Venur (Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka), January 28, 2012: As the sounds of ‘chende’ and ‘kombu’ reached a crescendo, marking the grand start of the nine day grand ritual of mahamasthakabhisheka here on Saturday, 3,500 devotees sitting in the main venue and another equal number outside raised their eyes skywards to have a look at the head anointing ceremony of the 35 foot high gigantic statue, erected in 1604 AD to commemorate Lord Bahubali’s supreme sacrifice of renouncing the throne in pursuit of eternal bliss and liberation.
This is the millennium’s second mahamasthakabhisheka to the Venur Bahubali, after the first one in the year 2000. The visual splendour, which comes once in 12 years, began at 8.15 pm when the 408-year-old, state’s fourth tallest monolith statue, was anointed first with 108 kalasha’s of water by the successor of Ajila Dynasty – which erected the Bahubali in 1604 AD – Dr Padmaprasad Ajila and his family.
Earlier the 108 kalasha’s filled ‘agrodaka’ from the well at Kallu Basadi, two furlongs from the main venue was brought in a procession at 8 pm. The pots filled with water were blessed during the Thorana Muhurat performed at Dhanur lagna of 4.20 am.
The mahamasthakabhisheka ceremonies to all Bahubali’s in this part of the state are held only at night due to the stifling heat during day time. Bhagavan Shri Bahubali Swami Mahamasthakabhisheka Committee Executive President V Dhananjaya Kumar says that it is so due to the humidity and the heat prevalent here. Jainism does not prohibit holding of ceremonies at night,” he said.
The ceremony, which takes place once in 12 years to signify the attainment of Kaivalyajnana by Bahubali after 12 months in meditation, has made the otherwise. – News Courtesy: Times of India