His story is narrated in Sanskrit texts like the Adi Purana and the Bahubali charitra as well as in Kannada literary texts and poems. Widely believed to be one of the largest free-standing statues in the world, the Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola was built in AD. It is known to have been commissioned by the ruler and minister of the Ganga dynasty, Chamunda-Raya. Although, it is uncertain whether Chamunda-Raya actually got the statue built or whether it already existed at the site and the minister discovered it through a divine intervention.
In any case, a large number of inscriptions at the site give references to Chamunda-Raya being the one who brought to public notice the Gomateshwara statue and also arranged for its anointment. So much was he appreciated for his efforts that he was given the epithet, Gommta-Raya. The image of Gomateshwara is nude and stands tall facing north. The shoulders are broad and the arms hang straight down the sides.
The lower portion of the body is shown to be covered in ant hills, while the face has so created that it shines in meditative spirit with a serene smile on his face. Such large images of religious figures are common in all parts of the world where Jainism and Buddhism exists, but the one at Shravabelagola is believed to be the largest of such idols. Chamunda-Raya did not just install the the Gomateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola but also performed the great ceremony of consecration of the image on March 13, in AD.
The event was carried out in the precise manners prescribed in the Jain scriptures and in the scale and grandeur befitting the enormity of the image.
Eventually, this ceremony of anointing came to be referred to at the Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsav and was carried out every 10 to 15 years at an auspicious moment decided on the basis of the positioning of heavenly bodies.
Over time, the event is decidedly carried out every 12 years on a grand scale with thousands of priests and pilgrims gracing the event. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from madrascourier. Please send in your feed back and comments to editor madrascourier.
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