females. In the panels of J10, J14 and J18, some musicians are also shown. In J18, there is a drum above the chhatra while in the other cases, there is a drum player. Flanking the drum or the drum player are musicians. These are conch blower and cymbal player in J14 and J18. In J10 and J14 is a garland bearer bevond each musician. In the panels of J2 and J3, there is a garland bearer above Bahubali. In J2, above Bahubali is a figure of seated Jina with Sarvanubhuti-Ambika. In J14, there is a devotee couple, seated near Bahubali's feet, on the left.
The figure of Bharata, along with his queen is shown seated near Bahubali's feet, on the right. In J17, they are on the left. The figure of his queen is absent in J2, JIO, J13, J14, J18, J24, J25 and J26. In J19, Bharata is to the right, while the female is to the left. In J20. only the female is shown and Bharata is absent. In J3, both Bhārata and queen are absent. In J2, the figure of Bharata is shown standing. These figures are in añjali mudra with heads slightly bent in some cases. They are fully decked.
Some of the pratihāryas of Jina like, chauris, halo, divyadhvani and the puspavpisţi are also given to Bahubali. The last two are present in the form of musicians and garland bearers or flying couples. The presence of these features indicates the elevated position of Bahubali (Plate 44, 45, 46)
Other than these, there are a few other deities, which appear occasionally. Of these, the most popular are goddesses such as Chakresvari, the yakşi of the first
