Shravana Belagola

Om Shri Gomateshaya Namah

Shravanabelagola – The Temple City

Shravanabelagola – nestled by the Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri hills, protected by the monolith Bhagawan Bahubali and home of 2300 years of lain heritage – is a veritabk picture post card of history spanning centuries.

The verdant natural beauty for Shravanabelagola, with the swaying coconut trees and natural water bodies, bear testimony to the legendary mental strength of Tyaga (renunciation) and the soft tender message of Ahimsa (non violence) that embody the lain way of life.It is little wonder then that over centuries.

Shravanabelagola should became the hoary `Tapobhumi’ of kings and monks alike, and more recently attract tourists, pigrimsl and others with an eye far beauty, an ear for history and a mind for peace alike.

Described by historians as the closest man has ever got to sculpt `Manmatha` or the mythical Lord of Love the 57 feet tall Gommateshwara Bahubali is magnificent and munificent alike – Magnificent in form and valour, Munificent in prayer and deed. This Son of the first of the twenty four Jain serene, is worshipped for great qualities he made his own in all stages of his life viz., conception, birth, renunciation, enlightenment and salvation. Gorgeous, that is his external appearance. Grand and Illuminating that is his purity for soul, attained by his victory over angel greed and pride, making him the hallowed and revered symbol oi legendary seeker of truth.

Shravanabelagola is a photographer’s delight. The unquenched thirst one develops after capturing Lord Bahubali on film at Vindhyagiri Is further deepened by inscriptions. And sculptures that virtually speak history dating back to Indus Valley Civilization; and much more.

The Mahamasthakabhisheka, the head anointing ceremmy of the Lord Gommateshwara Sri Bahubali observed once every 12 years in Jain Dharmic cycle is an Integral part of ancient and composite Indian tradition. The ceremony of 2006 is the 87 of the series that commenced in the year 981 -12 Hundreds of devotees and tourists from different parts The world would be participating in the ceremony being held over a span of 12 days, for the first time ever.

The above text courtesy from the website of Shravanabelagola.net

http://shravanabelagola.net/

Shravanabelagola (Kannada: ಶ್ರವಣಬೆಳಗೊಳ Śravaṇa Beḷagoḷa) is a city located in the Hassan District in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important piligrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Western Ganga Dynasty of Talakas.

Chandragupta is said to have died here in 298 BC after he became a Jain monk and assumed an ascetic life style.

Shravanabelagola "White Pond of the Shravana" is named with reference to the colossal image of Gommaṭa - the prefix Śravaṇa serves to distinguish it from other Belagolas with the prefixes Hale- and Kodi-, while Beḷagoḷa "white pond" is an allusion to the pond in the middle of the town. The Sanskrit equivalents Svetasarovara, Dhavalasarovara and Dhavalasaras used in the inscriptions that support this meaning.
Some inscriptions mention the name of the place as Beḷguḷa, which has given rise to another derivation from the plant Solanum ferox or Hairy-Fruited Eggplant. This derivation is in allusion to a tradition which says that a pious old woman completely anointed the colossal image with the milk brought by her in a gullakayi or eggplant. The place is also designated as Devara Beḷgoḷa "White Pond of the God" and Gommaṭapuram "city of Gommaṭa" in some epigraphs. The epithet Dakshinakasi "Southern Kasi" is applied to it in some modern records.

The above text courtesy from the wikipedia.org. website.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shravanabelagola

In my collection i have a vintage photo and 2 vintage postcards of this Shri Gomateshwara Statue of Sharavana Belagola.

This is my vintage photo of this Lord Bahubali Gomateshwara Statue feet. A priest offering puja at the feet of Shri Gomateshwara Statue in this photo.