The ingredients required for the grand anointing ceremony of the Gomateshwara statue atop Vindhyagiri in Shravanabelagola — milk, red sanders, coconuts, among others — are being procured from various sources, some at a cost and others free.
The Jain Mutt has made arrangements with the Karnataka Milk Federation for milk supply; the Forest Department to get two tonnes of red sanders from Andhra Pradesh, and many donors have come forward to offer kesari (saffron), tender coconut water, and sugarcane juice.
Every morning about 600 litres of milk are required for the anointing ceremony which will be kept ready on the scaffolding,” P.Y. Rajendra Kumar, chief convener of the publicity committee of the Jain Mutt, told The Hindu .
“The anointing ceremony will be held from February 17 to 25. The day starts with rituals at 7 a.m. The actual anointment begins at 2 p.m. On the first day, water kept in 108 kalashas (holy vessels) will be poured on the statue. This will be followed by Panchamrutha Abhisheka when the statue is anointed with ingredients – milk, coconut water, sandalwood paste, saffron, rice flour, sugarcane juice among other items,” said Mr. Kumar.
As for coconuts, many growers in Hassan, Tumakuru and Mandya districts have come forward to offer their coconuts free. A devotee from Tumakuru is said to have offered saffron (powder) from Kashmir worth ₹5 lakh.
Devotees can take part in the anointing ceremony by purchasing kalashas offered by the mutt. Charukeerthy Bhattaraka Swami of the mutt has decided to spend the money earned by offering kalashas to build a 200-bed hospital in Shravanabelagola. The first kalasha on the first day is said to have been taken by a businessman for a very high price.
