There is a belief that the holy bath of the Gomateshwara statue, using sugarcane juice, sandalwood paste, and milk during the Mahamastakabhishekha is essential to preserve the 58.8-ft monolithic statue at Shravanabelagola. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), however, does chemical wash and chemical treatment regularly as part of its conservation efforts.
Experts from the Science Branch of the ASI did chemical treatment of the statue a few days before the scaffolding for the Mahamastakabhishekha was erected. D. Ambethkar, Deputy Superintending Archaeological Chemist, told The Hindu, “We will repeat the treatment once the anointing ceremony is over.”
Alkaline cleaning liquids are used to clean the statue. Once the event is over, experts will wash the statue again and treat it with water repellents. “Water repellents are used to avoid moisture penetration,” he said.
Mr. Ambethkar said that pouring sugarcane juice, coconut water, or sandalwood paste on the statue would not harm it in any way. At best, it would clear the dust deposited on the statue. Further, he said abhisheka of statues or idols is quite common among Hindus and Jains.
The statue was installed in 981 and since then the anointing ceremony has been conducted once in 12 years. This is the 88th ceremony. The ASI has been conducting chemical wash and chemical treatment of the statue whenever the anointing ceremony has been held, since Independence.
