Book Title: Gommateshvara Commemoration Volume
Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi

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Page 128
________________ World's Greatest Sculptural Colossus Completes a thousand years Length of the great toe : Breadth across the shoulder: Breadth across the pelvis: Length of the forefinger: Length of the third finger: 2' 9" 20' 2 Jain Education International 13' 3' 6" 4' 7" Normally once in 12 years festival of worship called Mahamastakabhiseka (head annointing ceremony) is performed for the statue. During which a powerful scaffolding is erected behind the statue to facilitate the priests and devotees to worship the God by pouring milk, and other materials over the head. During the previous Mahamastakabhiseka Aeroplanes and Helicopters showered flowers and garlands from the sky over the statue. In February 1981, the statue completes a thousand years of its phenomenal existence since its inception which will be celebrated by the State Government and devotees on a grand scale during which period millions of devotees and tourists gather in this town to witness the event. For Private & Personal Use Only 95 The unique features of the Gommatesvara statue are: 1. The statue is a sculptured out of the summit of the hill. 2. The entire statue is made up of a single rock which is 57 feet tall. 3. The statue was sculptured one thousand years ago during which there was no modern equipment. 4. The sculptors have remained anonymous. The sculpture of Gommatesvara 1000 years ago (974 A. D. to 981) in Sravanabelgola definitely surpasses 'World's most heroic sculpture of the Giant American President faces over Mount Rushmore in South Dakota of United States carved between 1927-1941 A. D. www.jainelibrary.org

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