Karkala : The ten days grand ‘Mahamastakabhisheka’ of the 42-feet tall statue of Lord Bahubali began on Tuesday 21 at Karkala Gommatta Betta.
State Minister for Urban Development and Udupi District in-charge Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp. The chanting of thousands of devotees from different parts of the state and the country filled in the air during Mahamastakabhisheka.
Once in 12 years Mahamastakabhisheka have been offered to the Bhagvan Bahubali, Under the guidance of Jain priests led by Shree Vardhaman Indra the first process began with Jalabhisheka which was followed by Dhanya Abhisheka, coconut water and sugarcane juice.
Subsequently, milk from kalashas was showered on the Lord, which was followed by the abhisheka of white rice and turmeric powder called ‘Kalkachurna Abhisheka’.
The priests performed ‘Kashaya Abhisheka’ and then poured a mixture of liquid turmeric and red sandalwood paste. Next was the abhisheka of Ashtagandha – a combination of eight scented substances – followed lastly by a shower of flower petals.
The splendid ceremony ended with the washing of the Gommata with the clear waters of the ‘poorna kumbhas’ and the arthi of lit lamps.
During the ‘Mahamastakabhisheka’ ceremony, sandalwood paste, paste made out of medicinal herbs and holy water would be poured on the statue, which would be witnessed by devotees.
The first day of the event will see 108 kalashas being poured on the statue. The number goes on increasing by 100 on each day and on the last day 1008 kalasha abhishekas will be done to Bahubali.
The monolith is located at the top of the hill ‘Bahubali Betta,’ a pilgrim centre for the Jain community. Karkala was the capital of Jain rulers of the Bhairva dynasty. The Bahubali statue was erected there by the Bhairava King Veera Pandya in 1432.
K Abhayachandra Jain, State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated the cultural programmes.
Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala who presided over the programme inaugurated the ‘Dharmachakra’ by spinning it.
Swasti Shree Lalithakeerthi Bhattaraka Pattacharyavarya Mahaswamiji of Karkala Jain Mutt and Swasti Shree Laxmi Sena Bhattaraka Pattacharyavarya Mahaswamiji of Kollapur Jain Mutt blessed the event.
Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, Chief Secretary of Mahamastakabhisheka Committee, M K Vijayakumar, Committee office bearers Harshendra Kumar, Dr Sridhar Kambli, TMC President Rehmath S Sheikh and many others were present.