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GLOBAL NEWS : INDIA
the grey-black statue of Bahubali changed
108-FEET-HIGH MONUMENT TO NAVKAR MANTRA INAUGURATED
colour from white, crimson, brown to chrome yellow, depending upon the substance used for the abhishek - either milk, vermilion, turmeric, sandalwood paste, sugarcane juice or coconut water. Each substance has its own significance. Water signifies cleansing, sandalwood paste is to spread the fragrance of Bahubali's virtues, milk is a symbol of purity and sugarcane juice relieves hunger. A scientific explanation is available as to why these liquids and pastes are used, and it is believed that the chemical properties of these substances provide the granite statue with a protective coating from rain and sunlight for 12 years until the next Mahamastakabhishek. It was the desire of King Veera Pandya, who installed the Bahubali statue in 1432, that the Mahamastakabhishek of Bahubali be ceremonially performed every 12 years so that the tradition of religious devotion is sustained. A special cover and special cancellation (rubber stamp) was issued by the Indian Postal Authority at the famous Jain pilgrimage centre Karkala, Karnataka on the first day of the Mahamastakabhishek of the 47-feet-tall statue of Bhagwan Bahubali.
BAHUBALI VENERATED
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rahamastakabhishek (great head
anointing) of Lord Bahubali
and the Panchakalyanak of Neminath Tirthankara were held at Karkala, Karnataka, India from 16-26 February 2002. Huge crowds watched the ceremony of the majestic, monolithic granite statue of Bahubali, the symbol of ahimsa, satya and dharma and the embodiment of renunciation at the hillock of the serene town of Karkala. The ceremony began at an auspicious hour with priests chanting religious texts. Pots of water were poured from a specially erected scaffolding over the head of the statue followed by the ritual pouring of different substances such as ghee, saffron, curd, flower petals and vermilion. As many as 1,008 pots (kalashas) were used in the ceremony. Each person sponsoring a pot ascended on the specially erected platform on one side and descended from the other. The Mahamastakabhishek was conducted under the guidance of PattAcharyavarya Lalithakeerthi Bhattaraka and Acharya-ratna Subalasagarji of Karkala Jain Math Thousands of people sat across the hill as
DiJO DE WIL Beច ដូ JIS . 16 Ź DOS
beautiful and magnificent structure solely devoted to
Navkar Mantra, the most sacred prayer, was inaugurated at Aradhanadham, Jamnagar, India. This was a dream project of Mr Shashikant Mehta, a daily worshipper and strong believer in the power of the ancient Navkar Mantra. The monument is 108 feet high and depicts Panch Parmeshthi - five godly figures to whom the worshipper bows down whilst reciting Navkar Mantra. These
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Jain Spirit • June - August 2002
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