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Gomateshwara is a monolithic statue standing at above a hill in a place called Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola

Shravanabelagola is a city located in the Hassan district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the most important Jainism pilgrim centers....
 in the Hassan district
Hassan district

Hassan is a district in Karnataka state, India. The district capital is Hassan, India city.Hassan district was the seat of the Hoysala empire which at its peak ruled large parts of south India from Belur as its early capital and Halebidu as its later capital during the period 1000 - 1334 CE....
 of Karnataka
Karnataka

Karnataka is a States and territories of India in the southern part of India. It was Unification of Karnataka on November 1, 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act....
 state, India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. The statue was built by the Ganga
Gangas

The Western Ganga Dynasty was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India. They are known as Western Gangas to distinguish them from the Eastern Ganga Dynasty who in later centuries ruled over modern Orissa....
 minister and commander Chamundaraya in honour of Lord Bahubali
Bahubali

According to Jainism Scriptures, Bahubali was the second of the one hundred sons of the first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabha and king of Podanpur. ...
. It was built in the 10th century AD and is the size Jains
Jainism

Jainism is one of the oldest Indian religions that originated in India. Jains believe that every soul is divine and has the potential to achieve God-consciousness....
 believe humans used to be.






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Gomateswara
Gomateshwara is a monolithic statue standing at above a hill in a place called Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola

Shravanabelagola is a city located in the Hassan district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the most important Jainism pilgrim centers....
 in the Hassan district
Hassan district

Hassan is a district in Karnataka state, India. The district capital is Hassan, India city.Hassan district was the seat of the Hoysala empire which at its peak ruled large parts of south India from Belur as its early capital and Halebidu as its later capital during the period 1000 - 1334 CE....
 of Karnataka
Karnataka

Karnataka is a States and territories of India in the southern part of India. It was Unification of Karnataka on November 1, 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act....
 state, India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. The statue was built by the Ganga
Gangas

The Western Ganga Dynasty was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India. They are known as Western Gangas to distinguish them from the Eastern Ganga Dynasty who in later centuries ruled over modern Orissa....
 minister and commander Chamundaraya in honour of Lord Bahubali
Bahubali

According to Jainism Scriptures, Bahubali was the second of the one hundred sons of the first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabha and king of Podanpur. ...
. It was built in the 10th century AD and is the size Jains
Jainism

Jainism is one of the oldest Indian religions that originated in India. Jains believe that every soul is divine and has the potential to achieve God-consciousness....
 believe humans used to be. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, devotees and tourists from all over the world flock to the statue once in 12 years for an event known as Mahamastakabhisheka
Mahamastakabhisheka

The Mahamasthakabhisheka is an important Jain festival held once every twelve years in the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka state, India....
. On August 5, 2007, the statue was voted by Indians as the first of Seven Wonders of India
Seven Wonders of India

Various lists of the Wonders of the World have been compiled over the ages to catalogue the most spectacular man-made constructions and natural things in the world....
. 49% votes went in favor of this marvel.

Overview


The colossal monolithic statue of Gomateshwara or Bahubali is situated at Shravanabelagola, 158 km away from Bangalore. This gigantic statue of lord Bahubali, the Jain saint, is carved out of a single block of granite and stands majestically on top of a hill. For centuries, Shravanabelagola has remained a great Jain center and thousands of pilgrims flock to see the magnificent, gigantic statue. The saint is shown completely nude, in the Jain custom. It is 17 m. (55 ft) high and is visible from a distance of 30km.

This statue is regarded as one of the largest monolithic statues in the world. It was created around 983 AD by Chamundaraya, a minister of the Ganga King, Rachamalla (Raachmalla SathyaVaak IV 975-986 AD). The neighbouring areas have Jaina bastis and several images of the Jaina Thirthankaras. One can have a beautiful view of the surrounding areas from the top of the hill. At Shravanabelagola the Mahamastakabhisheka festival is held once in 12 years, when the image of Gomateshwara is bathed in milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins.

See also

  • List of statues by height
    List of statues by height

    The following is a list of statues by height. ...
  • List of megalithic sites
    List of megalithic sites

    This is a list of ancient sites that moved megalithic stones, organized according to the size of the largest megalith on the site. A megalith is a large stone which has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones....