Bahubali

According to Jain texts summarized in the provided sources, Bahubali was born to Rishabhanatha and Sunanda of the Ikshvaku dynasty in Ayodhya and was granted the kingdom of Asmaka (capital Podanapur). After a series of non‑lethal contests with his elder brother Bharata and growing disgust with worldly power, he abandoned kingdom, clothes and ornaments to become a monk and undertake prolonged standing meditation (kayotsarga). By destroying the four kinds of inimical karmas through ascetic practice he attained omniscience (kevala jnana) and later attained liberation (moksha) to become a siddha; his final liberation is narrated as occurring at Mount Kailasha.

Narratives and iconography present Bahubali in the kayotsarga (standing meditation) posture, frequently shown motionless while creeping plants or vines grow around his legs — the creepers being a key identifying motif in early reliefs (e.g., Badami Cave 4, Ellora). Monumental monolithic images (Gommateshwara) depict him standing in the same ascetic posture; textual summaries also note nature overtaking his immobile body (vines, and in some accounts ants and dust are mentioned) during his long meditation.

Within Jain soteriology as reported in the sources, Bahubali's primary 'powers' are spiritual: resolute ascetic endurance that allows the destruction of the four kinds of inimical karmas (including knowledge‑obscuring karma), attainment of kevala jnana (omniscience), and eventual moksha (liberation) as a siddha. Earlier in his life he is portrayed as a princely figure skilled in medicine, archery, floriculture and knowledge of gems; narrative episodes include non‑lethal contests with his brother Bharata (staring contest, water contest, wrestling) and the relinquishing of royal authority.