My World

So the once in 12 years grand occasion of Mahamastakabhisheka was started. The occasion was inaugurated by honourable President of India Ram Nath Kovind on 7th Feb and attended by many dignitaries including Prime Miniter Narendra Modi over the days of celebration. 

We were part of the celebration with invite from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to cover the occasion. While hubby had moved to Bangalore in January, I managed to fly to Bangalore for a weekend from Pune to attend the celebration. We drove to Hassan the previous day to collect our passes, stayed there for a night and drove to Shravanbelagola the next morning. Being the initial 10 days of celebration, the entry was strictly for media and pass holders who had bought the Jalabhisheka and Panchamrutha Abhisheka in auction. Even with the hot and humid weather, people gathered in thousands to attend the celebration. The celebration started with jalabhisheka(water) followed by Panchamrutha Abhisheka with milk, sugarcane juice, rice atta, tender coconut water, sandalwood paste, saffron paste ending with flowers, garland and aarti. 

The temple town of Shravanabelagola gets its name from its pond, Kalyani. Belagola or Bili kola meaning white pond, which became Shravanabelagola, with the visit of many jain monks called Sharavanas. The pond which is said to have been formed by the milk poured by Gullakayajji(visit the link to know the story) on Bahubali idol on Vindhyagiri Hill.

As we ascend the Vindhyagiri hill further ahead of Odegal Basadi and take few steps, we stand in front of the Akhanda Bagilu or the Monolothic Gateway. Carved out of a single boulder, the gateway has  Gajalakshmi panel above the door lintel. Goddess Lakshmi is seated on a lotus, flanked by two elephants who anoint the goddess with pots in their trunks. Crocodiles and lions form the upper part of the panel. Showcasing one of the best craftsmanship of Ganga dynasty, this is considered to be one of the finest and largest reliefs of Gajalakshmi in the country.

 On either side of the gate way are small shrines dedicated to Bharatha and Bahubali. A big boulder adjoining the left shrine has inscriptions and carvings of many Jain monks. They are said to be Bharatha's sons, called Mooka Makkalu or dumb children. While few call them dumb, other write ups say, they kept silent by choice. All these monks are said to have attained enlightenment with their grand father, the first thirthankara, Adhinatha.

While the doorway is assigned to 980AD, the two shrines are said to be added around 1130AD by Bharathamayya, a general of king Hoysala Vishnuvardhana.


Check our the complete Mahamasthakabhisheka Series here.

 After the completion of the carving of the Bahubali idol, Chamundaraya arranged for the first Mahamastakabhisheka, the grand celebration. People gathered in thousands to have a glimpse of the idol which everyone was speaking about. An idol which was one of the best of its times. Chamundaraya had no limits to his pride, of getting the idol carved. Vessels of milk were carried up the hill to perform the ritual. The ceremony started and the milk was poured on the idol vessel after vessel. To everyone's surprise, the milk never reached the foot of the idol, it flowed down the head, face, chest and disappeared as a miracle before reaching the foot. More milk was poured to wet the idol, but everything went vain. Nobody could trace what the reason was. An old lady carried a cup of milk and wished to offer the blessing of the lord by pouring the milk on the idol. People laughed at her, but later allowed. To the surprise of everyone, a cup of milk poured by the old lady gushed from the idol's head like a stream past the feet and flowed down the hill to form the pond of milk at the foot of the Vindhyagiri Hill. So did the temple town get its name Belagola or Bili Kola meaning white pond or milky pond in Kannada. This incident broke Chamundaraya's pride, his pride of getting one of the biggest and beautiful idols carved. He immediately bowed down to the idol and asked for his forgiveness, the Mastakabhisheka was done with devotion. 

'Bahubali', which means 'one with strong arms' "Bahubali Bhagwanka Masthakabhishek, Masthakabhishek Mahamasthakabhishek"

The song which every jain kid like me knows and recalls the Mahamasthakabhisheka, everytime he/she hears it. 

Mahamasthakabhisheka is a celebration, a festivity which every Jain waits for, a celebration, celebrated once in every 12 years. The celebration, where the 57ft tall Monolithic idol is bathed(abhisheka) with pure water, milk, sugarcane, tender coconut water, khashaya(water with mixed herbs), rice flour, sandalwood paste, saffron paste, turmeric paste ending with sprinkling of fresh flowers so called pushpa rushti.

