Jain fest begins with religious fervour

Bangalore: The first Mahamastakabhisheka of this millennium is taking place at Shravana-belagola in Karnataka.

Mahamastakabhisheka is the head-anointing ceremony of Lord Bahubali's statue.

Bahubali was the king of Podanpur and the younger of the two sons of the first Jain Tirthankar, Rishabhdev.

The ceremony started with much pomp and religious fervour with the pouring of the first Kalash of holy water.

This was followed by the ritual bathing of the statue with milk, ghee, coconut water, curd, flower, turmeric paste, saffron and sandalwood paste.

The ceremony will go on till February 19 and over 30 lakh people are estimated to be participating in the ceremony.

Mahamastakabhisheka is held once in 12 years and the state government will release Rs 25 crore to create infrastructural facilities for the visiting pilgrims during the religious mega event.

The 57 feet, 1025-year-old monolithic stone sculpture of Lord Bahubali symbolises renunciation, self-control and subjugation of ego as the first steps towards salvation.

The digambara (nude) form of Bahubali represents the victory over earthly desires which according to Jainism hampers spiritual ascent towards divinity.

Various cultural programmes and speeches from learned scholars will also take place during the event.