Figure of the Jain Hero Bahubali
Figure
1500-1700 (made), 1500-1700 (made)
1500-1700 (made), 1500-1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This copper alloy figure is of Bahubali, a highly popular Jain hero. Members of the Jain religious community revere him as the first devotee to attain ‘moksha’ (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation) having followed the Jain path. He meditated in a forest for so long that vines grew around his legs and birds nested in his hair.
In 948 A.D. the Ganga general Chamundaraya commissioned a monumental rock-cut sculpture of Bahubali at Shravana Belgola, Karnataka. This image inspired the production of smaller devotional images of Bahubali that became popular in southern India. Such images were for household use and were often bought back by pilgrims from one of the Jain tirthas (pilgrimage sites) or centres of Jainism.
In 948 A.D. the Ganga general Chamundaraya commissioned a monumental rock-cut sculpture of Bahubali at Shravana Belgola, Karnataka. This image inspired the production of smaller devotional images of Bahubali that became popular in southern India. Such images were for household use and were often bought back by pilgrims from one of the Jain tirthas (pilgrimage sites) or centres of Jainism.
Object details
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| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Copper alloy |
| Brief description | Figure of the Jain Hero Bahubali or Gommateshvara, copper alloy; Karnataka, C15 - C17 |
| Physical description | Small icon of the Jain Hero Bahubali in copper alloy. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | ಶ್ರೀಮತು ಹಂನೆಡುಬಿ
ಧಮಿಳಸೆಟ್ಟಿಯ ಮಗ ದೇ
ಉಸೆಟ್ಟಿಯ ಮಗಳು ಪಲಕ್ಕ
ಎದ್ದಿಸಿದ ಗುಂಮಟ.
(Inscription read by Professor Hampa Nagarajaiah, March 2017, who also provided the following information. The inscription is located around the paada peetha or pedestal of the image. It is written in Kannada characters. On the basis of their palaeography and style they can be assigned to the 16th century (later Vijayanagara period). The donor Palakka belonged to the merchant community. The personal names of her father and grandfather have the suffix 'seTTi', which means a businessman.
The honorific 'naatha swami' is located on the top line above the main inscription on the base but continues the name of GummaTa [also known as Gommateshvara or Bahubali].)
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Purchased from J.P. Rawlins, Esq., 8 Haven Green, Ealing, W.5 |
| Object history | This figure shows Bahubali, the Jain hero, who renounced violence after brutal combat with his brother. He attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation) following a protracted period of standing meditation (kayotsarga) in a forest, during which time vines became entwined around his body. Although not admitted into the Jain pantheon of Jinas (great spiritual teachers or 'victors'), he is effectively worshipped as one. Bahubali is also known as Gommata or Gommateshvara, especially in southern India. Small devotional images of Bahubali or Gommateshvara are popular in southern India. They are inspired by the monumental rock-cut sculpture of Bahubali at Shravana Belgola, Karnataka,which was commissioned in 948 A.D. by the Ganga general Chamundaraya. Ever since this time, miniature replicas of the sculpture at Shravana Belgola have continued to be produced as souvenirs for pilgrims. Purchased from J.P. Rawlins, Esq. Register entry 20 March 1922. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. R.P. 1922-1691 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This copper alloy figure is of Bahubali, a highly popular Jain hero. Members of the Jain religious community revere him as the first devotee to attain ‘moksha’ (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation) having followed the Jain path. He meditated in a forest for so long that vines grew around his legs and birds nested in his hair. In 948 A.D. the Ganga general Chamundaraya commissioned a monumental rock-cut sculpture of Bahubali at Shravana Belgola, Karnataka. This image inspired the production of smaller devotional images of Bahubali that became popular in southern India. Such images were for household use and were often bought back by pilgrims from one of the Jain tirthas (pilgrimage sites) or centres of Jainism. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | RP 1922/1691 - RF number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.14-1922 |
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| Record created | November 15, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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