________________
THE STORY OF BHARATA AND BĀHUBALĪ*
I. Introductory
In colossal Bāhubalī [Gomateśvara (983 A. D.)] at Śravana Belgula in South India is one the wonders of the world. Generally the Jainas worship the idols of Tīrthankaras but the worship of Bahubali is an exception. Though Bāhubalī is not a Tirthankara he is not only worshipped but also gets an abhiseka with grand celebrations just like Kumbha celebrations at Prayāga, after each period of twelve years. In South India there are many idols of Bāhubali but in the North India idols of Bāhubali are rare.
Though he was able to conquer the Cakravarti Bharata in his physical fights, he renounced the world and became an ascetic. This may be the reason of his worship. Rāma is worshipped by the Hindus as Maryādā Purusottama, (comp. Tato bhanati Bahubali-jai tumam loguttamasuo hoüņam mojjāyamatikkamasi pihujane kā gananā ? VH. p. 187) who as the greatest hero established the limits of morality and propriety. So is Bāhubali for the Jainas in establishing the fact that to conquer the physical world or the Cakravartī, the conqueror of the physical world, is not enough. One should conquer his spiritual world, his pride, the inner vices and his soul'. Other important point also may be mentioned for his worship. When Bharata asked him to surrender his kingdom or have a battle with him, he asked for a duel so as to avoid the horrors of violence and unnecessary killings of the innocent people and destruction of the cities etc. In this manner he was the pioneer to establish the theory of no-war in this world. According to the Jainas Bāhubali's father Rsabha was the first Tīrthańkara, his elder brother Bharata was the first Cakravarti and in the same manner Bahubalī was the first man to establish no-war policy in this world, and hence there should be no surprize if he is given importance and worshipped just like a Tirthankara.
The first colossal statue of Bahubali 58 feet high? was established by
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
