R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Jan 18: The monolithic statue of Bhagwan Bahubali was got sculpted and installed in the year 1432 AD by the then ruler of 'Kariya Kallu' (present day Karkala) Veerapandya. He had got this 42 feet statue chiselled out for the specific aim of spreading Jainism at the instance of his Guru, Lalitakeerti.

The statue, installed over a hillock, is situated at about 300 feet above sea level. It stands on a five feet pedestal. The statue has very attractive features with soft and smiling face, long ears, long arms, curvy hair, well-built body, etc. Even the ant hills at Bahubali's feet and creepers that have surrounded his body and arms have been carefully and artistically carved.

Mahamastakabhisheka is being held from January 21 to 31 this year, and the local administration, organizing committee, district administration and state government have made all preparations for the successful holding of the event. Development works worth Rs 15 crore, which should have been finished by January 15, are being undertaken at swift pace.

While wooden frame was used for Mahamastakabhisheka in the past, iron is being used this time. Twenty workers have worked for two months and used iron weighing fifty tons to prepare the frame. Frame designer, Mangaluru’s Anil Hegde, and contractor Mani Mahaveer Industries owned by brothers Mahaveer Prasad and Pradma Prasad are working on it.

The frame is fifty feet high. Fifty tons of iron, plywood, nuts and bolts are being used for the construction. The cost is estimated to be Rs 50 lac. The iron rods can be used during the next Mastakabhisheka too. The frame has five storeys.

Offerings such as 250 litres of tender coconut water, 200 litres of sugarcane juice, 50 kg of powdered rice, 50 kg of turmeric, 100 kg of 'kashaya', 300 litres of sandalwood oil, 70 kg of sandalwood paste, 50 kg of 'astagandha', 50 kg of 'pushpavrasti', coins, 60 feet long garland etc will be offered to Bahubali.

The local administration has made arrangement to provide water in giant storage tanks at various places for the convenience of people converging on the town for the event. Over 50 make-shift bathrooms and toilets are being erected. Hundred additional personnel have been hired to attend to hygiene and cleanliness. About three tank fulls of various items flowing down the statue after being bathed with them, are expected to be collected in tankers and taken elsewhere, without allowing them to flow down. As many as 400 stalls have been set up, and generators have been installed. Elaborate food arrangement has been kept in place. A few days ago, a dining house was constructed at a cost of Rs 30 lac, where 3,000 people can have food simultaneously.

Also, Rs 5.25 lac has been paid to Mescom to provide temporary power connections in 14 places. Generators have been set in 20 places as backup. This apart, BSNL and Airtel have installed temporary mobile towers.

'Dharmachakra'

'Dharmachakra (wheel of righteousness)' is a wheel of affluence and rule of law which is held above the heads of Jain Teerthankaras who earn the divine spiritual knowledge that brings salvation to them. As long as a demigod known as 'Yaksha' holds aloft this 'Dharmachakra' over the heads of these self-realized souls, it can be construed that the righteousness fortified by the good virtues and meditation of these Teerthankaras continues to hold aloft religion and humane qualities. Replica of this 'Dharmachakra' which also can be found in our national flag, adorns the crest of the platform built for facilitating divine anointment of the statue of Lord Bahubali here.

At the Mahamastakabhisheka being held later this month, K Nagaraja Indra will serve as the hereditary priest. For Nagaraja Indra, this is the fourth Mahamastakabhisheka in that capacity. Nagakumar Indra, the chief priest of Hiriangady Basadi, will be the main priest. Nagakumar Indra and Nagaraja Indra will be assisted by a group of 22 priests in performing Mahamastakabhisheka.

Problem from Archaeological survey department 

A huge compound wall surrounds the statue over the hillock where the statue stands. The platform built for the Mahamastakabhisheka can accommodate 500 people, while the compound can hold about 1,500 people. For making it convenient for other people congregating around the hillock to view the Mahamastakabhisheka to watch the proceedings without any problem, the committee had written to the archaeological survey department which has control over this statue, for permission to prune down the height of this compound wall, with a promise to re-build it to its original height as soon as the celebrations conclude.

It is learnt that the department has not yet responded to this request. Lacs of people are expected to come here to view the Mahamastakabhisheka. The compound has only one main gate. If there is an emergency, it will be very difficult to evacuate people or manage rush of the people. There is a demand for erection of smaller, multiple, gates near the main gate to streamline the flow of devotees.