LS elections push Karkala Mastakabhisheka to end-2014

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 02 Feb 2014: The Maha Mastakabhisheka for the 42-foot-high monolithic stone image of Lord Bahubali in Udupi district’s Karkala has been postponed to end of 2014 or early 2015 because of the coming general elections.

 

D Veerendra Heggade, honorary president of Karkala Maha Mastakabhisheka Celebration Committee, confirmed to TOI the postponement of head-anointment ceremony, which was slated to be held in 2013-2014.

 

"Elections will be held in the summer of 2014. We postponed the event for the convenience of the devotees coming in from all parts of India," he said, seeking the support of Union and state governments in organizing the event. He said year 2015 "looks more convenient".

 

Karnataka has Bahubali statues in Shravanabelagola, Dharmasthala, Venoor and Karkala. The millennium’s first Maha Mastakabhisheka in the state was held at Venoor in 2000.

 

In the past, the Karkala Bahubali was offered head anointment in years 1951, 1957, 1962, 1990 and 2002. The practice of conducting the abhisheka every 12 years has not been followed for many reasons. The 1990 anointment came after a 28-year gap due to problems arising out of the Land Reforms Act.

 

"A gap of 12 years is an auspicious time fixed for conducting Maha Mastakabhishekha, and this (an event of this scale) needs time for preparations," Heggade said.

 

He said the calendar is yet to be finalized, hinting at "a few special celebrations". He didn’t elaborate as it’s too early to give details. "With enough time available for the preparation, we are sure the celebration will attract devotees from all over India,’’ he added.

 

Karkala statue was installed by King Veera Pandya at the instance of guru Lalithakeerthi, a pontiff of Karkala Jain Math, in year 1432.