Jaina Gazette 1927

SR No.: 034889
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J L Jaini, Ajitprasad
Publisher: Jaina Gazettee Office
Publication Year: 1927
Total Pages: 568
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

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NOTES AND NEWS. glorious one, a sight which one cannot well afford to miss and which once seen cannot be easily forgotten. During the course of the procession His Highness paid a visit to His Holiness, Sri Charukirtipanditarya varya Swamigal of the Jain Mutt at Sravana Belgola where His Highness was welcomed with great honour in the orthodox manner in which the kings were greeted in ancient days, with Poornakumbha and others. Then His Highness the Maharaja was blessed and presented with rich shawls by His Holiness the Swamiji. which His Highness very magnanimously accepted.
MASTAKABISHEKA FESTIVAL. The greatest, grandest and the most sublime and memorable event took place on the 15th of March. Early in the morning people were found ascending the steep heights of Doddabetta or Vindyagiri shouting "Sri Gommatesvara Swamiki Jai " " Sri Bahubali Maharajki Jai.” About 9 in the morning all available space on the hill was fully occupied. It is estimated that not less than 5,000 people were seated in and on the mantap around the image. Tens of thousands of pilgrims were found on the Chandragiri and in the shade of trees anxiously waiting to see the puja (see plates 14 and 15). Plate 1 shows Sri Gommatesvara ready for the puja as seen in the morning sun on the 15th March.
It is said that the scaffolding was built at a cost of Rs. 10,000. The first puja was performed in the name of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore.
At about 9.30 a.m. the Mastakabishekam of Bhagwan Sri Gommatesvara began amidst the loud acclamations of bands, pipes and drums and the mingled shouts of Jail Jai.! As the colossal and majestic image was bathed with water, cocoanut meal, plantains, jaggery, ghee, sugarcane juice, almonds, dates, etc., in quick succession, the devout pilgrims found themselves transported to a land of immortality and joy. So inspiring, so grand, so puritying, so magnificent and so thought-stimulating was the highly impressive sight of the anointing ceremony of Sri Gommatesvara, a sight which recalled to the mind the gloriously memorable puja by Chamunda-Raya and the appearance of the Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat