A black and white print shows an ancient statue of the Jain monk, Sri Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarti. He sits in a cross-legged meditative pose on a simple stone base. The monk follows the Digambara tradition and is depicted without clothes. He has a peaceful expression and hair styled in short curls.

From an ancient Statue Special for the Sacred Books of the Jainas original: "S.B.J"

SRI NEMICHANDRA SIDDHANTA CHAKRAVARTI

COMPENDIUM OF SUBSTANCES original: "DRAVYA-SAMGRAHA"

INTRODUCTION.

In the account he gives of himself, he only mentions the victories he had won. There is no mention of any religious work done by him. If he had erected the colossal image during the reign of Marasimha II Marasimha II: A king of the Western Ganga dynasty who ruled from 963 to 975 A.D., he surely would have mentioned it. This was a monumental work that made his name immortal. Marasimha II died in 975 A.D. Chamunda Raya, in his work named The History of Chamunda Raya original: "Châmuṇḍa Râya Purâṇa", gives a detailed account of all his exploits. He mentions all his titles and how he earned them, but there is not the slightest mention of the erection of the image of Gommateshvara Gommateshvara: Another name for Bahubali, the subject of the colossal statue at Shravanabelagola by him. At the end of this work, the date of its completion is mentioned as Saka 900 Saka 900: A year in the Shaka calendar equivalent to 978 A.D. (978 A.D.). Therefore, it must have been after 978 A.D. and before the last year of the reign of Rachamalla or Rajamalla II that the image of Gommateshvara was erected. The reign of Rajamalla II ended in 984 A.D. We therefore arrive at a limited period, namely, 978 to 984 A.D., within which the statue must have been established.

There is a verse in the Biography of Bahubali original: "Vâhuvali Charitra" Vâhuvali Charitra: A biographical and historical text detailing the life of Bahubali and the history of his statues which intends to give the exact date the image was established. That verse is as follows:

“In the year 600 of the Kalki age Kalki age: A specific chronological era used in certain Jaina traditions to calculate dates after the passing of Mahavira.