For me, I have heard about Mahamasthakabhisheka from my great grandmom, grand parents and my parents, the celebrations from 1953, 1967, 1981 and 1993, 2006 which I have witnessed myself. While my grandmom narrated the stories of her homestay in Shravanbeloga for months during 1953 Mahamasthakabhisheka, I myself recall my memories of 1993, when we used to visit our grand parents in Shravanabelagola almost every weekend during the six months long celebration.

As you climb up the hill, Chikkabetta/Chandragiri and the pond as seen from Vindhyagiri

Shravanbelagola is a Jain pilgrimage in the southern part of Karnataka state of India. Nestled between two hills Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri, the place was called Belagola/Bili gola meaning white pond in Kannada, for the pond it has, later became Shravanabelagola, with the visit of many Jain monks(Shravan) to this place. It is known for the 57ft tall granite Monolithic statue of Gommateshwar Bhagwan Bahubali at the summit of Vindhyagiri.

The first glimpse of the idol as you enter the final fortress.

The history of the statue and celebration dates back to 981AD. Chamundaraya, was the Prime Minister in the kingdom of King Rachamalla of Ganga dynasty. His mother Kalaladevi who had heard about Emerald statue of Bahubali at Paudanapura, wanted to visit Paundanapur to have a look. She vowed of not having even a cup of milk till she saw the statue of Bahubali. While nobody knew where Paudanapura was, some assumed it had drowned and few thought it was in thick forests. With his mother's determined vow to see the idol, Chamundaraya along with his mother and few followers went in search of Paudanapura. While they camped at the foothills of Vindhyagiri during their search, Chamundaraya had a dream. In his dream goddess Kushmandinidevi appeared and told him to shoot an arrow to the boulder at the summit of Vindhyagiri which would highlight the boulder with the statue of Bhagawan Bahubali. Chamundaraya when woke up went with his dream and an arrow was shot at the boulder on Vidhyagiri, which resembled the one seen in his dream. Soon the rock slit and a beautiful image of Bahubali was visible. It was now to be carved into an idol, the hill which was full of pits,stones and thorny shrubs was cleared to get to the top to work. Soon the best of the best sculpturers Harishtanemi  was hired to carve the idol. It took 12 years for the statue to be carved and perform the first Mahamasthakabhisheka in 981AD.
Then after the ritual of bathing the idol once in every 12 years had been practised. Its just not ritual, but this bathing with milk, herbs, saffron and other liquids increases the longevity of the granite idol which has survived the wildest winds, rains and sun over the years.

57ft tall magnificent monolothic statue of Bhagawan Bahubali

Bowing at the foot of this magnificent idol, would wash away all sins.

The anthills, creepers which grew on this body, while he stood in deep penance

 You need to climb 647 steps to reach the idol. Apart from the Bahubali idol, there are eight small and large temples, four mantaps, two ponds, five gateways or fortresses, three pillars, two arches and 172 inscriptions. These, in Kannada, Sanskrti, Marvadi Mahajani, Tamil and Marathi, date from the late 10th to 19th century A.D.

Travel Tips:
Shravanabelagola is 157 km from Bangalore and 52 km from Hassan
By Road: Shravanabelagola is well connected by direct buses from Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan. You can also take any bus playing between Bangalore-Mangalore, Bangalore-Hassan and get down at Channarayapatna, which is 12km and take another bus to Shravanabelagola. But check prior boarding these buses, as these days the buses are non stop and do not stop in Channarayapatna.
By Train: Shravanabelagola has railway station and there are trains, playing to Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan.
By Air: Nearest Airport is Bangalore Airport which is around 165km.

Accommodation:
There are yatri niwas and rooms for Jain in Shravanabelagola, for non-jain if you are looking for neat and good stay options, stay at Hassan which is 52km.

This is 2006 Mahamasthakabhisheka pic I had clicked then with my Nokia 6600, remember the best camera phone of that time

Mahamasthakabhisheka Mahotsava is scheduled from 17th Feb to 25th Feb 2018. There will be daily rituals for these nine days and then on based on sponsors for next few months, you can call and check at 081762 57258


Check our the complete Mahamasthakabhisheka Series here.