Gommatagiri (Hunsur Taluk, Mysore District, Karnataka), October 28, 2012: Religious fervor and gaiety marked the masthakabhisheka (head anointing) ceremony of Gomateshwara statue at Gomatagiri near here on Sunday. Today’s head anointing ceremony was the 63 in a row . More than 15000 Jain pilgrims from Hassan, Mysore and Chamarajnagar districts and people from surrounding villages witnessed this religious event . This year many Jain community people from other states were noticed taking part in the ceremony.
Though mahamasthakabhisheka of Gomateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola is celebrated once in twelve years , this ceremony is carried out every year by the Hombuja Jain mutt and Kanakagiri Jain mutt authorities and seers of both the mutts preside over the ceremony and supervised the rituals.
Gomateshwara statue was anointed with milk, sandal , vermillion and turmeric before performing the pooja of the statue much to the reverberating sounds of mantras and slokas chanted by the Jain priests . Many devotees offered floral tributes and pooja to the padas( feet) of Gomateshwara before climbing to anoint the deity.
Kalasas carrying the sacred water, milk, vermilion and other articles used for the anointing were auctioned before the anointing ceremony was inaugurated and devotees actively participated in the bidding as the belief is that lord Gomateshwara will bestow bounty on those who bid the Kalasas for highest value.
Speaking on the occasion, Deevendrakeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji the Seer of Hombuja Jain mutt Shimoga urged the government to explore the tourism potential of this picturesque place surrounded by hillocks as tourists from north India who visit the place are forced to put their stay at Mysore . People has no problem in stay at Mysore, but the devotees who want to perform rituals and fulfill their religious vows have to stay and spend a night at the spot. Lack of facilities has left inconvenienced them, he regretted adding that Jain community devotees are ready to share the responsibility with the government if the latter works out a plan of action to develop facilities at this hillock .
Couple of Jain community leaders from Mysore said after Devaraj Urs no body evinced interest in the development of this pilgrim cum tourist spot. However KSRTC had made special bus arrangements for the occasion. – News Courtesy: Times of India