This document provides information about the largest monolithic statue of Gommateshwara Bahubali located in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka. Some key details: - The 57-foot tall granite statue was built in 982-983 CE by the minister Chamundaraya of the Western Ganga Dynasty. - It depicts Bahubali in a standing posture after years of meditation and penance, with vines and an anthill around his legs. - The statue is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Jainism and receives thousands of pilgrims every 12 years for a ceremony where it is anointed. - Bahubali was the son

1. Sachin Kr. Tiwary
Gommateshvara Bahubali
Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa, KARNATAKA
One of the Largest Free-standing Statues in the World.

2. GOMMATESHVARA
BAHUBALI,
KARNATAKA
Location
ŚRAVAṆA
BEḶGOḶA,
KARNATAKA
Period/Date
Western Ganga
Dynasty/
982-983 CE
Built by Minister
& Commander
Of the Ganga
Dynasty
Chamundaraya
Stone
Granite
Religion
Jainism
Measurement
57 feet (17 m)

3. General view of the Monolithic Sculpture- Bahubali
Location-
Shravanabelagola is located at 11 km to the south-east of Channarayapatna in the Channarayapatna
taluk of Hassan district of Karnataka.

4. Story of Bahubali-
• The fight with his brother, Bharata, troubled Bahubali. So after much contemplation, he decided to give up his
kingdom & take up the ascetic life.
• He took to meditation with a thirst for truth, but-it was for ego that he took to meditation on his own. Among monks
who accept monastic vows, one must bow to all others who have accepted ascetism previously, regardless of age.
• Bahubali knew that if he went to Lord Rishabdeva (Aadinatha) for permission to take monastic vows, he would have
to bow down to all his 98 younger brothers, who had renounced before him.
• Bahubali began meditating with great resolve to attain supreme knowledge, but did not succeed because of his ego,
which stopped him from visiting his father's court, did not allow him to attain Keval Gyaana, the enlightenment.
• However, Bahubali was adamant. He continued his practice unmindful of the vines, ants, & dust which enveloped his
body.
• His sisters Brhami & Sundari were concerned & asked Tirthankar Adinath about their worldly brother Bahubali.
• Tirthankara Adinatha said, although just moments away from enlightenment, Bahubali could not achieve it because
he didn't realise that he was standing on 'the elephant' - Ego.
• Now understanding his folly, the sisters approached him & said, Oh my dear brother, at least now get down from the
elephant.
• These words from his sisters led Bahubali to question "Am I really standing on any kind of elephant?".
• From this question he soon realised that the elephant he was standing upon was his pride & ego.
• Bahubali realised his mistake & shed his pride & ego.
• He had just lifted his feet to go & bow, when, truth & enlightenment dawned upon him.
• Blessed with the knowledge of Truth, Bahubali went to see his father who welcomed him.
• Bahubali began teaching & showing people the right path.

5. Introduction-
• The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa
Beḷgoḷa (982–983 CE.) is one of the most important
pilgrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a
peak in architectural & sculptural activity under the
patronage of Western Ganga Dynasty of Talakad.
• Bahubali also called Gommateshwara was a son of first
tirthankara Adinatha also known as Rishabha.
• According to Jainism, he was the second of the hundred
sons of the first Tirthankara, Rishabha & king of
Podanpur.
• A monolithic statue of Bahubali referred to as
"Gommateshvara" built by the Ganga dynasty minister &
commander Chamundaraya is a 57 feet (17 m) monolith
& is situated above a hill in Shravanabelagola.
• Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, devotees & tourists
from all over the world flock to the statue once in 12
years for an event known as Mahamastakabhisheka.

6. Western Ganga Dynasty
• Western Ganga was an important ruling
dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India which
lasted from about c. 350 to 1000 CE.
• They are known as 'Western Gangas' to
distinguish them from the Eastern Gangas who
in later centuries ruled over Kalinga (modern
Odisha).
Sravanbelgola-
• Chandragupta (340 BC – 298 BC) is said to
have died here in 298 BC after he became a
Jain monk and assumed an ascetic life style.
• He was the founder of the Maurya Empire and
the first emperor to unify most of Greater
India into one state. He ruled from 322 BC
until his voluntary retirement and abdication
in favour of his son Bindusara in 298 BC.

7. Image of Bahubali-
• There are two hills: Chandragiri and Vindhyagiri.
• The 58-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshwara
is located on Vindyagiri Hill.
• Kannada people call the statue “Gomateshwara”
whereas the Jaina call as “Bahubali”.
• It is considered to be the world's largest monolithic
statue.
• The base of the statue has an inscriptions in Prakrit,
dating from 981 CE.
• The inscription praises the king who funded the effort
and his general, Chavundaraya, who erected the
statue for his mother.
• Every twelve years, thousands of devotees congregate
here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a
spectacular ceremony in which the statue is anointed
with Water, Turmeric, Rice flour, Sugar cane juice,
Sandalwood paste, saffron, and gold and silver
flowers.
• More than 800 inscriptions have been found at
Shravanabelagola, dating to various times from 600
AD to 1830 CE

8. Name of the Creeper is Matavi

9. Iconography-
• The image of Gommateshwara has curly hair ringlets and large
ears.
• The eyes are open as if he is viewing the world with
detachment.
• His facial features are perfectly chiseled with a faint touch of a
smile at the corner of the lips that embodies a calm inner peace
and vitality. His shoulders are broad, the arms stretch straight
down and the figure has no support from the thigh upwards.
• There is an anthill in the background which signifies his
incessant penance.
• He is said to have meditated motionless for twelve years in a standing posture (kayotsarga) and
that during this time, climbing plants grew around his legs.
• Bahubali's other names are Kammateswara Gommateshwara because of the Gommateshwara
statue dedicated to him.
• It is carved on a single piece of rock.
• The statue depicts the prolonged meditation of Bahubali. The motionless contemplation
in kayotsarga (standing still) posture led to the growth of climbing vines around his legs.

10. Iconography-
• From this anthill, emerge a snake and a creeper
which twine around both the legs and arms
culminating as a cluster of flowers and berries at
the upper portion of the arms.
• The entire figure stands on an open lotus
signifying the totality attained in installing this
unique statue.
• On either side of Gommateshwara stand two tall
and majestic chauri bearers in the service of the
Lord.
• One of them is a yaksh and the other one is a
yakshini.
• These richly ornamented and beautifully carved
figures complement the main figure.
• Carved on the rear side of the anthill is also a
trough for collecting water and other ritual
ingredients used for the sacred bath of the statue.
Snake

11. There are five monolithic statues of Bahubali measuring more than 6 m (20 feet) in height
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

12. Similarity
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.

13. ThankYou
Ant mud-
house