World’s Largest Monolithic Stone Statue

Shravanabelagola is a Jain pilgrim destination located in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, Southern India. It is at a distance of 157 kms from Bangalore and is a popular day outing spot. There are ancient monuments in and around Shravanabelagola. There are monuments of rare excellence and skill, executed by the illustrious Gangas and Hoysalas who had a profound sense of duty and ardent devotion to religion. The finest monuments are found in two sacred hills, Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri. The town is small and you can easily walk between the major attractions.

Vindhyagiri hill is about 150 m (470 feet) above the ground and is one solid rock. It must be climbed barefoot. Most tourists use the main steps from the town consisting of triple flights of about 660 steps to the top, cutout in the rock. People of all ages climb these steps; however they are steep and it can be a hard climb. The 17 m (58 ft) high monolithic stone statue of the Lord Gommateshwara, also referred to as Bahubali is located on top of this hill. It is estimated to weigh approximately 80 tons. The stone statue was installed and consecrated by Chavundaraya in 981 AD. He was the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief who served under successive rulers – King Marasimha II, Rachamalla IV and Rachamalla V of the Talakad Ganga Kingdom. The base of the statue has inscriptions in Kannada and Tamil, and the oldest evidence of written Marathi, dating back to 981 AD. The inscription praises the Ganga king who funded the effort, and his general Chavundaraya, who erected the statue for his mother.

This statue is considered to be the world’s largest monolithic stone statue. It is carved beautifully from a single block of rock, with accurate sense of proportions and expression. Gommata has curly hair in ringlets on the head and long, large ears. His eyes are open as if viewing the world with detachment. His facial features are perfectly chiseled with a faint touch of a smile at the corner of his lips and embody calm vitality. His shoulders are broad, his arms stretch straight down and the figure has no support from the thigh upwards.

There is an anthill in the background of his legs, which signifies his incessant penance. From this anthill emerge a snake and creepers which twine around both his legs and his arms culminating as a cluster of flowers and berries at the upper portion of the arms. The creepers encircling the arms and legs are artistic and beautiful.

The nude, north-facing, upright stone sculpture of Bahubali (Lord Gommateshwara) in the posture of meditation known as Kayotsarga, symbolizes renunciation, self-control and subjugation of ego as the first steps towards salvation. The digambara (nude) form of Bahubali represents the complete victory over earthly desires and wants that hamper spiritual ascent towards divinity. The entire figure stands on an open lotus. The statue is simple, stylish and splendid. In the opinion of James Fergusson, a Scottish architectural historian, “Nothing grander or more imposing exists anywhere out of Egypt and even there no known statue surpasses its height”.

According to Jain legend, Bahubali was the second of one hundred sons of Rishabha, the first Tirthankara and king of Podanpur. When Bahubali’s older brother Bharatha challenged Bahubali for his lands and wealth, the two ended up in a personal duel to settle the matter. Being much stronger, Bahubali could easily defeat or even kill his brother, but at the last moment he realized the futility of their fight and the unrighteousness of him fighting his brother for such material things. Following the transformation of his mind, he renounced his kingdom and all other worldly pleasures, and took to a life of meditation. At first held back by his own ego and anger towards his brother, finally he gained Absolute Knowledge, the highest form of knowledge that a soul can attain. Bahubali thus became an example of the ideal man, who has overcome selfishness, pride, jealousy, and anger.

Mahamasthakabhisheka, or the head anointing ceremony of the Lord Gommateshwara Bhagawan Bahubali, is performed once every 12 years in Jain dharmic cycle as part of ancient Indian tradition. Today the ritual Mahamasthakabhisheka of Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola is in memory of the first consecratory bath (prathista abhisheka) performed to the statue by the Ganga Prime Minister Chavundaraya and his guru Achaiya Sri Nemichandra Siddhantha Chakravarthi, under the inspiration of Chavundaraya’s mother Kalala Devi. The ceremony commenced in the year 981 AD, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. In 2018 also, this is being held. On the eve of the event, scaffolding is constructed to help the priests and devotees to offer worship. Worship is done in accordance to Jain tradition. Hundreds of people and tourists participate in the rituals held over a period of twelve days. The statue of Lord Gommateshwara gets poured over by 1008 kalashas (painted earthen pots coloured in ceremonious style) of water, milk, butter, ghee, curd, sugar, almonds, tender coconut, sugarcane juice, rice flour, turmeric paste, jaggery, banana paste, kashaya (herbal concoction), shrigandha (sandal paste), chandana (coloured sandal paste), ashtagandha (8 varieties of sandal paste), saffron, marigold flowers, and precious stones, culminating in a spectacular shower of flowers from a helicopter. The wealthy devotees offer bids for the kalashas, to obtain them and perform Abhisheka. After the main 12 days of festivities, the offerings go on for many months during the year. This ritual is rare and it is done for the peace and prosperity of mankind.

Shravanabelagola occupies a significant place in the Jain legacy of Karnataka, for being the place where Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, became a Jain ascetic after relinquishing his throne. The place where Chandragupta breathed his last is named Chandragiri (Chikkabetta). It is a small hill located opposite to the Vindhyagiri hill. It has memorials to numerous monks and shravakas who have meditated there. Chandragiri also has the tomb of Chandragupta Maurya. Steps have been cut out in this hill and the ascent is not different from Vindhyagiri. It is steep and hard to climb. Around Shravanabelagola there are beautiful monuments of Hoysala style.