Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Feb 17: Thousands of people flocked Dharmasthala to fill their eyes with the scene of the huge monolith statue of Lord Bahubali there providing them breathtaking views in myriad hues and forms as the customary Mahamastakabhisheka began amid fanfare. As the ceremonial bath of the Lord who relinquished everything when he was at the zenith of success, which is happening after a gap of 12 years here, the crowd which was awaiting the event since long erupted with joy.

The grand Mahamastakabhisheka began after certain procedures at dawn on Saturday. People had thronged Ratnagiri Hill in Dharmasthala where the statue stands, crossing the barriers of caste, religion and faith, to be present there and have the feeling of the Lord's grace. The first of the Kalashas (pitchers) containing holy items blessed by the sages were offered by Dr Heggade family to the statue of Lord Bahubali on the first day. The ceremonial bath will continue n Sunday and Monday.

The statue's head is adorned by 64 curls of hair depicting 64 forms of education which the Lord had mastered. The liquid which was poured on the head of the statue provided a breath-taking view as the liquid offerings in different colours got sprayed on all directions after hitting these curls. Water and other substances poured over the head of the statue was collected by devotees at the bottom which was consumed by them in the form of blessed, holy water.

In the morning, the 'Agrodaka Procession' which left Chandranatha Swamy Basadi at Dharmasthala reached the hill at 7.45 am. The holy water was then collected in pitchers and carried atop the hill in palanquins. Decorated elephants added a touch of grandeur to the procession. Before this, Dr Veerendra Heggade offered prayers.

When the ceremonial bath began at 8.45 am, about 2,000 people had gathered. As the day progressed, thousands began to crowd the venue. The Jain Shravakas and Shravakis stayed at their places and discharged duties during the entire period of over five hours which took the ceremonial bath to complete on the first day. By 11 am, the entire hill was filled with a sea of humanity. As prayers and chanting continued, myriad things as per procedures including water, coconut water, sugarcane juice, milk, powdered stone, turmeric, special herbal concoction, saffron, sandal paste, flowers, garland etc were poured on the statue, the Lord presented himself in hundreds of ways. Sometimes he looked like having bathed in gold, and on some others, it looked as if the statue was floating amid clouds.

The event was graced by a large number of sages, Bharratakas and dignitaries.