Mahamastakabhisheka rituals performed to Lord Bahubali at Ratnagiri

DHARMASTHALA: Anointment rituals to Lord Bahubali at Ratnagiri was performed with 1008 kalash as part of the ongoing mahamastakabhisheka to the monolith on Saturday. The rituals was performed by Akhila Karnataka Mahila Okkoota under the guidance of D Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and his family. The last mahamastakabhisheka will be performed on March 24 under the leadership of Jain Math, Moodbidri.

Heggade said if one adopts the basic essence and tenets of Jainism in their lives, then one can attain peace and contentment. “I pray that all those who perform mahamastakabhisheka and those who the ritual being performed earn the grace of the almighty as well as happiness, peace and contentment,|” Heggade said, recalling the efforts put in by everyone over the last six months in the run up to the anointment to ensure success of this once in 12-year-event.

A major change in mahamastakabhisheka rituals affected this time was to portray the life and message of Lord Bahubali through the ‘Pancha Mahavaibhava’ rituals instead of the ‘Pancha Kalyana’ rituals. This was made possible due to guidance of senior Jain ascetics – Vardhaman Sagar muni maharaj, Pushpadanta Sagar muni maharaj and Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka swamiji of Sri Kshetra Shravanabelagaola and efforts of local and other volunteers, he said.

The whole ‘Pancha Mahavaibhava’ enactment was made possible by Hemavathi Heggade, Anita Surendra Kumar and Supriya Harshendra Kumar, Heggade said adding when women stand in the forefront of upholding religion and culture, they become instrumental in upholding the same. In a special tribute to his wife Hemavathi, Heggade said it was her determination to study literature pertaining to Pancha Mahavaibhava and putting actors together, which paid results.

The Okkoota members conferred the title of Saddharma Vatsale on Hemavathi Heggade on this occasion. The monolith was anointed using water, tender coconut, sugarcane juice, kalka choorna, turmeric, sandalwood paste and other mangala dravyas on this occasion. On March 17, members of Sri Aadinath Jain community from Mandya will perform mahamastakabhishekha rituals to Lord Bahubali. The last two anointment rituals will be held next weekend.