Venoor gearing up for mahamastakabhisheka of Sri Bahubali Swami

TNN

Mangalore, 17 October 2011: With 103-days left for mahamastakabhisheka of Sri Bahubali swami at Venoor, some 55-kms from here in Belthangady taluk, preparations are underway to host the religious event in a befitting manner. The 37-feet monolith of Lord Bahubali will be worshipped over a period of nine-days from January 28 to February 5, 2012 and will have a mix of religious and cultural events showcasing the Jain community and its myriad achievements.

 

Mahamastakabhisheka rituals, as per records available have performed three-times in the last 110-years. The idol of Lord Bahubali at Venoor, erected by the Ajjila royal family of Venoor in 1604, was worshipped in 1928, followed by mahamastakabhisheka performed in 1956, and the last one in 2000. Community elders under the stewardship of dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala D Veerendra Heggade are gearing up to host this event.

 

The direct spin-off of the event, Charukeerthi Bhattaraka swamiji of Jain Math, Moodbidri, told reporters at Venoor after a preparatory meeting on Sunday, apart from religious aspects of the event, is the fact that it will facilitate the development of Venoor and surrounding areas. The organising committee is holding a mega health check up camp and pursuing various civic amenities projects that would improve the lifestyle of residents the area.

 

V Dhananjaya Kumar, working president of the organising committee said four leading Digambar saints, namely Acharya Gunadara Nandi of Navagraha Thirtha, Varoor near Hubli, Acharya Kalpa Suvidhi Sagar, 108 Prabhava Sagar accompanied by 11 ’matajis’, and Pavana Keerthi maharaj would head the list of religious leaders from the community to attend the event. Socio-religious and political leaders too would be invited to participate, he said.

 

The committee, Kumar said is planning to organise the event as a nada habba and all efforts would be made to involve Jain community from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, MAharasthra, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. "The committee is hopeful of government funding to improve allied infrastructure such as roads, drinking water, accommodation in the run up to the event and this would be pursued with the authorities concerned," Kumar noted.