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spectacular of all Jaina festivals. This is called Mastaka-abhisheka (Head-anointing), and is held every twelfth year at Shravanabelgola, in Karnataka, in honour of the Jaina saint and hero, Bahubali. The most recent performance of this very popular ceremony took place in February 1981 CE, and was especially dramatic, since it fell on the thousandth anniversary of the consecration of Bahubali's statue, which was installed by the Jaina general, Camundaraya. Hundreds of thousands of Jainas from all over India came to the small town of Shravanabelgola, in order to anoint and to meditate before this monumental statue of Bahubali, which stands fifty-seven feet tall and was carved out of granite on a hill-top just outside of the town. The statue depicts Bahubali, the first man to attain to nirvana in our present time cycle, as standing erect, completely naked, immersed in deep meditation. Bahubali is believed to have held this posture, oblivious to the vines and snakes gathering around him, for twelve months, in a heroic effort to root out the last vestiges of impurity, In order to honour his achievement and to gain great merit for themselves, the faithful come to Shravanabelgola every twelve years, and erect a temporary scaffolding behind the statue, with a platform at the top. From this platform they anoint Bahubali with pitcherfuls of various ointments consisting of yellow and red powder, sandalwood paste, milk, and clear water; the colours of these materials symbolically represent the stages of purification of Bahubali's soul as it progresses towards enlightenment.
Table of Jaina festivals
February Bahubali-mastaka-abhisheka (every twelve years) April Mahavira-jayanti April/May Akshaya-tritiya May/June Shruta-pancami August Paryushana-parva/Daksha-lakshana-parva Noveniber Vira-nirvana December Karttika-purnima/Ratha-yatra
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