Mahamastakabhisheka: devotees throng Karkala

April 27, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:41 am IST - Karkala (Udupi District):

The "kalashabhisheka" being performed to the statue of Lord Bahubali in Karkala on Sunday.

The "kalashabhisheka" being performed to the statue of Lord Bahubali in Karkala on Sunday.

The penultimate ‘Mahamastakabhisheka’ (anointing) ceremony of the 42-feet high statue of Lord Bahubali was held under the guidance of Charukeerti Bhattaraka Pattacharya Swami of Moodabidri Jain Mutt here on Sunday.

Last on April 29

The last Mahamastakabhisheka would be held here on April 29. After that devotees would have to wait for 12 years to watch this event.

The ceremony began at the Bahubali Betta at 3 p.m. with ‘agrodaka’ or religious procession from the Jain Mutt to the Bahubali Betta here. The ‘abhisheka’ was done on the statue with as many as 1,008 ‘kalashas’.

Each of these ‘kalashas’ represents certain beliefs in Jainism.

These beliefs are defined in terms of qualities or ‘gunas’. These qualities are related to ‘moksha’ or salvation and to the attainment of spirituality in this world.

The devotees worship these qualities of sacrifice and non-violence in the form of ‘abhisheka’.

This was followed by the abhisheka of tender coconut water, sugarcane juice, milk, ‘kalkachurna’, turmeric, ‘kashaya’, ‘chandan’, ‘srigandha’, powdered rice and ‘ashtagandha’. This was followed by abhisheka by flowers and coins. Jalabhisheka was performed after each of these abhishekas. Mango juice abhisheka was done to the feet of Lord Bahubali.

Conclusion

The ceremony concluded with garlanding of the statue and a ‘mangalarti’. The abshisheka of the ‘Nityotasava murthi’ was also conducted. Devotional songs were sung during the entire course of the ceremony.

Charukeerti Bhattaraka Pattacharyavarya Swami told presspersons here that it was necessary for all people to follow the ideals of Lord Bahubali.

The objective of the ceremony was world peace and harmony.

M.N. Rajendra Kumar, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said that the Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony had also helped in the development of Karkala town with the development of roads and improved drinking water facility.

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