Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today said the more than a millennium old monolithic statue of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali here reminds one of the heights human ingenuity and craftsmanship can reach. Speaking on the fourth day of the inauguration of the Mahamastakabhisheka (head anointing ceremony) event here, he said the message of 24 Tirthankars was the theoretical foundations of the freedom struggle. Bahubali was one of the 24 Teerthankars of Jain sect. "To me the message of the 24 Tirthankar is one of the theoretical foundations of our independence movement, led by Gandhiji. Non-violence was the central principle of that epic struggle," Naidu said. He said that attending to basic human needs and avoiding wastage as well as recognising and respecting diversity and pluralism is part of the Indian psyche. "This is a path that the Jain saints have shown us.
It is a path that can lead to the harmonious,peaceful and prosperous India we all wish to build," Naidu said. The Vice President said the magnificent statue of Bahubali, which he felt was the tallest monolithic statue anywhere in the world, has provided inspiration for millions of devotees for over 1,000 years. The timeless icon reminds humanity to enrich their lives by internalising values like non-violence, renunciation and multiple facets of truth, Naidu said. The Rajyabhisheka ritual signifies the spiritual evolution of the Tirthankar as one who has provided spiritual solace to innumerable devotees over many centuries. The Vice President appreciated the efforts of Swastishri Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swami of Shravanabelagola Mutt, who has been presiding over four similar Mahamasthakabhisheka ceremonies in the last 48 years after he was anointed as head of this Jain mutt of Shravanabelagola. President Ram Nath Kovind had on February 7 set in motion the Mahamastakabhisheka, the head anointing ceremony, which is observed once in 12 years. The ceremony is an integral part of the ancient and composite Jain tradition at the Jain pilgrimage centre here. Located between the two hillocks of Vindyagiri and Chandragiri, Shravanabelagola has been a Jain pilgrimage centre for the past 2,500 years. The 2018 ceremony is the 88th in the series that began in 981 A. D during the Ganga dynasty. The statue of Lord Bahubali, son of the first Jain tirthankara Adinath, located on Vindyagiri hill here, was carved from a single rock and is said to be the world's tallest monolithic statue.
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