Jain Journal 1981 04

SR No.: 520062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 79
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 62

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JAIN JOURNAL
"The 14th March last was the day of anointing for the statue of Gommatesvara. It was a great day, in anticipation of which 20,000
ilgrims gathered there from all parts of India. There were Bengalis there, Gujaratis also, and Tamil people in great numbers. Some arrived a full month before the time and the stream continued to flow until the afternoon of the day of the great festival. For the whole month there was daily worship in all the temples and pāda-pūjā or worship of the feet of the great idol besides. On the great day, the 14th, the people began to ascend the hill even before dawn in the hope of securing good places from which to see everything. Among them were large numbers of women and girls in very bright attire, carrying with them brass or earthen pots. By 10 O'clock all available space in the temple enclosure was filled. Opposite the idol an area of 40 square feet was strewed with bright yellow paddy, on which were placed, 1,000 gaily painted earthenware pots, filled with sacred water, covered with cocoanuts and adorned with mango leaves. Above the image was scaffolding, on which stood several priests, each having at hand pots filled with ghee, milk and such like things. At a signal from the Kolhapur Svami, the master of the ceremonies, the contents of these vessels were poured simultaneously over the head of the idol. This was a sort of preliminary bath, but the great bath took place at 2 O'clock. Amid the horrible dissonance of many instruments, the thousand pots already mentioned were lifted as if by magic from the reserved area to the scaffolding and all their contents poured over the image, the priests meanwhile chanting texts from the sacred books. Evidently the people were much impressed. There were mingled cries of 'Jai Jai Maharaja', and 'Ahaha, Ahaha', the distinctive exclamation of Northern and Southern Indians to mark their wonder and approval. In the final anointing, fifteen different substances were used, namely, water, cocoanut meal, plantains, jaggery, ghee, sugar, almonds, dates, poppy seeds, milk, curds, sandal, gold flowers, silver flowers, and silver coins. With the gold and silver flowers there were mixed nine varieties of precious gems; and silver coins to the amount of Rs. 500 completed the offering.”
On both sides of the image of Gommata, a little to the front, are two cāmara bearers, about 6 feet high, beautifully carved and richly ornamented, the one to the right being a male yakșa and the other a female yakşi. To the left of the colossus is a circular stone basin called Lalitha Sarovara (or the lovely pond), the name being engraved on the ant-hill opposite to it, which receives the water used for the sacred bath of the image. There is a scale engraved near the left foot of Gommata measuring 3 feet 4 inches. But it is not known which of the standard measures it represents. To the right and left of Gommata, on the ant-hills are engraved