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Bahubali is considered as god in Jainism. So was the movie inspired by the Jain mythology? What was the real story of Bahubali ? Lets find out
Bahubali , a much revered figure among Jains, was the son of Adinath, the first tirthankara of Jainism.
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 without war to save the lives of millions, three kinds of contests between Bharata and Bahubali would be held. These were eye-fight (staring at each other), water-fight (jala-yuddha), and wrestling (malla-yuddha). Bahubali won all the three contests over his elder brother, Bharata.
Bahubali is a collection of fragments of history compiled into a story. There are many names and incidents in the film which remind us of something we have seen before. But it didn't happen anywhere, and is not a complete story from the History. Although the movie was inspired by epic Mahabharata and Ramayana and there are some similarities from the above story. Mahishmati, the kingdom referenced in the film was an ancient Indian city mentioned in several texts inlcuding Mahabharata. At present it is located in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of Narmada river
Bahubali is considered as god in Jainism. So was the movie inspired by the Jain mythology? What was the real story of Bahubali ? Lets find out
Bahubali , a much revered figure among Jains, was the son of Adinath, the first tirthankara of Jainism.
Bahubali is also called Gommateshwara because of the Gommateshwara statue dedicated to him
True story of Bahubali and his elder brother Bharata
According to Jain texts, Bahubali was born to Rishabhanatha and Sunanda during the Ikshvaku dynasty in Ayodhya. He is said to have excelled in studying medicine, archery, floriculture, and the knowledge of precious gems. Bahubali had a son named Somakirti (also known as Mahabala). When Rishabhanatha decided to become a monk, he distributed his kingdom among his 100 sons. Bharata was gifted the kingdom of Vinita (Ayodhya) and Bahubali (step brother of Bharata) got the kingdom of Asmaka from South India, having Podanapur as its capital. After winning six divisions of earth in all directions (digvijaya), Bharata proceeded to his capital Ayodhyapuri with a huge army and divine chakra-ratna—spinning, disk-like super weapon with serrated edges. But the chakra-ratna stopped on its own at the entrance of Ayodhyapuri, signalling to the emperor that his 99 brothers have yet not submitted to his authority. Bharata's 98 real brothers became Jain monks' and submitted their kingdoms to him. Bahubali was endowed with the final and superior body of extraordinary sturdiness and strength like Bharata. He hurled open defiance at the chakravartin and challenged him to a fight.
Renunciation
After the fight, Bharata tried to conquer with his army. Bahubali was filled with disgust and developed a desire for renunciation. Bahubali abandoned his clothes and kingdom to become a Digambara monk and began meditating with great resolve to attain omniscience (Kevala Gyana).[13]
He is said to have meditated motionless in a standing posture (kayotsarga) for a year, during which time climbing plants grew around his legs. However, he was adamant and continued his practice unmindful of the vines, ants, and dust that enveloped his body. According to Jain text Ādi purāṇa, on the last day of Bahubali's one year long fast, Bharata came in all humility to Bahubali and worshiped him with veneration and respect. A painful regret that he had been the cause of his elder brother's humiliation had been disturbing Bahubali's meditation; this was dispersed when Bharata worshipped him. Bahubali was then able to destroy the four kinds of inimical karmas, including the knowledge obscuring karma, and he attained omniscience (kevala gyana). He was now revered as an omniscient being (Kevali). Bahubali finally attained liberation (moksha) and became a pure, liberated soul (siddha). He is said to be the first Digambara monk to have attained moksha in the present half-cycle of time (Avasarpiṇī).
Bahubali-The movie
Bahubali is a collection of fragments of history compiled into a story. There are many names and incidents in the film which remind us of something we have seen before. But it didn't happen anywhere, and is not a complete story from the History. Although the movie was inspired by epic Mahabharata and Ramayana and there are some similarities from the above story. Mahishmati, the kingdom referenced in the film was an ancient Indian city mentioned in several texts inlcuding Mahabharata. At present it is located in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of Narmada river
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