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JA INA
2015
T
144
Jain Education International 2010_03
the stone and sculpt a colossal statue of Lord Bahubali in the boulder atop the hill.
In 981 A.D. the statue was completed and its consecration rites were organised. The ritual of lustration was to take place before dawn and Chamundaraya stood behind the statue to perform the maha-mastakabhisheka (head annointing) ceremony. He poured pails of milk, but the milk would not descend below the navel of the image. He poured more and more, but the milk would not go any further. Frustrated, he was at a loss as to what should be done, when an old woman holding in her hand the shell of the small gulla fruit filled with milk, appeared in front of him and asked him if she could perform the annointment ceremony. Though surprised at her naivete, Chamundaraya graciously agreed and was astounded to see that the few ounces of milk bathed the statue completely. At that moment, Chamundaraya realized that his pride at having created this monumental statue had come in the way of his worship. Intuitively, he understood that the old woman was none other that Goddess Ambika herself. He once again approached the statue with all humility and poured a pail of milk which not only covered the statue but ran down the hill into the pond.
Chamundaraya built a temple on the opposite hill and appointed a Bhattaraka to administer the religious institutions at the site. In the centuries that followed, many temples were built at the base of the two hills, as also on their slopes and summits. A little town grew around the temples as the place began to acquire importance as at pilgrimage centre.
Every twelve years, the quiet little town of Shravana Belgola comes alive when the ritual of maha-mastakabhisheka is re-enacted and throngs of pilgrims descend on this temple-town to witness one of the most spectacular Jain rituals. During the ceremony barrels containing milk, other substances including liquid made of yellow turmeric paste, liquid made from red sandle-wood paste, liquid made of sarvaushadhi (medicinal plants) paste are poured on the statue one after the other. The bathing of the statue in different colours, the music, the incense and the chanting of mantras create an atmosphere that is truly "out of this world" in its beauty and spirituality.
The legends, the history and the ceremony of the mastakabhishek at Shravana Belgola will form the subject of my talk illustrated with colour slides.
Extending Jain Heritage in Western Environment
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