Bahubali
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As per Jain Scriptures, Bahubali (also known as Gommateshvara) was the youngest of the one hundred sons of the first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabha and king of Podanpur.
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[edit] The Contest
Bahubali's elder brother, Bharat, was envious of his wealth, grandeur, strength and success. His desire was all of Bahubali's kingdom and wealth, and thus, decided to attack the lands Bahubali ruled. Fearing that the war would destroy both the kingdoms, as well as thousands of innocent soldiers, 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.
[edit] 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 .
[edit] 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.
[edit] Statues of Bahubali
One of recently carved statue of his, is located at Dharmasthala.
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.
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.
Bahubali is a great name in the Jain legends. Also known as Nity and Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Bhubaneswar, where he fought successfully for women upliftment, 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.
