The 16-feet-tall statue of Gommateshwara came alive in different hues when the rituals began at 12.30 pm under the leadership of Sri Bhuvanakeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji of Sri Kanakagiri Maleyur Jain mutt of Chamarajanagar. A band of jain priests performed the colourful ritual, even as the devotees watched the grand statue of Bhagawan Bahubali changing its colour with every ‘majjana’ and came alive with ‘Abhisheka’.
The Masthakabhisheka began with ‘Ganga snan’ to the statue followed by tender coconut, milk, ‘srigandha’, vermillion, turmeric and kashaya. Jubilant devotees hailed Bahubali and raised slogans in praise of the lord in myriad colours .
The small hillock spread about 100 ft and is surrounded with Samedha Shikar of 22 Tirthankaras and Jalamandir resounded with cheers and praise to Bahubali.
Hundreds of Digambar jain devotees from across the State thronged the place, even as the villagers from Hunsur and other surrounding villages visited the Sri Kshethra.
History
In contrary to the Mahamasthakabhisheka held in Shravanabelagola once in 12 years, the Bahubali of Gommatagiri is offered the similar ritual every year. It is believed that the monolith statue was sculpted during the period of Ganga’s who gave equal importance to all religions.
The statue remained out of focus of people for more than two centuries when thick forest and bushes surrounded it and was discovered in 1960 by a nearby villager. The villager informed his discovery to jain community leaders Barmaiah, Hosapal Chandraiah and Nagakumar in Mysore.
The trio took pains to reach the Sri Kshethra and were delighted to see the idol in 1950. Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the then ‘Raja Pramukh’ witnessed the first Padapooja and Masthakabhisheka to the Bahubali of Gommatagiri. He sat throughout the day watching all the rituals, a member of the Gommatagiri Seva Samithi recalls.
Since then, the Bahubali here is offered Masthakabhisheka every year.