Dharmasthala, Karnataka, 3rd February 2019: The Mahamasthakabhisheka, a religious bathing ritual for the 39-feet tall Bahubali statue located at Dharmasthala in Karnataka will be held next week.
Speaking to media personnel, the Dharmadhikari of the Dharmasthala temple, Sri Veerendra Heggade, informed that more than three million devotees from across the country and abroad, are expected to witness the mega religious event.
Informing that the preparations are underway as lakh of devotees will take part in Mahamastakabhisheka he said that the Scaffolding work for the anointment event of Lord Bahubali at Dharmasthala is underway.
In 1973 a statue of Lord Bahubali, carved out of a single rock, was installed at Dharmasthala on a low hill near the Manjunatha temple. It is about 39 feet (12 m) high with a pedestal of 13 feet wide and weighs about 175 tonnes. This is one of the five stone statues of Bahubali in Karnataka.
This was the fourth Mahamastakabhisheka of Gomateshwara since its installation in 1975, he said. The previous Mahamastakabhishekas were held in 1982, 1995 and 2007.As many as 200 saints, Jain Munis and Mathajis will take part in the Mahamastakabhisheka, he said.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has promised to attend the Mahamastakabhisheka.
The Governor, Chief Minister and Ministers are also likely to attend the event. He said the Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in the presence of 108 Vardhamana Sagarji
Muni, 108 Pushpadanta Sagara Muni, Aryika Mathaji under the guidance of Shravanabelagola Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami. The PWD is taking up development works worth Rs 23.50 crore in Dharmasthala. The District in Charge Minister U T Khader said that Rs 2 crore will be sanctioned for taking up beautification work by the tourism department. Additional 50 KSRTC buses will be deployed from different parts of the state to Dharmasthala during Mahamasthakabhisheka he added. – News Courtesy: UNI