This presentation providing basic information regarding the Gomteshwar statue of Sharavanbelgola, Karnataka. it is prepared for BA 1st year students of Vocational Courses.

1. Gomteshwar
Shravanbelgola, Karnataka
Dr. Virag Sontakke

2. Mahesh Murti, Elephanta

3. Location
• The Hassan district in
Karnataka
• In the Shravanbelgola
• In Vindhyagiri hill
• 17.3 meter tall
• accessed via a flight of
more than 500 steps

4. Location Map

5. Name and significance
• The Shravanabelagola is a holy place for the Jain Religion.
• The word Shravanabelagola literally means ‘the white pond
of Sravana’ as ‘bel’ means white and ‘kola’ means pond in
Kannada.
• There is a beautiful pond in the town, true to its name.
• Huge sculpture of Lord Gomatheeswara (Bahubali) is
created here.
• The Shravanabelagola’s Gomatheeswara statue is the
largest monolithic idol in the world.
• Standing 57 feet (17.7 meter) tall, and situated on
Vindhyagiri hill
• Two Hills Vindhyagiri hill and Chandragiri

7. Vindhyagiri
hill

11. Chandragiri
Hill

12. Chandragiri Hill

13. Shravanbelgola and Mauryan Connection
• The famine was predicted by Acharya Bhadrabahu in
Pataliputra during 3rd Century BCE.
• He moved south India with his disciples, including
Chandragupta Maurya to Shravanbelgola
• There are two hills, Chandragiri and Vindyagiri in
Shravanbelgola.
• The name of Chandragiri probably derived from
Chandragupta Maurya.
• It is also believed that Chandragupta taken the vow of
Sallekhana (Voluntarily fasting to death).
• Subsequently, Shravanbelgola became Jain pilgrimage
center.
• Many temples were builds as many as 37.
• The town also has 800 inscriptions (600 t0 1830 CE)

14. Chandragupta Basadi

15. • Story of the incoming of
Bhadrabahu and
Chandragupt in
(Shravanbelgola)
• It is believed that, a
sculptural frieze which
depicts dreams that
Chandrgupta Maurya is
interpreted by
Bhadrabahu

18. History of Gomateshwar
• The statue of Gomatheswara constructed during the
western Gangas dynasty.
• The statue was carved out of stone by Ganga’s
Minister Chavundaraya (चामुं डराय) in 981 CE.
• Western Ganga were Jain followers
• Vassal of Rastrakutas

19. Chavundraya 940-989 CE
• A person of many talents
1. Minister
2. Military commander
3. An architect
4. Poet (“Chavundraya Purana” also
known as “Caritrasan)
5. Served 3 Kings (Marasimba II,
Rachamall IV and Rachamall V
of Western Ganga dynasty).
• Seem to be very influential person
• He was a devotee of the Jain
Acharya Nemichandra and
Ajitasena Bhattaraka
• He erect the image at
Shravanabelagola, for his pious
mother Kalala Devi.

20. Chavundaraya basadi

21. Inscribed handwriting (in Kannada characters) of Chavundaraya on Chandragiri hill

22. Kannada inscription (983 CE) on north
face of Tyagada Brahmadeva pillar

23. Contribution of Chavundrai
Tyagada Brahmadeva Pillar
(2.3 m tall) at Shravanabelagola

24. A story of Bahubali
1. Bahubali was one of the sons of Rishabhanatha.
2. Rishabhanatha, ruler of Ayodhya, took to the life of a recluse,
3. He divided the kingdom among his hundred sons.
4. The eldest, Bharata, was ambitious, and coveted the territories of his
brothers, in addition to what he had annexed by conquest.
5. In response to his challenge, all his brothers gave up their kingdoms and
took up monkhood, except Bahubali.
6. To prevent war and unnecessary bloodshed, it was decided that the two
brothers would engage in battle with each other
7. !ि# यु&, जल-यु& और मल-यु&
8. In the last round, defeating his own brother for material gain struck to
Bahubali.
9. Bahubali embraced his elder brother and joyfully gave up all that he had
conquered to retire to forest, seeking enlightenment.
10. He stood erect (कायो/ग1), his arms hanging loosely beside him, for a
year.
11. Termite mounds grew at his feet and poisonous serpents crawled about
on him.
12. Bharata visits Bahubali to pay him homage, and this removes the final
obstacle, paving the way for Bahubali's enlightenment.

27. Bahubali: Iconography
1. Sculpted in white granite
2. He stood erect (कायो/ग1)
standing still pose
3. In Kayotasarga posture with his
arms not touching his body
4. He is depicted with stiff arms
and legs
5. His arms hanging loose by his
sides,
6. Plant, snakes and creepers
show on legs and arms.
7. He has the lakshana (symbol)
of a Mahapurusha (great man)
8. Like: elongated earlobes, overly
long arms
9. The sculpture has no support
up to thigh and is 60 feet tall
with the face measuring 6.5
feet.
10. Proportional anatomy,

28. • Gazing ahead through half-
closed eyes,
• A gentle smile playing on his
lips
• Peaceful expression on the face
• Curled hair with graceful locks
• His shoulders are broad

29. • Bahibali stands on an open
lotus
• Termite mounds shows in feet
• From this snake and a creeper
emerging
• Twist around both the legs
and arms
• At the rear side is a trough for
collecting water for the sacred
bath of the statue.
Name of the creeper is Matavi

30. Continuity
Chalukya of Badami Dynasty,
Badami, Karnataka
Rashtrakuta Dynasty, Ellora,
Cav e no.32, Maharashtra
Prince of Wales museum was
considered the earliest sculpture of
Bahubali in Bronze category
delineation, 400 CE.

31. Bahubali Statue in Karnataka:
1. 17.4 m (57 feet) at Shravanabelagola in Hassan District in 981 CE
2. 12.8 m (42 feet) at Karkala in Udupi District in 1430 CE
3. 11.9 m (39 feet) at Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada District in 1973 CE
4. 10.7 m (35 feet) at Venur in Dakshina Kannada District in 1604 CE
5. 6 m (20 feet) at Gommatagiri in Mysore District in 12th Century CE
2 3 4
5

32. Bahubali: Religious Importance
• Bahubali: One with strong Arms
• Son of Jain Tirthankar: Rishabhnath (first)
• Gommateshwara known as Bahubali’s also known
as Kammateswara
• Bahubali was meditated motionless for a year in a standing
posture and over the period, climbing plants grew around his
legs
• Years of meditation, Bahubali attained wisdom
• Bahubali was not Tirthankar
• However very significant in Jain Religion
• As he triumphed over human passion through meditation
• And he become the first human of the Kalpa (world age) to gain
liberation.

33. Current Religious Practice
• The Maha Mastakabhisheka ceremony which takes
place once every 12 years .
• In this ceremony the anointing of Bahubali’s head with
thousands of pots of coconut milk, yoghurt, saffron,
sandalwood paste, ghee, honey, bananas, jaggery,
poppy seeds and milk from the top of a scaffolding
erected for this purpose.
• Devotees also offer valuable stones and coins made of
silver and gold, in deference to the deity.
• The last Mahamastakabhisheka was held in 2018
• President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated 88th
Mahamastakabhisheka in 2018.

38. Any Questions?