The Economic Times
Feb 19, 2018, 01.02 PM IST
Veneration ceremony
A grand Mahamastakabhisheka, the head anointing ceremony to the statue of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali, unfolded today at this Jain pilgrimage centre amidst a montage of traditional rituals, spiritual ecstasy and visual splendour.
Observed once every 12 years in Jain Dharmic cycle, the veneration ceremony this year is the 88th in the series that commenced in the year 981 A.D.
World's tallest monolith
The 57 ft-high statue of Lord Bahubali, son of the first Jain tirthankara Adinath, located on Vindyagiri hill here, was carved from a single rock and is said to be the world's tallest monolithic granite statue.
Series of rituals
The rituals began with a battery of priests and devotees carrying 108 'kalashas' (holy vessels) from the Digambara Jain mutt to the Vindyagiri hills, the venue of the event. 1008 kalashas will be used for Mahamastakabhisheka till February 25.
Standing in reverence
Devotees standing at the feet of the colossal rock-cut statue with devotion and spirit of the occasion were seen soaked in the colours of sandalwood and turmeric that was poured on the towering statue, as fragrance filled the air.
Lot of offerings
The statue was then bathed by devotees from 'attanige' (huge scaffolding) erected for the purpose, with libations such as water, coconut water, sugarcane juice, milk, rice flour, turmeric paste, herbal concoction, kalkachurna, sandal paste, ashtagandha, saffron, gold and silver flowers, as also precious stones, amidst the chanting of hymns.
During the last Mahamastakabhisheka in 2006, the ceremony's finale included an enormous shower of flowers from a waiting helicopter.
A visual spectacle
The statue of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali, the son of Adinath, the first of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, remained soaked in various hues used for Mahamastakabhisheka.
The Gomateshwara statue in the 'Kayotsarga' posture was then showered with fragrant flowers and adorned with a huge garland.
Separate township built for the event
Massive arrangements have been made for the grand event. As many as 12 temporary townships with all the basic amenities have been built, said B N Varaprasad Reddy, special government officer for the event.
Thousands of tents have been erected around two kilometres from the two hillocks, dotted with numerous temples.
PM Modi to take part in the festival
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on February 19 to take part in the festival.
Where is the statue located?
The statue is located between the two hillocks of Vindyagiri and Chandragiri. Shravanabelagola has been a Jain pilgrimage centre for the past 2,500 years.