Lord gets a bath in Venoor

Chief Minister inaugurates Mahamasthakabhisheka celebrations

As the dusk gained entry, the tinsel town Venoor located about 55 kms away from Mangalore wore a festive look as the 35 feet monlith statue of Bahubali was all set to get the Mahamasthakabhisheka after a gap of 12 years. Thousands of devotees from across the nation had gathered at this small town only to witness the second Masthakabhisheka of the century in Dakshina Kannada district.

After the early rituals held on Saturday morning, the Maha Majjana of Bahubali commenced on Saturday evening. Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda formally inagurated the event and sought the blessings of Bahubali. The successor of Aladangadi Palace Dr Padmaprasad Ajila led the events as it was he who anointed the Bahubali by pouring water on the monolith.

The statue wore different colours as it was anointed with different varieties of elements. The statue was anointed with 108 Kalashas of water to begin the ritual which was followed by anointing with 200 litres of tender coconut water and sugercane juice, 600 litres of milk, 30 kg of rice powder, 60 kg turmeric paste, 200 litres of Kashaya and sandalwood paste, 60 kg of Ashtagandha and finally showering with flowers. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, one of the devotees Shantha Prasad from Bangalore said that it is for the second time he and his family had come to Venoor and they were excited as they got an opportunity to anoint the monolith on the first day itself.

“We would anoint the Bahubali with water and we want the God to bless us with good life,” he said.

On asked about the relevance of Mahamasthakabhisheka held in the evening on contrary to the Abhisheka held in the broad day light in most of other places, Prashanath Balanja from Belthangady said that the seers and Theerthankaras themselves have accepted this procedure. “It is all about ‘Anukula Shastra’. The hills atop will be humid during the day time making it difficult for the devotees to perform the ritual. Therefore, the amendemnt made here in Venoor is about convenience and at times conveinince should be given significance,” he said.

A group of elderly women from Hassan in fact loved the Masthakabhsieheka held in the evening.

“It is nice to see Bahubali statue annointed with water and colours when the darkness peeps in,” said a woman who also said that she would stay in Venoor for next eight days to witness Maha Majjana.

A huge Attalige that has been thoughtfully created behind the Gommateshwara allows the devotees to stand and annoint the monolith. The devotees will be allowed to annoint the statue on the last day, that is, on February 5.

It is for the fourth time that the Bahubali in Venoor betta is annointed, after the previous one in the year 2000.

Jain seers Acharya Gunadhara Nandi Maharaj, Munishree Pavanakeerthi Sagara Maharaj blessed the occasion. The students of Kadri Nritya Vidyalaya in Mangalore beautifully presented a dance ballet- Dharma Darshan-Bharath Bahubali, in the evening.

Chronology of events

3.30 am - The statue of the Chatturvimshanti Theerthankara, Sarvanya Yaksha and Parshwanath Swami idols were brought in three palanquins from Kallu Basadi to Parshwanath Basadi. The procession was accompanied by Charukeerthi Bhattaraka  Swamiji of Moodbidri and Aladanagadi Palace Thimmannarasa Dr Padmaprasad Ajila

4.45 am - The priests were offered ‘Deeksha’ to perform prayers for the next nine days.

5.15 am - ‘Kankan’ or gold bangles were given to eight couples who are the main ‘Sevakarthrs’ of Mashthakabhisheka. The first part of the ritual ended at 5.45 am.

8 am - The priests who perform prayers were offered with ‘Phala Thamboola,’ and receiving the same, they began ‘poojas’. It was held till 11.30 am.

12.15 pm - After a break, various pooja and other rituals began again and the rituals were held in the basement of Bahubali statue till 3.30 pm.

6.30 pm - Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda inaugurated Mahamasthakabhsisheka ceremony

8 pm - The descendants of Thimmannajila Arasa Dr Padmaprasad Ajila initiates Mahamasthakabhisheka by pouring water on the monolith using the Kalasha.

9.30 pm - After anointed with water from 108 kalashas, the 35-foot tall monolith in Venoor is anointed with tender coconut, milk etc.