As per Jain Scriptures, Bahubali (also known as Gommateshvara) was the younger of the two sons of the first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabha and king of Podanpur. Jaina redirects here. ... In Jainism, a Tirthankara (Fordmaker) is a human who achieved enlightenment, became a Jiva, and whose religious teachings have formed the canon of Jainism; although not Gods, statues of Tirthankaras are found in temples. ... Lord Rishabha or Rishabanath who was the first Tirthankar of Jainism. ...

The statue of Bahubali at Shravanbelgola dates from 978-993 AD. (see below).

Image File history File links The image shows the 58 foot, 8 inch statue of the Jain prophet Gomatheswara. ... Image File history File links The image shows the 58 foot, 8 inch statue of the Jain prophet Gomatheswara. ...

The Contest

His elder brother Bharat was envious of him. He wanted the entire kingdom to himself, and so, decided to attack the lands Bahubali ruled. Fearing that the war would destroy both the kingdoms, the ministers of both sides began negotiations. After much thinking, it was decided that a personal contest between the two brothers would be a better option to war. The brothers were required to enter three traditional forms of martial contest: drisht yudha, jal yudha, and mal yudha .

The contest was easily won by Bahubali. This gave him the right to rule over the entire kingdom. Bharat, defeated and humiliated, left for the forests to become a monk.

Meditation

But the fact that Bahubali had to fight his brother troubled him. And so, after much contemplation, he decided to give up his kingdom and lead a life of an ascetic. The reason he took to meditation was not a thirst for Truth - it was ego. Bahubali knew that once his brother became an ascetic, he would have to bow to Bharat, and he did not like the idea.

Bahubali began meditating with great resolve to attain supreme knowledge, but did not succeed in achieving it. The reason was simple - the ego that stopped him form visiting his father's court did not allow him to attain this Keval Jnana .

His Sisters Help Him

However, Bahubali was adamant. He continued worshipping unmindful of the fact that vines, ants, and dust were enveloping his body. His sisters, Brhami and Sundari, realising his folly, approached him and asked him to shed his pride and ego. As Bahubali realised his mistake, Truth and enlightenment dawned upon him.

Blessed with the knowledge of Truth, Bahubali went see his father where he was welcomed. Bahubali now began teaching and showing people the right path.

Statues of Bahubali

One of recently carved statue of his, is located at Dharmasthala. Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple, Dharmasthala This place is of religious interest in the interiors of Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka, India). ...

A wonderful statue of Lord Bahubali is located at Shravanabelagola in the Hassan district of Karnataka State. Shravanabelagola is a sacred place of pilgrimage to Jain. There is a splendid and lofty statue of stone on the top of a hillock there. When one stands at its foot and looks up, one sees it against the vast sky; and one feels that the sky is the most appropriate background for that statue. The figure is lofty like the sky, and again, like the sky, has no equal. And the serenity of the face is unique and uncomparable in beauty. The statue of Gomatheswara dates from 978-993 AD. Shravanabelagola is a city located in the Hassan district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Karnātakā (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ, Hindi: कर्नाटक) (IPA: //) is one of the four southern states of India. ... Jaina redirects here. ...

This statue of Gommateshwara Bahubali is carved out of a single stone. It is fifty-seven feet high. There is no statue of a monolith of this height anywhere in the world, except in Egypt. In 981 A.D., Chavundaraya, the minister of the Ganga King Rachamalla had this statue carved. Bahubali is another name for Gommateshwara. Events Births Princess Theodora, later Empress of the Eastern Roman Empire. ...

Bahubali is a great name in the Jain legends. His story is an example of the inner strength of the entire culture of India. He won everything from his brother and could have become an emperor; and yet, in utter selflessness he returned everything to the brother. Bahubali is the ideal man who conquers selfishness, jealousy, pride and anger. This is his story, the story of a great soul.