Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Feb 19: Monday February 18 happened to be the third and final day of Mahamastakabhisheka offered to Lord Babubali's statue at Dharmasthala.

After initially emptying pitchers filled with holy water on the head of the statue, the lord was bathed in 13 different things as per tradition. The people gathered near the statue hailed the lord with full-throated cries of happiness as the things which came down the statue like waves presented the Lord before their eyes in different forms. Monday happened to be the concluding day of the three- day Mahamastakabhisheka.

The people enjoyed the music which contained messages preached by Bahubali, and the running commentary relayed all through the programme. Swamijis like Acharya Sri 108 Vardhamana Sagar Muni Maharaj and Acharya Sri 108 Pushpadanta Sangar Muni Maharaj among several others, apart from Dr D Veerendra Heggade couple and their family members led the Mahamastakabhisheka.

R Seemandara, son of Kulvalike the late Rajaratna Ariga, who is from Kadaba Kodimbala, was fully involved with the preparations of various concoctions and combination of different kinds of barks, twigs, flowers etc needed for the Mahamastakabhisheka. He was assisted by a 54-member team. Seemandara, who was 15 when the first Mahamastakabhisheka happened in Dharmasthala in which he assisted his father, has so far helped in preparing concoctions for nine Mahamastakabhishekas in Karnataka. Their preparation is very complicated and important as there are strict rules to be followed like time required, quantum of items to be used, time at which they have to be prepared etc.

On February 19, the Lord's statue will be given ceremonial bath on behalf of Karnataka Jain Charitable Trust.