Thousands witness grand anointment

Venur, February 5: Thousands of devotees from across the nation witnessed the religious rituals on the eighth day of Mahamastakabhisheka here on Saturday.

While the monolith statue of Bhagavan Sri Bahubali was anointed, chanting of mantras reverberated the air. Rituals began with 504 kalasha jalabhisheka by family members of Srikshetra Dharmastala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade and later by others. Standing atop the attalige, devotees poured holy water on the statue, while purohiths chanted mantras. Narikela abhisheka followed the jalabhisheka rituals, where water collected from 400 tender coconuts was poured.

The statue was anointed with 350 litres of sugarcane juice as part of Ikshurasabhisheka. Devotees poured 800 litres of milk to offer Ksheerabhishekha. In Kalka Choornabhisheka ritual, the statue was anointed with 40 kg of rice powder. A total of 80 kg of turmeric powder was used for arishina abhisheka.

After Chatushkona Kalashabhisheka, the statue was bathed in Kashaya Abhisheka. Later, Gandhabhisheka, Chandanabhisheka and Ashtagan dhabhisheka were offered, where the statue was anointed with 80 kg of sandal paste, of three different varieties each.

Pushpavrishti, ritual of showering flowers, was held with a huge garland to the statue. Gold and silver coins were showered to the statue to mark the Ratnavrishti. Shanti mantra poorvaka poorna kumbhabhisheka was offered to conclude the rituals of the day.

In the morning, Sri Parshwanatha Muni Maharaja was brought to the Ahaaradhana of Venur Mane in a procession. Kankana kattuvudu, gandha yanthraradhane, manthranyasa, thilakanyasa, kevalajnana kalyana, prathishta mahotsva, mukhavasthra udghatane and Sribali Mahamangalarathi rituals were offered to the Lord.