Chapter 5 - Religion and Philosophy

606
There are also references to the fairs of the
Vidyadharas which were held at Harikuda and also those
celebrated in honour of a royal monk Hari and the cupid-
like Jina (Jinamadaṇajatta)¹. Here in the Vidyadharas
worshipped a dhammacakka placed outside the shrine, as the
shrine was closed and the door could be opened only by an
illustrious person (uttamapurisa). Vasudeva, when he attended
the fair, opened this door with the power of his virtues and
made an access to the shrine wherein were installed the
images of the Jinas 2.
1. Bahubali has been referred to as Kamadeva in the Adi
Purana (8.52-53). According to M. Govinda Pai the word
S
Commata, which is associated with the colosi of Bahubali
the
is related linguistically with Sanskrit word Manmatha,
meaning Cupid. On the basis of this he concludes that
Gommata was an epithet of Bahubali himself. See his article
Why Are the Bahubali Colosi Called Gommata" IHC Vol.IV,
Pp. 270-286. Dr.A.N.Upadhye, however, on the basis of the
information of Gommatasara, a treatise written by Nemicandra,
says that Gommata was an epithet of king Camundaraya. As
the collosus of Bahubali at Shravan Belgola was erected by
the king, the image was called Gommatesvara. "The Materials
for the Interpretation of the Term Gommata" IHQ, Vol. XVI,
PP. 819-26.
S
2. Vh(M), II.119b-120a.