Karkala: The town is all set to hold the 11 days-long celebrations of “Mahamastakabhisheka” of Lord Bahubali. The celebrations will be inaugurated on January 21 said M N Rajendra Kumar working president of the Mahamastakabhisheka committee.
He was addressing the mediapersons at Mahamastakabhisheka office Karkala here on Monday January 19. Rajendra Kumar said that religious rituals will begin on January 21 with “Panchakalyana Kriyas” of Parshwanatha Thirthankara, and will end with “Kalasha Mahabhisheka” on January 31. The Mahamastakabhisheka will be inaugurated by Vajjubhai Vala GOverner of Karnataka at 3.00 pm on January 21.
More than 3 lakh pilgrims from all over the country and abroad are likely to witness the mahamastakabhisheka. Jain religious leaders will be present on the occasion.
A host of religious and cultural programmes showcasing the Jain community’s cultural traditions and spreading the message of peace, sacrifice and non-violence, will be organized on all the days. The ceremonial ablution or the Mahamastakabhisheka of the statue is held once in 12 years as per custom. This event of grandiose involves anointing of the statue with various ingredients or Dravyas namely water, tender coconut, milk, sugarcane juice, saffron and sandalwood paste.
The statue will also be sprinkled with turmeric powder and vermilion. Each ingredient or Dravya as it is known in local dialect, which is poured on the Lord, has its own significance. If water is meant to cleanse, sandalwood would spread the fragrance of Bahubali’s great virtues. Milk is a symbol of purity; sugarcane juice relieves hunger while choorna beautifies.
A metallic platform or elevation has been erected to facilitate devotees to take part in this anointment ceremony and also have a closer look at the gigantic statue which stands with all sereneness and calmness. Various pitchers or Kalashas grouped under different categories, are also being auctioned to generate revenue. There will be various cultural programmes on all days, while an Exhibition too has been arranged.
The 11-day Mahamastakabhisheka (anointment) ceremony to the 42-foot high monolithic stone image on top of a rocky hill is being held after 12 years. The semi-smiling statue of Bhagwan Bahubali was installed by king Veera Pandya at the instance of his guru and Jain pontiff of karkala Jain math, Sri Lalithakeerthi, in 1432. After Sharavanabelagola, the statue at karkala is the most beautiful; it is the third highest monolithic statue among the four bahubalis in Karnataka. The height of the statue at Shravanabelagola is 57 ft, followed by Dharmastala at 52 ft. the height of the Vennor statue is 36 ft. the rocky town of Karkala, surrounded by lofty ranges of the Sahyadri in the coastal district of Udupi, is attracting hundreds of Jain devotees.
Traffic Diversion:
Deputy Commissioner R Vishal has issued a notification diverting vehicular movement on certain roads and banning it on some roads. The spots for parking vehicles during the festival had been identified.
Accordingly, the movement of buses and four-wheelers is banned from Gas Godown-Gommata Betta Road. The movement of all incoming vehicles from Anekere to Gommata Betta is banned. Vehicular movement is banned on Anantashayana-Gommata Betta Road towards Dana Shale.
The movement of buses coming from Mangaluru, Padubidri, Kudremukh and Sringeri on the Gas Godown-Bhavani Junction-Anekere Road is banned.
Buses coming from Mangaluru, Padubidri, Moodbidri, Kudremukh and Sringeri to Karkala should use the Pulkeri bypass and enter through Taluk Junction-Bandimatha and reach Old Bus Stand.
Buses from Karkala towards Mangaluru, Padubidri, Moodbidri, Kudremukh and Sringeri should use the Market Road-Bandimatha Bus Stand Road-Taluk Junction-Pulkeri Junction Road.
The following arrangements had been made for parking of two-wheelers and four-wheelers during the festival.
Four wheelers should be parked at Anekere, while four-wheelers and two-wheelers should be parked at Gomateshwara Betta area. Only two-wheelers should be parked near Government Hospital.
Both four-wheelers and two-wheelers could be parked in front of the Indane Gas Godown. Only buses and two-wheelers should be parked at Padu Tirupati Maidan, while only four-wheelers could be parked in the Maidan in front of Lakshmi Kalyana Mantapa.
