Observed by Jains | Type Religious | |
 | ||
Also called Translation: Head Anointing of Gommateshwara Significance Completion of the statue of Gommateshwara Celebrations Anointing the statue of Gommateshwara with milk, saffron, flowers, etc. Observances Prayers, Religious rituals | ||
The Mahamastakabhisheka (lit. grand consecration) is an important Jain festival held once every twelve years in the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, India. The festival is held in veneration of a 17.3736 metres (57.000 ft) high statue of the siddha Bahubali. The anointing last took place in 2006, and the next ceremony is going to take place in 2018.
Contents
As the Mahamastakabhisheka begins, consecrated water is sprinkled onto the participants by devotees carrying 1,008 specially prepared vessels. The statue is then bathed and anointed with libations such as milk, sugarcane juice, and saffron paste, and sprinkled with powders of sandalwood, turmeric, and vermilion. Offerings are made of petals, gold and silver coins, and precious stones. Most recently, the ceremony's finale has included an enormous shower of flowers from a waiting helicopter.
Procedure
Purified water and sandalwood paste is poured over the statue from a scaffolding. This event continues for weeks.
Other Mahamastakabhishekas
Apart from the Gommateshwara statue at Shravana Belgola, all the other Gommateshwara statues in Karnataka are also honoured with a Mahamastakabhisheka festival every 12 years.