{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O63309"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O63309/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BH6437/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BH6437/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BH6437","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BH6440","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BH6439","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BH6438","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O63309/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O63309","accessionNumber":"IM.14-1922","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Figure of the Jain Hero Bahubali","type":"generic title"},{"title":"Gommateshvara","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This copper alloy figure is of Bahubali, a highly popular Jain hero. Members of the Jain religious community revere him as the first devotee to attain ‘moksha’ (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation)  having followed the Jain path. He meditated in a forest for so long that vines grew around his legs and birds nested in his hair. \r\n\r\nIn 948 A.D. the Ganga general Chamundaraya commissioned a monumental rock-cut sculpture of Bahubali at Shravana Belgola, Karnataka. This image inspired the production of smaller devotional images of Bahubali that became popular in southern India. Such images were for household use and were often bought back by pilgrims from one of the Jain <i>tirthas</i> (pilgrimage sites) or centres of Jainism.","physicalDescription":"Small icon of the Jain Hero Bahubali in copper alloy. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper alloy","id":"AAT10942"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper alloy","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Jain","id":"THES49013"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006BH6437","2006BH6440","2006BH6439","2006BH6438"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES404320"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Karnataka","id":"x29829"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1500-1700","earliest":"1500-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"1500-1700","earliest":"1500-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased from J.P. Rawlins, Esq., 8 Haven Green, Ealing, W.5","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"7.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"ಶ್ರೀಮತು ಹಂನೆಡುಬಿ\r\nಧಮಿಳಸೆಟ್ಟಿಯ ಮಗ ದೇ\r\nಉಸೆಟ್ಟಿಯ ಮಗಳು ಪಲಕ್ಕ\r\nಎದ್ದಿಸಿದ ಗುಂಮಟ.\r\n\r\n","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Palakka commissioned this image of GummaTanaatha svaami (alias Baahubali). Palakka was the daughter of Devu seTTi who was the son of the respected DhamiLa seTTi of HamneDubi.","transliteration":"sreematu hamneDubi \r\ndhamiLaseTTiya maga de\r\nuseTTiya magaLu palakka\r\neddisida gummaTa\r\nnaatha svaami. ","type":"","note":"Inscription read by Professor Hampa Nagarajaiah, March 2017, who also provided the following information. The inscription is located around the <i>paada peetha</i> or pedestal of the image. It is written in Kannada characters. On the basis of their palaeography and style they can be assigned to the 16th century (later Vijayanagara period). The donor Palakka belonged to the merchant community. The personal names of her father and grandfather have the suffix '<i>seTTi'</i>, which means a businessman. \r\nThe honorific '<i>naatha swami</i>' is located on the top line above the main inscription on the base but continues the name of GummaTa [also known as Gommateshvara or Bahubali]."}],"objectHistory":"This figure shows Bahubali, the Jain hero, who renounced violence after brutal combat with his brother. He attained <i>moksha</i> (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation) following a protracted period of standing meditation <i>(kayotsarga)</i> in a forest, during which time vines became entwined around his body. Although not admitted into the Jain pantheon of Jinas (great spiritual teachers or 'victors'), he is effectively worshipped as one. Bahubali is also known as Gommata or Gommateshvara, especially in southern India.\n\nSmall devotional images of Bahubali or Gommateshvara are popular in southern India. They are inspired by the monumental rock-cut sculpture of Bahubali at Shravana Belgola, Karnataka,which was commissioned in 948 A.D. by the Ganga general Chamundaraya. Ever since this time, miniature replicas of the sculpture at Shravana Belgola have continued to be produced as souvenirs for pilgrims. \n\nThis figure has an inscription in the Kannada language on the pedestal, naming the person who commissioned it as Palakka, the daugher of Devu SeTTi, of the merchant community. The inscription may date to about the 16th century.\n\nPurchased from J.P. Rawlins, Esq. Register entry 20 March 1922. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.\r\n\r\nR.P. 1922-1691","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure of the Jain Hero Bahubali or Gommateshvara, copper alloy; Karnataka, C15 - C17","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Guy, John <i>Indian temple sculpture </i>. London: V&A Publications, 2007","id":"AUTH339668"},"details":"p.115, pl.128","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Willis, M. (ed.) <i>India: the Art of the Temple</i>, Shanghai Museum, 2010","id":"AUTH353266"},"details":"pp.242-3, Cat. 3:15","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Barnard, Nick, Arts of Asia, Vol. no. 46, no 1, \"The Jain Collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum\". January-February 2016","id":"AUTH338189"},"details":"p. 99, no. 11","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.179, Cat.136","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Jainism","id":"AAT143540"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"4. The Jain Hero Bahubali \r\n1500–1700\r\n\r\nBahubali, also called Gommateshvara in south India, was a son of the first Jina. He underwent severe hardships in order to achieve salvation, to the extent that he stood motionless in the forest for so long that creepers grew around his legs. This figure was inspired by a gigantic 10th-century statue of Gommateshvara at Shravanabelagola. Legend tells that monstrous cobra-headed cockerels once terrorised the region around the statue. Two are depicted by this figure’s feet. \r\n\r\nThe inscription states that it was commissioned by Palakka, daughter of a merchant.\r\n\r\nCopper alloy\r\nSouthern India (Karnataka)\r\nMuseum no. IM.14-1922\r\n","date":{"text":"03/07/2017","earliest":"2017-07-03","latest":"2017-07-03"}},{"text":"THE JAIN HERO,\r\nBAHUBALI\r\nCopper alloy\r\nKarnataka. Deccan, South\r\nIndia\r\n18th-19th century\r\n\r\nIM 14-1922","date":{"text":"25/09/2000","earliest":"2000-09-25","latest":"2000-09-25"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.14-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"14","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"RF number","id":"THES57673"},"number":"RP 1922/1691"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR5188","2019LT6605","2019LX0695","2020MP1932","2020MP1934"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-02","recordCreationDate":"2001-11-15","availableToBook":false}}