The four-wheeler and two-wheeler vehicles of the volunteers for the festival should be parked at the site near Rudrabhumi. The four wheeler vehicles of VIPs should be parked in the site in front of the Bahubali Pravachana Mandira.
Developmental works:
On the occasion of Mahamasthakabhisheka many developmental activities and welfare schemes are taken up by the Jaina Dharma Jeernodhara Sangha (Regd) Karkala. This includes the construction of Thyagi Bhavan for the service of Thaygies who visit Karkala regularly. The renovation of Karkala Danasala Jain Math has also been undertaken. The renovation and panchakalyana of Chathurmukh lake temple as well as surrounding 25 acre lake has been undertaken. Karkala has been a center for traditional learning as well as modern education for Jains since pre-independence days. Earlier the Jain rulers of Karkala patronized traditional learning and education activities at Karkala.
Necessary preparations are going on in full swing which includes the beautification of Bahubali hill, construction and repair of roads, extending drinking water facilities etc. Millions of devotees are expected to congregate in the town of Karkala during the 11 day long celebrations of Mhamasthakabhisheka. Members of the Jain community from all over the world are expected to participate in this holy event.
Jain spiritual leaders like Digambara Munies, Brammacharies and Swamijies would participate and bless the devotees during this occasion.
The government of Karnataka has released rupees 13.5 crores for the developmental works in Karkala town municipality limits. The road widening projects have been initiated from St. Lawrence Church Attur till Bahubali Hill. Toilets are being constructed by the Tourism department near the Bahubali hill, St Lawrence Church, Attur and Adinath Basadi costing Rs 42 lakh. The Minister for Urban Development and District in-charge Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, Dr R Vishal IAS (Deputy Commissioner, Udupi District) along with officials of the Archaeological Department have chaired 3 meetings to supervise the preparations of Mahamastabishekha. Attalige costing 50-60 lakh has been constructed which has been certified by NITK and Nitte. The funds are raised from various sources, each day of Mhamasthakabhisheka will incur cost of 15 lakh. Two Jain Munies will grace the occasion.
National and State leaders Participation:
Vajubhai Vala, Governor of Karnataka, will inaugurate the Mhamasthakabhisheka on January 21. Verendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala, will preside over the programme. The Jain Matha swamijis of 14 maths will also grace the occasion.
Siddaramaih, Chief Minister of Karnataka; Amith Shah, BJP National President; Najma Heptullah, Union Minority Affairs Minister; Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha MP; Vinay Kumar Sorake, Minister for Urban Development and Minister in Charge District; Abhayachandra Jain, Minister for Fisheries, Sports and Youth Services; Shobha Karandljae, MP Udupi-Chikkamagaluru LS Constituency; Sunil Kumar, MLA Karkala; Halady Shrinivas Shetty, MLA Kundapur; MP Veerappa Moily; Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies; Goapl Bhandary, Former MLA Karkala; U T Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare; Kimmane Rathnakar, Minister for Education; Rehmath; Surendra Kumar; Ramanath Rai, Minister for Forests; MP Nalin Kumar Kateel; MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik; MLA JR Lobo; Hemavathi V Heggade; Umashree, Minister for Women and Child welfare; Rani Satish former minister, Kagodu Timmappa, Speaker Legislative Assembly; Union Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda; Dr Mahesh Sharma; B L Shanker, MP Prahalad Joshi; M B Patil, Minister for Water Resources; D K Shivkunar, Minister for Power; S R Patil; MLA Pramod Madhwaraj; Dr Mohan Alva, Chairman Alva’s Educational Institutions, MLA Moideen Bava and other dignitaries will participate in the 11 day programme.
The cultural programmes will be held by regional and renowned artistes. Security arrangements are made under the supervision and direction of Annamalai IPS, SP Udupi. The 22 Jain Basadis are renovated and special prayer service is held to commemorate Mahamastabishekha. The surplus funds from Mhamasthakabhisheka will be utilized for building hostel for students.
M K Vijay Kumar General Secretary, Dr K Jeevandhar Ballal Treasurer, Gunapala Kadamba, media committee convenor, S D Sampath Samrajya Vice president, Mahaveera Hegde and others were present on the press meet.