Jain ceremony Mahamastakabhisheka unfolds in visual spectacle in Karnataka's Shravanabelagola
Lakhs of people are thronging Shravanabelagola in Hassan district, also known as ‘Jaina Kashi’, to participate in what is also called as ‘Jain Maha Kumbh’
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A grand Mahamastakabhisheka, the head anointing ceremony to the statue of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali, unfolded on Saturday at the Jain pilgrimage centre of Shravanabelagola, Karnataka, amidst a montage of traditional rituals, spiritual ecstasy and visual splendour. Reuters
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Observed once every 12 years in the Jain Dharmic cycle, the veneration ceremony this year is the 88th in the series that commenced in the year 981 AD. The majestic 57-feet statue, carved out of a single piece of rock, is said to be the world’s tallest monolith. PTI
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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. PTI
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The statue was 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. Reuters
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A visual spectacle was created, as the statue of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali, the son of Adinath, the first of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, remained soaked in various hues used for Mahamastakabhisheka. PTI
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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. PTI
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The monolithic statue stands as a testimony of ‘Tyaga’ (renunciation) and the message of ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) that embodies the Jain way of life. It was commissioned by Chavundaraya, minister and commander in the Ganga dynasty in 981 AD. PTI
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Lakhs of people are thronging Shravanabelagola in Haasan district, also known as ‘Jaina Kashi’, to participate in what is also called as ‘Jain Maha Kumbh’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to take part in the event on 19 February. Reuters
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