The
second oldest of the one hundred sons of the first Tirthankara (a human who achieves
enlightenment through asceticism), Bahubali is known as a devout aesthete, and
is a popular figure in the ancient Indian religion of Jainism. This gorgeous bronze
rendering of the hero is much like the fifty-seven foot tall version of Bahubali,
standing in the Indian state of Karnataka, and is the tallest monolithic stone
carving in the world. The seventeen inch bronze version has an attractively aged,
mottled coloring of light and dark tones. As creeper vines slowly grow around
his legs and arms, he stands in a straight backed, kayotsarga posture of meditation.
The piece is in very good condition, and stands on an angularly carved old wood
base.
Bahubali,
and the Lord Rishabha’s eldest son Bahrat were given portions of their father’s
kingdom, along with the rest of the sons. Bharat decided to consolidate all the
power as his own, and all the brothers assented, except for Bahubali. Their respective
armies readied to resolve the dispute, but the brothers decided to resolve the
matter in a duel, and save the bloodshed. At the height of the duel, Bahubali
lifted his brother over his head as his supporters cheered him on, and at that
moment he thought about false pride, that even if he were the supreme ruler he
would not have peace of mind; and set his brother down. He renounced his kingdom
to his brother, and started on a truth seeking path.
Bahubali
spent many years in meditation, standing in the same place. It is said the creeper
vines grew all over his body, and ant hills formed at his feet. Still he could
not obtain Nirvana because he couldn’t bear to visit his father’s court and bow
to his ruling brother. His sisters approached him and exposed this egotistical
attachment to him, and soon after, he attained nirvana.
