Shrikshetra –Shravanabelagola (Mahamastakabhisheka)

The magnificent statue of Bahubali, standing majestically tall, serene and pious at the Vindhyagiri hillock at Shravanabelagola, the sacred city of artistic splendour, is known

for the reverential mega event, Mahamasthabhisheka, that happens once in 12 years. The Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind ji inaugurated the 88th Mahamastakabhisheka on the 7th February, this year.

This highly reverential, 12 years cyclical, Mahamastakabhisheka (head anointment) ceremony is continuing ever since the 18 (54.8 feet) metre tall statue of lord Bahubali, the son of the first Jain Tirthankaras, was majestically carved from a single rock with artistic finesse, associated with Jain art and architecture since 983 AD at Shravanabelagola.

The Mahamasthabhisheka, exemplifies the spiritual beliefs of hundreds of thousands of Jains and others that is expressed in Jain artistic traditions, at this sanctified, reverential pilgrimage place, Shravanabelagola, where millions will congregate from across India and abroad to pay their reverential homage to the lord Bahubali during the Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony from 7th to 26th February.

Legend has it that Ganga Ruler Rachamallas’s able General and commander in chief Chavundaraya’s mother, Kalala Devi, saw a huge statue of Lord Gomateshwara in her dreams. She vowed not to eat until her dream was translated into a physical reality. In the true spirit of centuries old Indian culture, which documents reverential obeisance for mothers in India (mathrudevobhava), the obedient son, Chavundaraya, pledged to bring to life the dream of his mother to build the statue of Lord Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola. This site was already sanctified by the Jains dating back to the 4th century BC, when the venerable Acharya Shruthkevalin Bhadrabahu came from the distant land of Magadha to this place accompanied by the erstwhile Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and twelve thousand of his followers. While the followers dispersed southwards to carry the message of Jainism, Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya stayed back and sanctified the small hill with their austerities and samadhi-marana. In the centuries that followed seven hundred monks committed samadhi-marana and added to the spiritual aura of the Shrikshetra –Shravanabelagola.

The Indian Culture has been admirably enriched by the Jain Heritage, the evidence of which can be seen across India including at Shravanabelagola. The richly illustrated publication from the Marg publication titled “Homage to Shravanabelagola” is testimony to this. I am told there is another important publication, “ Sacred Splendours of Shravanabelagola” that will be released during the current Mahamasthabhisheka, which will further testify the importance and the spiritual significance of this historic place which millions of devotees of the Bahubali will be visiting over the next few days.

I wish all the devotees a safe darshan of the Bahubali.