Ganadhara Valaya Aradhane rituals performed at Dharmasthala

DHARMASTHALA: Series of religious rituals in connection with mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali getting underway at Ratnagiri from February 9 continued at Sri Chandranath Basadi with Ganadhara Valaya aradhane at Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala on Wednesday. Acharya Sri Vardhamana Sagar and Acharya Pushpadanta Sagar with Punyasagar muni maharaj, Sidda Sena muni maharaj, Kumudananda muni maharaja and others led the rituals.

In his ‘mangala pravachan’, Punyasagar muni maharaj said one must follow dharma as per spiritual principles laid down from times immemorial. When one makes sacrifice, happiness that one gets is immense, the seer said adding one can attain salvation by adopting the path of asceticism and meditation. The various rituals performed in connection with the anointment of the monolith tell the followers about these principles, the seer noted.

Siddasena muni maharaj said darshan of munis and serving them will help address various social issues. Lakshmisena Bhattaraka swamiji of Simhanagadhe Math, Narasimharajapura said the kshetra has obtained global acclaim through its ‘chaturvidha dana’ tradition and multi-faceted social service activities. Activities pertaining to awakening of dharma and influencing the masses through tenets of dharma keep happening here, he noted.

Describing panchamaha vaibhava programme under the guidance of dharmadhikari of the Sri Kshetra D Veerendra Heggade, his wife Hemavathi Heggade and family members – Anitha Surendra Kumar, Supriya Harshendra Kumar and Shradda Amith as attractive, he said the presence of 108 Jain digamabara munis and mathajis’ for the mahamastakabhisheka event is historic and has added to the holiness of once in 12-years anointment rituals.

The seers of Shravanabelagola, Sonda and Narasimharajapura Jain maths offered horaekanike to the Sri Kshetra on this occasion. Lakshmisena Bhattaraka swamiji recalled the words of advice not to expect something not covet or desire something that Heggade had given prior to his anointment as head of Simhanagade Math on this occasion. The family of Heggade, local shravikas and others participated in the aradhane rituals.

Annapoorna inaugurated

The organising committee of mahamastakabhisheka led by Veerendra Heggade, Hemavathi Heggade, D Harshendra Kumar and Supriya Harshendra Kumar also kickstarted operations of the new annapoorna chatra set up especially for the mahamastakabhisheka on this occasion. This chatra is in addition to the daily ‘annadaana’ seva that goes on regularly at the Kshetra for the benefit of devotees who come to visit it from various parts.