Hassan
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Hassan is a city and district headquarters of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The town is situated 934 mts above sea level with fine weather similar to Bangalore. The town is home to the Master Control Facility of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and also to the Malnad College of Engineering MCE, one of the best colleges in the region. It was founded in the 11th century, by Channa Krishnappa Naik, a Palegar (chieften). The place is called Hassan after the Goddess "Haasanamba", the goddess and presiding deity of the town. It can be called as the temple-architectural capital of Karnataka.
Mahamastakabhisheka
Mahamastakabhisheka, one of India's most important religious events, and one that occurs only once every 12 years, will takeplace soon! The grand event, the head anointing ceremony of Lord Bahubali who stands serenely atop o hill in Shravanabelagola in Hassan District, Karanataka State, South India, is scheduled between the 8th and 19th of February 2006.
An ancient town overlooked by two rocky hills, Chandragiri and Indragiri, Shravanabelagola draws over 30 lakh devotees from across the world who throng the place to seek solace at the feet of the colossal monolith of Lord Gomateshwara, a perfect testimony to compassion, serenity, sacrifice and grace.
The devotees include believers not just from the Jain community, but from across cutting through barriers of caste, creed, and religion.
During the 10 hour ceremony, priests climb the 618 steps leading to the 57 - foot monolith, the largest in the world, and empty hundreds of pots of tender coconut, sugercane juice, milk, rice flour, turmeric paste, kashaya (a herbal concoction), shrigandha (sandal paste), chandana (coloured sandal paste), astagandha (eight varieties of sandal paste), saffron, gold and silver flowers, and precious stones. A spectacular finale to this splendid ceremony is a shower of flowers from a helicopter.
Karnataka Tourism and Department of Information, Government of Karnataka, heartily welcome you to witness this grand event - truly Karanataka's honour and India's pride.
Shravanabelagola is situatedabout 140 kms northwest of the city of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The town has been a prominent centre for Jain art, architecture, religion and culture for over two millennia. About two thousand years ago, Bhagawan Bhadrabahu, the earliest among the great Jain Acharyas came to Shravanabelagola from Ujjain, Madhyapradesh, with his disciples. Influenced by this ascetic, Chandragupta Maurya, the great emperor who ruled a large part of India, settled in this region, handing over the reins of his kingdom to his son.
Legend has it that Lord Gomateshwara, also known as Bahubali, was the son of the first Jain Teerthakara, Lord Adinatha. Challenged by his brother Bharatha over the succession to the throne, Bahubali took on Bharatha in a duelthat involved three forms - Drishtiyuddha, Mallayuddha and Jalayuddha. Though Bahubali finally emerged victorious, he was overwhelmed by both the enormity and the futility of the desire for material wealth - a pursuit that set brother against brother. He then renounced his kingdom and all other worldly pleasure.
Driven by his quest for the ultimate bliss or Moksh, Bahubali stood in deep meditation and radiated the glow of spiritual tranquility. Chavundaraya, prime minister and commander - in - chief of the Ganga Kingdom, consecrated the statue of Bahubali in a meditative form in 981 AD. The magnificent monolith has seen a thousand springs, and to this day stands as an embodiment of extraordinary renunction which Jain philosophy stands for.
In appreciation of the majesty, splendour and strong spiritual significance, Bahubali came to be known as Gomata. The statue, which has withstood the test of time so well, reinforces the truth, " realisation of the self is the real way to Moksh(salvation)".
The long-awaited Mahamastakabhisheka of Bhagawan Bahubali, the first in the new millenium, will be held from the 8th to 19th February 2006. Acharya Sri Vardhamansagar Maharaj who graced the previously held Mahamastakabhisheka in 1993 will grace the present event. The inauguration of the Mahotsav is scheduled for Sunday, the 22nd January 2006.
A grand festival that comes alive once in 12 years, the Mahamastakabhisheka is held for 9 days. The 10 - hour ceremony that is estimated to attract over 30 lakh devotees, involves the anointing of the gigantic monolith of Lord Gomateshwara. On the occasion, appointed priests anoint the Lord, first with water, and then with tender coconut, sugercane juice, milk, rice flour, turmeric paste, kashaya ( a herbal concoction), shrigandha(sandal paste), chandana(coloured sandal paste), astagandha(eight varieties of sandal paste), saffron, gold and silver flowers, precious stones and finally with a shower of flowers.
