The colossal structure of Gommateshvara is situated in Sravanabelgola in Karnataka, the most sacred place for the Jains. This is considered to be one of the largest statues in the world. The Gommateshvara statue, dedicated to the Jain God Bahubali, serves as the grandeur of the Jain religion. The monolithic statue was constructed around 983 AD by Chavundaraya, a minister and commandant of King Rachamalla of the Ganga Dynasty.
The huge monolithic Gommateshvara statue stands tall at the height of 57 feet. The statue is built out of single block of granite rock. The state Karnataka boasts on this statue, as it is perched on top of the Indragiri hill and can be seen even from a fair distance of almost 25 km. The statue can be reached after climbing around six hundred and fourteen steps. The Gommateshvara statue was constructed following the typical features of Jain architecture and the artistry of the Indian sculptures.
This magnificent sculpture is the symbol of ancient glory of Jains. The statue shows perfect proportion of human figure. It effectively reflects the tranquility of a soul in search of enlightenment. The head of the statue is covered with curly hairs and its eyes express vitality. The standing still posture of a saint determined in penance has been beautifully brought out by its artisans. The unclothed figure reveals the self-denial for the sake of faith. This statue is a totally nude male but the nudity is absolutely free from sensuality. It indicates the isolation of a saint who overcomes all earthly bonds.
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