BaahuBali

BaahuBali!

I am not going to talk about the recent Baahubali: The Beginning, Indian bilingual epic historical fiction film written and directed by S. S. Rajamouli. The group of people were discussing the movie and they rated movie with 5 out of 5. I was a listener of the conversation, and question popped up in my mind “does the group know who was the popular figure called ‘Baahubali’ in ancient India?” it was not related to the figure in the movie but the great Bahubali also known as Gommatesh (because of his largest statue regarded as one of the largest monolithic statues in the world), son of Rishabha the first tirthankara and founder of Jainism in the present half-cycle of time.

The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali
dating 978-993 AD.

The Ādi purāṇa a 9th-century Sanskrit poem deals with the ten lives of the first tirthankara, Rishabha and his two sons, Bharata and Bahubali.

Bharata was the eldest of all sons of Rishabha. According to Jain texts, when Rishabhdeva decided to became a monk he gave throne to Bharata, and made Bahubali, successor to the royal seat. After returning from the world conquest, Bharata demanded submission from his own brothers. Bahubali defied Bharata and challenged him for a fight.

The ministers on both sides gave the following argument to prevent war-

The brothers themselves, cannot be killed by any means; they are in their last incarnations in transmigration, and possess bodies which no weapon may mortally wound in warfare! Let them fight out the issue by themselves in other ways.

It was then decided that to settle the dispute, three kinds of contests can be held between Bharata and Bahubali. These were, staring at each other (eye-fight), water-fight (Jala Yudh) and wrestling (Mala Yudh). Bahubali won all the three contests from his elder brother, Bharata.

The fight with his brother troubled Bahubali. He was filled with disgust for the world and decided to give up his kingdom and became a monk. Bahubali began meditating with great resolve to attain Keval Gyan (enlightenment) but he couldn't succeed as the thought that he is standing on Bharata's land troubled him.

However, Bahubali was adamant. He continued his practice unmindful of the vines, ants, and dust which enveloped his body. His sisters Brhami and Sundari were concerned and asked Tirthankar Adinath about their worldly brother Bahubali. Tirthankara Adinatha said, although just moments away from enlightenment, Bahubali could not achieve it because he didn't realise that he was standing on 'the elephant' - Ego. Now understanding his folly, the sisters approached him and said, Oh my dear brother, at least now get down from the elephant. These words from his sisters led Bahubali to question "Am I really standing on any kind of elephant?" From this question he soon realized that the elephant he was standing upon was his pride and ego. Bahubali realised his mistake and shed his pride and ego, thereby destroying four kinds of inimical karmas and attained omniscience.

The story of Bahubali kept me pondering, the journey from being legendary prince to attaining omniscience! What does Bahubali mean? The one who has all the power and skills to conquer anyone or one who has all the power and skills to conquer himself. And I feel the later is more appropriate translation of being Baahubali, a man with very strong arms, one who can let go everything that has no real value!

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*Source: Wikipedia
P.S: The major part of this write up is from wikipedia the idea behind to get content is to promote the philosophy and to present my point of view about the story

The tell is an opening for my new series on mythology keep reading!