Rediff.com
Shravanbelagola, Feb 8: The millennium's first Mahamastakabisheka, the head anointing ceremony of Lord Bahubali, a revered Jain icon, began Wednesday amidst prayers and monks taking part in bathing the world's tallest free standing statue with a steady stream of holy water and milk.
The day-long ceremony started with the designated Jain monks, led by Charukeerthi Bhattarka, carrying the holy water of Agrodaka from the Digambar Jain mutt to the venue on Vindyagiri Hills. Chanting hymns, the pontiff filled a giant pot with rice and sealed it with a silver coconut, signalling the commencement of the spectacular event.
At the auspicious moment, Acharya 108 Vardhaman Sagar along with Charukeerthi Swami hoisted the first pot on the shoulders of Ashok Kumar Patni, a devotee from Rajasthan, who had the privilege of pouring the first stream of holy water on the head of the 57-foot statue.
Devotees clad in saffron and white apparel dotted the entire Chandragiri and Vindhayagri Hills and adjoining areas to witness the grand event, held once in 12 years during a period of rare astrological significance.
As the bugle and trumpets sounded, marking the grand ritual, thousands of devotees raised their eyes skywards to have a look at the anointing of the gigantic statue, erected in 981 AD to commemorate Lord Bahubali's supreme sacrifice of renouncing the throne in pursuit of eternal bliss and liberation.
As the quadrangle in front of the statue decorated with strings of fresh marigold and green leaves reverberated with the chanting of hymns by Jain monks, groups of selected devotees made their way up the scaffolding to pour water on the head of Lord Bahubali.
The premises was dotted with huge containers carrying milk, turmeric paste, rice flour, sugarcane juice, kashya (a herbal concotion) and ashtagandha (eight varieties of sandalwood paste), to be used during the day long ritual. Around 108 pots of water, 500 pots of coconut offerings, 300 pots of milk, 25 kg of coloured sandalwood paste, 25 kg of mixed sandalwood paste and 25 kg of herbal mixture will be poured out on the statue in addition to a shower of gold and silver flowers.
Even as the rituals were carried out as per tradition, a 6,000 plus police force, along with 16 state reserve police platoons and 22 district armed platoons, stood guard and guided devotees thronging the venue for the special occasion.
The 618 steps leading to the statue was brimming with a steady stream of devotees, who made their way enthusiastically to occupy every vantage point, from where they could have a bird's eye view of the ceremony. Special arrangements had been made for the devotees, who are expected to touch the 30 lakh mark during the 12 days of festivity by providing special accommodation, health and sanitation facilities in and around the venue. Over Rs 100 crore had been earmarked for infrastructure development around the venue in view of the event.