Jain tradition says Bahubali beat his elder brother for the kingdom, gave it up, and stood a year in meditation troubled that he stood on his brother's land

Jain tradition says Rishabha, the first tirthankara, placed his eldest son Bharata on the throne, made Bahubali heir apparent and gave lands to his other sons before he renounced the world. Bharata became a world-conqueror and demanded the submission of his brothers. All but Bahubali gave up their kingdoms rather than fight him. Bahubali defied him. Before the armies engaged, the ministers agreed the brothers should settle it in three contests: a staring match, a water fight and wrestling. Bahubali won all three. In the wrestling he lifted Bharata and set him down gently instead of throwing him. Bharata threw his discus weapon; it circled Bahubali and stopped in front of him. Bahubali told his brother the kingdom was his and became a monk. Champat Rai Jain's 1929 retelling says he stood a year in meditation while creepers grew up his legs, but could not free himself of the thought that he stood on Bharata's land. Only when he concluded that common land cannot be owned did he reach enlightenment. In 981 the minister Chavundaraya erected a 57 to 58 foot statue of Bahubali at Shravanabelagola. It is bathed every 12 years in the Mahamastakabhisheka.