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The 57 feet monolithic statue of the Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali is located on the Vindhyagiri. This gigantic statue of lord Bahubali, the Jain saint, is carved out of a single block of granite and stands majestically on top of the hill. It is 17 m. (55 ft) high and is visible from a distance of 30 km. This statue is regarded as one of the largest monolithic statues in the world. It was created around 983 AD by Chavundaraya, a minister of the Ganga King, Rachamalla (Raachmalla SathyaVaak IV 975-986 AD). The neighboring areas have Jain bastis and several images of the Jain Tirthankaras. One can have a beautiful view of the surrounding areas from the top of the hill. At Shravanabelagola the Mahamastakabhisheka festival is held once in 12 years, when the image of Gomateshwara is bathed in milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins.

Gomateshwara according to Jain Scriptures was the second of the one hundred sons of the first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabha and king of Podanpur. On August 5th, 2007, the statue was voted by Indians as the first of Seven Wonders of India. 49% votes went in favor of this marvel. The statue was executed in 12 years by Mahashilpi Arishtanemi.

History of Bahubali: Bahubali was the son of Adinatha, the first in the line of the 24 Jaain tirthankaras. Rishabha Adinatha, on embarking on his spiritual quest, bequeathed his capital city of Ayodhya to his eldest son Bharata. Paudanapura went to Bahubali, the younger son. Bharata ventured on an ambitious course of annexation, in his desire to don the mantle of the paramount emperor of his age. Bahubali refused to accept his elder brother’s suzerainty. Wiser counsel of elder ministers averted a battle between the kingdoms, which would have let to colossal loss of lives. Instead, Bharata and Bahubali were to engage in a duel. This probably was the first instance in human history of voluntary disarmament, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed. In all three different types of fight (drishti yuddha, malla yuddb) hubali was the victor. As a last resort Bharata unleashed his lethal weapon – the chakra. To the amazement of the entire assemblage, the chakra circled Bahubali and settled at his right side. In this moment of supreme victory, Bahubali was struck by the frailty of fortune and the hollowness of desires, which even led to fraternal conflicts over mere worldly possessions. In an act of unsurpassed renunciation he abandoned everything but his soul. Observing the severest of austerities, he stood in meditation in Kayotsarga pose for one full year, forsaking food and water. Such was his penance that anthills grew at his feet and as sculpted in the statue, tendrils – madhava latha – twirled around his arms. Thus he attained the state of Kevali Arihantha – perfect and complete knowledge about the universe, without undergoing any preparatory stages in previous lives, which is mandatory for attaining such transcendent realisation. The acme of manly perfection in physique, had now sublimated into godhood. ‘Gommata’ in Kannada, which means ‘huge’ thus gave birth to Gommateshwara Bhagawan or Sri Bahubali Swami.

Here are the photos:

• Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali:



• Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali:



• Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali:



• Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali:



• Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali:




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