Bahubali is not a Tirthankar because in Jainism every Kevali is not necessarily a Tirthankar.

Simple reason:

• Tirthankar is a very special spiritual state.
• A Tirthankar is one who creates the tirth — the spiritual ford of Jain Dharma in a given era.
• This status comes from a very specific karmic cause called Tirthankar-nam-karma.
• Bahubali attained kevalgnan and later moksha, but he did not have the karmic role of becoming a Tirthankar.

In Bahubali’s case:

• He was the son of Bhagwan Rishabhdev.
• He became a great ascetic and attained omniscience through intense penance.
• But his role was that of a mahatapasvi and siddha, not a Tirthankar.
• A Tirthankar must also have the specific cosmic and karmic destiny to establish the Jain path for that era.

In short:

Bahubali is a Siddha, not a Tirthankar. He is honored as one of the greatest examples of vairagya, tapas, and self-realization in Jain tradition.