Kaladevi

Summary

In tenth‑century South India the Jain ācārya Nemicandra was venerated for his wisdom. His disciple and patron Cāmuṇḍarāja served as commander‑in‑chief of the Ganga dynasty and combined martial prowess with deep devotion. During a sermon, the ācārya recounts the story of Bahubali and mentions a life‑like statue of the saint located at Podanapurā. Cāmuṇḍarāja’s mother, Kalādevī, is profoundly moved and pleads with her son to show her the image. Although no one knows the exact location and the route is perilous, Cāmuṇḍarāja resolves to find it. He organises a large caravan of soldiers, monks and pilgrims with sufficient provisions and sets out through dense forests and treacherous hills. They first reach Candraśilā, worship at the temple of Pārśvanātha and then travel onward, but soon the path is blocked by steep mountains. The party camps by Lake Kālyāṇī and Cāmuṇḍarāja seeks his teacher’s guidance. At midnight Nemicandra hears a celestial voice instructing him to have Cāmuṇḍarāja throw a golden arrow from Mount Indragiri; where it lands they will find Lord Gommateśvara. Cāmuṇḍarāja obeys and the arrow shatters a slab of rock, revealing the head of a colossal 57‑foot image of Bahubali emerging from the hill. Pilgrims rejoice and excavate the statue. Artisans attempt to polish it but find that chisels cannot cut the stone; they proclaim the image to be divine. A grand anointment (maha‑abhiṣeka) is arranged, with hundreds of pots of milk and water poured over the statue, yet the liquids stop at the waist, signifying the Lord’s unwillingness to accept. Acharya Nemicandra notices an old woman, Mother Gulāī, struggling to offer her small pot. He realises the ritual will remain incomplete without her devotion. When she finally pours her humble offering the milk flows down to the feet. The ceremony concludes smoothly and the statue shines in the sunlight. In gratitude Cāmuṇḍarāja erects an image of Mother Gulāī near the Lord’s statue to commemorate the power of sincere devotion. The story blends adventure, faith and humility.