Launching a special volume on the Mahamastakabhisheka of Gomateshwara — Summit of Peace, published by The Hindu Group of Publications — Charukeerthy Bhattaraka Swamy of the Jain Mutt termed the publication an Askhara Kalasha .
Speaking on Friday at an event held close to the footsteps of Vindhyagiri hills — the centre of the grand anointing ceremony scheduled for next week — the Seer said, “The actual anointing of the statue with kalashas (holy vessels) carrying holy liquids begins on February 17. However, The Hindu has begun the anointing ceremony with this Akshara Kalasha. ” The Seer recalled that during the Mahamastakabhisheka held in 1910, a news agency based in Chennai (then Madras) had trained a pigeon to carry news reports from Shravanabelagola to Chennai.
“The news reports were tied to the pigeon soon after Mahamastakabhisheka held and the very next day the reports were carried. The media has played a major role in attracting a large crowd to this place during this occasion,” he said.
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Rare photographs
Lauding the publication, the Seer said the book covered all aspects of the event and contained several rare photographs.
“The mutt will give copies of the books to dignitaries at the event,” he said.
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Those interested in obtaining a copy of the book, priced at ₹ 200, can contact 99022-10678.
Copies can also be purchased online at www.thehindu.com/publications