First Mahamasthakabhisheka of new millennium begins
The much-awaited, new millennium's first Mahamasthakabhisheka,
the
sacred head anointing ceremony of the world's tallest monolithic
statue of Lord Bahubali, which stood on the pedastal of the picturesque Vindhyagiri hills, started with much pomp and religious fervour with the pouring of the first Kalasha of holy water, on Wednesday morning.
The ritual started with Mr Ashok Kumar Patni of Rajasthan pouring the first Kalasha of holy water, amid chanting of hymns and singing of paeans about the bravery and glory of Lord Bahubali. Slogans like 'Bhagwan Bahubali Ki Jai' rent the air, transforming the entire atmosphere into a trance.
The pouring of holy water would be followed by the ritual bathing of the statue with milk, ghee, coconut water, curd, flower, turmeric paste, saffron and sandalwood paste.
This is the fifth Mahamasthakabhisheka, held once in 12 years, of independent India.
The unique ceremony of performing sacred bath to the colossal 57-ft-high statue was witnessed by over 5,000 devotees atop the Vindhyagiri hills, while lakhs of others watched the grand event assembled in Chandragiri hills, which stood opposite to Vindhyagiri, and surrounding places.
Priests, led by Acharya Vardhman Sagar Munimaharaj supervised the sacred ritual. They climbed up the scaffolding specially erected for the purpose and performed the pooja from the wooden platform behind the statue by pouring 108 pots of sacred water.
Cheers rent the air when the sacred water was emptied on the head of Lord Bahubali, who spread the message of ''peace through renunciation, happiness through non-violence, progress through friendship and achievement through meditation''.
At the top of Vindhyagiri, only those honoured to conduct the holy bath, acharyas, munis, special invitees and mediapersons from across the world were allowed to witness the holy bath from close quarters.
The devouts, who had thronged this pilgrim town from all parts of the coutnry and abroad in lakhs, occupied every inch of Chandragiri hills and other surrounding places to get a glimpse of the anointing of the statue of the 'Thyagamurthy' (the epitome of renunciation).
The special light effects focussing on the statue presented an awe-inspiring picture when the holy water sailed down from the top of the statue and touched its rosy feet.