GOMATESHWARA STATUE : SERENE SPLENDOUR
(By Subbaram Danda)
It is a grand spectacle par excellence that unfolds once in twelve years. The Mahamastakabhisheka or the great head anointing ceremony of the colossal statue of Jain saint Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola town in the state of Karnataka, India, is a major occasion eagerly looked forward to. Celebrities and people from far and wide irrespective of their own faith congregate in thousands to be a part of the unique and elaborate event.
As sacred chants and music electrify the atmosphere, priests and enthusiastic worshippers climb up the specially erected and tastefully decorated scaffold-steps carrying sanctified metal pots of water, milk, curds, turmeric, vermillion, flowers, gems, silver and gold coins. They pour the contents over the head of the monolithic granite statue 57 feet in height. The people gathered there watch with bated breath the contents of the pots fall in cascades down the body to the feet of the Lord and finally to the ground. This goes on and on. Spiritual fervour pervades the entire environment.
The festivities begin several days earlier with pujas, rituals and recitals from holy texts and conclude after a fortnight of the great event. Special trains and buses are arranged for visitors and tourists to come and participate in the celebrations.
Awe-inspiring
The imposing statue of Gomateshwara was erected in 981 AD atop Indragiri hill (also known as Vindhyagiri) during the reign of King Rajamalla of the Ganga dynasty by his commander and minister Chamundaraya. The chief sculptor was Aristanemi. The open-air statue is reached by climbing 700 steps cut on the mountain side.
Its dimensions are awe-inspiring. The height from the crown of the head to the earlobe is 7 feet and the length of each foot is 9 feet. The measurement between the shoulders is 26 feet. The statue is visible even from a distance of 30 kilometres. It is considered to be “the world’s largest monolithic statue” of its kind.
The graceful image in Digambara Jain style without any attire signifying detachment from worldly bonds stands radiating peace and serenity. The ascetic is portrayed as in deep and ever-lasting contemplation, unmindful of the happenings around--plants creeping over his body up to the arms or anthills mushrooming behind his feet.
Gomateshwara, who was known in his earlier days as Bahubali, was the second son of King Rishabhdev. After the lifetime of his father, Bahubali renounced his portion of the kingdom in favour of his elder brother Bharat in a noble gesture, despite establishing his superiority over him in a fight. He spent rest of his life as a recluse true to Jain tenets meditating till he attained Nirvana (emancipation from worldly travails) and sainthood.
Origin of statue
The legend of the statue is as absorbing as its grandeur. The religiously-devout mother of minister Chamundaraya had a dream, in which she saw in front of her a huge statue of Gomateshwara. She prevailed upon her son to take steps to erect one such. With the blessings of King Rajamalla, Indragiri hill was selected as the site for the purpose and work initiated on the statue.
The head anointing ceremony has been going on for centuries. But information about the first such occasion still remains in obscurity. An inscription talks about the ceremony having taken place in 1398 AD. There is also a mention in it of seven ceremonies performed prior to it.
In 1925 AD, Maharaja of Mysore Krishna Rajendra Wadiyar, it has been recorded, walked up the hill barefooted, witnessed the entire anointment ceremony, personally offered worship and did Sashtanga Namaskar (lying flat, face downwards and fully outstretched) before the image.
Flower shower from air
In independent India, the Mahamastakabhisheka was conducted in 1953 in the presence of then ‘Maharaja’ Jaya Chamarajendra Wadiyar. The next festival witnessed a new feature – Akasha Pushpavrishti. A helicopter showered large quantities of multi-coloured flowers, vermillion and saffron powders on the statue.
The 1981 function marked the 1000th anniversary of the consecration of the statue, attended by then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi. The first anointment ceremony of the 21st century was held in February 2006, whose inaugural ceremony was graced by then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The next one will take place in 2018.
In August 2007, readers of English daily “Times of India” selected the Gomateshwara statue as “the first of Seven Wonders of India.” The marvel received 49 per cent of the total votes.
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