After the successful car festival of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hill on Saturday, a sea of devotees congregated at Gommatagiri here on Sunday for the 63rd Mastakabhisheka to the Bahubali (Gommateshwara) statue at Bettaduru village, Bilikere hobli, in the taluk.
Seer Devendra Keerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji of Jain Mutt, Hombuja (Shimoga district), guided the devotees in conducting the rituals. Pashunatha of Chamalapura, H D Kote, N D Lokapal and 15 other priests were involved in the rituals that began from 10 am. The 18 feet tall statue shimmered in various colours with abhishekas (anointment) in various sacred fluids at 1.10 pm.
Devotees rented ‘jai bahubali’ in praise of the lord as they saw the monolithic structure drenched in different colours; from white to red to golden and other hues. The statue was anointed with holy water brought from river Ganga, milk, turmeric, kumkum, sandal, tender coconut water, kashaya and ashtagandha.
Known to be the only place where the mastakabhisheka is held every year — unlike Shravanabelagola which witnesses Mahamastakabhisheka only once in 12 years — the celebration has seen a considerable rise in pilgrims with each passing year. After getting immersed in various sacred fluids, abhishekas with flowers, sugar and puffed rice were offered to the lord. Prior to this, pancha kalashas and poorna kumbhas used for the abhishekas were auctioned. Speaking on the occasion, Devendra Keerthi Bhattaraka
Swamiji said the anointment dates back to 63 years from the erstwhile Wadiyars rule.
People from Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Maharashtra and other states throng the place. Apart from being a holy place, Gommatagiri is one among the best pilgrim centres in the State. He urged the government to concentrate on developing the area as it would be a centre of tourist attraction. Seer Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji of Shravanabelagola, president of Gommatagiri Kshetra Seva Samithi G A Suresh Kumar and others were present.
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