Bahubali

Bahubali is a highly revered figure within the Jain tradition. He was the son of Rishabhanatha, who served as the first tirthankara, or spiritual teacher, of Jainism. Bahubali was also the brother of the chakravartin Bharata. Born into the Ikshvaku dynasty in the city of Ayodhya, Bahubali was noted for his diverse talents. He excelled in the study of medicine and the art of floriculture. He also possessed deep knowledge regarding archery and the properties of precious gems.

His life is defined by a significant transition from worldly power to spiritual mastery. When Rishabhanatha decided to become a monk, he divided his kingdom among his 100 sons. Bharata was granted the kingdom of Vinita, centered in Ayodhya. Bahubali received the kingdom of Asmaka in South India, with Podanapur as his capital. Later, Bharata sought to expand his authority through a process called digvijaya, or conquest of the six directions. He traveled with a massive army and a divine chakra-ratna, which was a spinning, disk-like super weapon with serrated edges.

A conflict arose when Bharata's expansion met the defiance of his brother. Although Bharata had gained the submission of 98 brothers, Bahubali remained independent. Because the brothers were in their final incarnations of transmigration, ministers argued they could not be killed in war. They believed no weapon could mortally wound their bodies. To resolve the dispute without violence, the brothers engaged in three specific contests. These included an eye-fight, known as drishti-yuddha, a water-fight called jala-yuddha, and wrestling, or malla-yuddha. Bahubali won all three contests against Bharata.

Following these victories, Bahubali experienced a profound sense of disgust with worldly life. This led him to pursue renunciation, the act of abandoning all material possessions. He gave up his kingdom, his clothing, and his ornaments to become a monk. His goal was to attain kevala jnana, which is omniscience or total knowledge. To achieve this, he practiced meditation in a standing posture known as kayotsarga. He remained motionless for a year, unmindful of the dust, ants, or climbing plants that grew around his legs.

During his meditation, Bahubali faced internal and external challenges. The Jain text Ādi purāṇa notes that his meditation was briefly disturbed by a feeling of regret. He felt bad that his actions had caused humiliation to his brother, Bharata. This changed when Bharata approached him with great humility and worshipped him. This act of veneration helped Bahubali disperse his lingering regret. He then successfully destroyed the four kinds of inimical karmas, including the karma that obscures knowledge. Consequently, he attained omniscience and became a Kevali. He eventually reached moksha, or liberation, at Mount Kailasha, becoming a pure, liberated soul known as a siddha.

Devotees honor Bahubali through the creation of massive monolithic statues. A monolith is a monument carved from a single, continuous block of stone. In Karnataka, there are five such statues exceeding 6 meters in height. The most famous is the 17.4-meter statue at Shravanabelagola, commissioned by the minister Chavundaraya around 981 CE. This site is a major Jain pilgrimage center, or tirtha. Every 12 years, the statue undergoes a ritual bathing called Mahamastakabhisheka. Other significant monoliths include the 12.8-meter statue at Karkala, consecrated in 1432, and the 11.9-meter statue at Dharmasthala.

Additional monumental statues are located throughout India. In Venur, Thimmanna Ajila built a colossus in 1604. Gommatagiri features a 12th-century granite statue on the hill of Shravana Gudda. Other sites include Kumbhoj in Maharashtra and various locations in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The history of Bahubali is preserved in extensive literature. The 9th-century Sanskrit poem Ādi purāṇa by Jinasena is a primary source. Other works include the Prakrit hymn Gomatesha-thudi by Nemichandra and various Kannada, Rajasthani, and Gujarati poems. These texts ensure his journey from a powerful king to an enlightened soul remains central to Jain culture.