Bahubali
Bahubali ( Sanskrit : बाहुबली) or Gomateshvara ( Kannada : ಗೊಮ್ಮಟೇಶ್ವರ; Tulu : ಗೊಮ್ಮತಾ) was the second of 100 sons of the first Jaina - Tirthankaras Rishabha (also called Adinath ), who resided in Ayodhya . Bahubali had been made King of Podanpur by his father , who is sometimes identified with the South Indian Shravanabelagola . Its statue, carved from a boulder in the 10th century, is famous.
Legend
With his older half-brother Bharata , Bahubali got into a dispute over royal dignity. Both troops gathered around them and two armies faced each other. However, it was decided that the war should not decide between victory and defeat, but a duel between the two brothers, from which Bahubali ( bahu = poor, bali = strong) emerged as the clear winner. However, he renounced his royal dignity and decided to lead the life of a monk. To do this, however, he had to ask his father's permission and bow to his brothers, which he was unable to do because of his strong self-esteem (ego). All his meditative and ascetic endeavors led to nothing - he could not attain the enlightenment ( kevala jnana ) he sought . Nevertheless, he persisted and continued his meditation standing - regardless of the ants and tendrils on his legs.
His sisters Brahmi and Sundari asked their father about the condition of their brother - he replied that his son could not attain enlightenment because of the 'elephant he is standing on' (= ego). The sisters then went to him and told him what his father had said. Bahubali recognized his mistake, gave up meditation and went to his father, who received him kindly; he bowed to him and his brothers. Then he started teaching others and showing them the right way.
meaning
The legendary figure of Bahubali is seen by many Jains as an ideal image of immobility and thus the avoidance of violence ( ahimsa ) against all living things. At the same time, however, it is - not only for Jains - a prime example of the fact that enlightenment and wisdom cannot be learned through meditation techniques alone, but that humility and love as well as the observance of traditions are equally (or even more) important. The tradition contains parallels to the story of Buddha and the biblical parable of the prodigal son .
presentation
Bahubali / Gomateshvara is represented continuously standing (kyotsarga) ; Tendrils wind around his legs (sometimes also arms) due to his motionless and long-lasting meditation exercises. His body is always naked and his eyes are wide open. The chest jewel otherwise common in Tirthankaras is mostly missing. His ear lobes are pierced and elongated, which points to a heavy and therefore precious ear jewelry that was previously worn but discarded and thus to a princely or royal origin.
Adoration
Bahubali / Gomateshvara is particularly popular and present in today's Indian state of Karnataka . Five large monolithic statues were carved out of boulders in his honor:
- Shravanabelgola , Hassan District (10th century; height 57 feet)
- Gommatagiri , Mysore District (12th century; height 20 feet)
- Karkala , Udupi District (15th century; height 42 feet)
- Venur , Dakshina Kannada District (17th century; height 35 feet)
- Dharmasthala , Dakshina Kannada District (1973; elevation 39 feet)
See also
literature
- Kristi L. Wiley: The A to Z of Jainism . Orient Paperbacks, New Delhi 2014, ISBN 978-81-7094-690-8 .
- Mircea Eliade and Ioan P. Culianu : Handbook of Religions. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt / M. 1995, ISBN 3-518-38886-X .
