Countdown begins for grand anointing of Bahubali

Mangalore, January 27: With just 24-hours left for the grand anointing (Maha mastakabhisheka) of the 35-foot tall monolithic statue of Bahubali, at historical Venoor town in Belthangady taluk, devotees from across the country have begun to arrive in large numbers.

The nine-day long ritual, scheduled to begin at 4 am on January 28, is expected to attract about three lakh people from all over India, especially from North India. It will be inaugurated by Chief Minister D?V?Sadananda Gowda at 3.30 pm on the same day.

Executive President of the Mahamasthakabhisheka Committee V Dhananjaya Kumar (who is also the special representative of Karnataka in Delhi), said that the anointing will be done between 7 pm and 10 pm on all days, though the prayers would begin in the wee hours everyday during the nine days.

Stating that the anointing of the monolith will be done on the first day by the descendants of Thimmannajila Arasa (Dr Padmaprasad Ajila is the 24th descendant), he said the donors and members of the public would be allowed to anoint on the last day (February 5) of Mahamastakabhisheka. The State government had released a sum of Rs 2 crore during the term of then chief minister B?S?Yeddyurappa.

Charukeerthi Pandithacharyavarya Swami of Moodbidri Jain Mutt said each day, the monolith would be anointed with water of 200 tender coconuts, 450 litres of milk, 30 kg rice powder, 70 kg turmeric, 10 litres 'kashaya,' 5 kg pure sandalwood paste, 20 kg diluted sandalwood paste, 250 litre sandalwood oil and 40 kg 'chandana,' among other ingredients.

The anointing will be done with 108 kalashas (pots) during the first five days, which will be followed by 216 pots during the next two days, 504 pots on the eighth day and 1008 Kalashas on the last day.

All the ceremonies will be held under the guidance of munis - Acharya Sri 108 Gunadaranandi Maharaja, Acharya Sri 108 Sudesh Sagar Muni Maharaj, Munisri 108 Pavanakeerthi Munimaharaj and 105 Aaryeeka Sri Jinavani Mathaji.

Going by the history, Thimmannajila Arasa installed the Bahubali statue in Venoor on the banks of Phalguni river in 1604 AD. The first Masthakabhisheka was held in 1928 followed by the second ceremony in 1956 and the third one in 2000.

The 'Pratham Kalasha,' which will be used to anoint the Lord Bahubali on the final day of the 'Mahamastakabhisheka' (Feb 5), the first Kalasha among 1008 Kalashas, has been bought by Delhi-based businessman R?K?Jain for Rs 11 lakh.

There are other Kalashas available too and they include Shathamana Kalasha - Rs five lakh (denoting five centuries of installation of the monolith); Rathna Kalasha - Rs three lakh; Amrutha Kalasha - Rs 2,55,555; Suvarna Kalasha - Rs 1,11,111; Rajatha Kalasha - Rs 55,555; Dhavala Kalasha - Rs 25,555; Shanthi Kalasha - Rs 11,111; Janamangala Kalasha - Rs 5,555; and Bhakthi Kalasha - Rs 2,555. However, most of them have already been sold out.