Gommateshvara Bahubali (Epitome of Peace, Non-Violence and Renunciation)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The present book "Gommateshvara Bahubali: Epitome of Peace, Non-violence and Renunciation" deals with a unique personality of Jainism, who was not a Jim or even Shalakapurusha but due to adherence to the principles of Jainism namely rigorous austerity, non-violence, renunciation he was given such an exalted position that he became an object of worship and as a consequence his independent images are carved in prolific number in north and south India right from the beginning of the 7th century CE to the 20th century CE. The entwining creepers and also the figures of lizards, snakes and scorpions on his body truly make him 'Prakriti-Purusha'. The book deals with the origin of the concept and the tradition of Bahubali (known as Gommateshvara in the southern tradition) and his images from different places like Deogarh, Khajuraho, Bilhari, Siron Khurd, Gwalior in north India and Ellora, Shravanabelgola, Kambadhalli, Venur, Karkal, Dharmasthala, Moodbidari and many other places in south India. He was put at par with the Tirthankaras and hence he was shown with the Tirthankaras in Tritirthi image with ashtapratiharyas and sometimes also havingyaksha-yakshi figures. The socio-religious, iconographic and aesthetic aspects of the Bahubali images have been discussed in the book with a comparative study of texts and art examples underlining regional features.

Prof. Maruti Nandan Tiwari is presently Professor Emeritus in the Department of History of Art, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He has Headed the Department of History of Art, Banaras Hindu University for three terms (8 years). His publications deal extensively with different aspects of Jain Art and Culture including other aspects of Indian Art. He has the following books to his credit:— Jaina Pratimavijnana (Hindi), Elements of Jaina Iconography, Ambika in Jaina Art and Literature, Khajuraho Ka Jaina Puratattva (Hindi), Jaina Kala Tirtha: Deogarh (joint-Hindi), Madhya Kalin Bharatiya Pratimalakshana (Hindi, Awarded Indira Gandhi National Award of Rajbhasha), Jaina Art and Aesthetics (2011, Awarded Hemachandracharya Puraskar), Jaina Art and Architecture (1'` Vol. of Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies), Madhya Kalin Bharatiya Murtikala (Hindi). He has published more than 100 Research Papers in Indian and International Journals such as East and West (Rome), Journal of Institute of Indic Studies (Berlin) and a Volume on Ganesha (USA ). Honoured by the Presidents of India two times in Rashtrapati Bhavan and Awarded Ahimsa International Puraskar in 2016.

The book on Gommateshvara Bahubali (Epitome of Peace, Non-Violence and Renunciation) is the result of the inspiration and blessings of scholars like Prof. M. A. Dhaky, Dr. N. P. Joshi and Prof. Hampa Nagarajaiah. On the basis of my long experience of working in the field of Jaina Art and Culture, I could single out the unique personality of Gommateshvara Bahubali, who was an epitome of peace, non-violence and renunciation and hence spirituality. Most important is the fact that he was not even a Jina or Tirthankara. The Pan-Indian popularity of Gommateshvara Bahubali both in literature and art, immediately suggests that a social model for past as well as present was given in Jainism and as a consequence the Jaina sites like Deogarh, Bilhari, Khajuraho, Ellora, Shravanabelgola and several others have yielded profuse and artistically excellent images of Bahubali, who was symbol of spirituality, non-violence and renunciation. It is not merely a coincidence that the most gigantic images carved in Jaina art are of Gommateshvara Bahubali. Due to above reasons I undertook Major Research Project on Gommateshvara Bahubali under the financial assistance of the University Grants Commission (UGC). I am therefore especially grateful to the UGC for this financial help, which enabled me to visit most of the Jaina sites yielding Bahubali images and also the libraries for textual references. I received the help of Dr. Shanti Swaroop Sinha, Assistant Professor History of Visual Arts and Design, Faculty of Visual Arts, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi at different levels in data-collection, writing, typing and proof-reading for which I am thankful to him. I offer my sincere thanks to Sri Bharatvarshiya Digambara Jaina Teerth Sanrakshini Mahasabha, New Delhi and its President Sri Nirmal Kumar Jain Sethi for providing financial help for the publication of this book. I am also Gommateshvara Bahubali: Epitome of Peace, Non-Violence and Renunciation thankful to Pilgrims Publishing, Varanasi and its custodian Vinayamurti Sri Ramanand Tiwari for publishing the book in time and in best shape. Thanks are due to Shri Christopher N. Burchett for composition and layout of the book. In February 2018 the great event of `Mahamastakabhisheka' of Gommateshvara Bahubali image of Shravanabelgola is going to take place and I am fortunate to present this book to the persona grata who's images are inspiring for the present generation of the Jaina community as well as the entire humanity to show the path of non-violence and renunciation. This alone will bring Peace and Solace in the present day world of violence and conflict. I am sure that this book will be well received by the Jainas and non-Jainas alike throughout the world as such a unique personality like that of Gommateshvara Bahubali transcends time, sect and geographical boundaries.

**Sample Pages**