Origins of the Gomateshwara Temple

The Gomateshwara Statue in Shravanabelagola was built in 983 CE by a Minister in the Ganga dynasty, Chavundaraya. It is carved from a single block of Granite. It is 57 foot tall and is situated above a hill in Sravanabelagola. It is one of the main pilgrim centres of the Jains.

Gomateshwara

Gomateshwara is also known as the Bahubali Temple in India. It is located in Shravanabelagola, a hamlet around 158 km from Bangalore and 83 kilometres from Mysore in Karnataka. It is renowned as the city of ponds and temples. Its most famous Jain pilgrimage in South India is well-known as one of Karnataka’s most popular historical landmarks. The statue is carved of a single block of granite. It stands as the tallest monolithic statue in India and is visible from 30 km away.

Shravanabelagola is famous for the Gomateshwara Temple, which is also known as the Bahubali Temple. The city has two hills, Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri. The Gomateshwara Statue is located on Vindhyagiri hill. 

Gomateshwara was the second son of the first Tirthankara of Jains. He taught people to live a life in tune with the natural world around them, leading them to the path of eternal happiness. Gomateshwara also taught them not to harm any living being. The Jain believe that Gomateshwara has great qualities that help in attaining salvation.

Brief History

Bahubali, or Gomateshwara, according to the Jain reading, was the second son of the first Tirthankara of Jains, Rishabdeva or Adinath. According to the legend, Adinath had an incredible 100 sons. Bharatha and Bahubali fought over the dominion when Rishabdev fled his country. Despite Bahubali enjoying a victory against Bharatha, the animosity between the two remained. Thus, it was determined that in exchange for Kevala Jnana, Bahubali would give up his kingdom for Bharatha’s sake.

People in Karnataka refer to the statue as the ‘Statue of Gomateshwar’, and Jains refer to it as ‘Bahubali’. This incredible monument was voted India’s seventh wonder in 2007.

Devotees and visitors visit the Shravanabelagola hill every twelve years to celebrate the ‘Mahamastakabhisheka festival’. Devotees climb on top of a platform and pour water onto the statue. Then, they cover it in milk, sugarcane juice, and saffron flower paste. This festival is expected to be celebrated next in 2030. 

Architectural Significance 

The Gomateshwara Statue is the largest monolithic idol in the world. It is a living historical proof of the last millennia. Historians declare that the statue of Lord Gomateshwara is both glorious and attractive. They have described it as a breathtaking yet serene sight. It is this unbelievable beauty that gives the Gomateshwara its unique appeal. The statue is 57 ft tall and has delicate and attractive carvings of beautiful plants covering its whole body. At the bottom, it has a giant stone supporting its weight. 

The statue depicts Lord Gomateshawara as a man with wide shoulders and a straight arm pointing down. He has been carved in an upright contemplative stance known as Kayotsarga facing the north. Kayotsarga is a practice for achieving liberation by renunciation, self-restraint, and total control over the ego. The Jain tradition’s Digambar (nude) structure symbolises a person’s victory over earthly desires and attachments that hinder their spiritual journey to divinity. The lord is a symbol of non-violence and peace, remaining as a light for those who come to seek relief from their daily troubles.

Conclusion

Bahubali, also known as Gomateshwara, was the second son of the Jain’s first Tirthankara. The Gomateshwara statue, constructed to immortalise him, stands at 57 ft. It is one of the tallest statues in India. It is situated on Vindhyagiri Hill in the town of Shravanbelagola in the state of Karnataka, India. Devotees come to celebrate the ‘Mahamastakabhisheka festival’ every twelve years. The next festival is predicted to be held in the year 2030. It is situated in Karnataka.