Bangalore: A 41 feet statue of Lord Bahubali is
on its way from Bidadi in Bangalore Rural district to Gujarat
to be installed atop a hill in Songadh in Bhavnagar District.
The search for the right stone and sculptor began two years
ago and it was decided that they have to be sourced out of
Karnataka alone, as similar stone and style of sculpture akin
to the highest Bahubali`s statue in Shravanabelagola in Hassan
district, were unavailable elsewhere, a release said.
The statue, which is 14 feet wide and of 6.5 feet depth,
has been sculpted out of a single block of 400 tonne granite
from a place called Koira near Devanahalli here,it said.
The sculptor is Ashok Gudigar,a national award winner from
Karnataka.
It will be transported on a specially made heavy vehicle
with 140 wheels. The duration of journey was approximately 45
days from today.
About 90 percent of work on the statue was completed
and the rest would be completed at Songadh, before the
actual installation, the release said.
Songadh, where the idol is being installed is the place
where the Digambar Jain saint Kanji Swamiji had preached the
principles of Jainism over a period of 45 years. Songadh, also
known as "Swarnapuri", is an important pilgrimage place for
the Digambar Jain Community.
The statue, which is going to cost over Rs one crore, is
being funded by Shri Kund Kund Kahan Digambar Jain Swadhyay
Mandir Trust, founded by the disciples of Kanji Swamiji.
PTI
