Shravanabelagola Lord Gomateshwara in Karnataka

                                                 Shravanabelagola

Shravanabelagola is a samll town in Hassan District of Karnataka State. It is one of the most impressive and important Jain pilgrim center in India. Shravanabelagola is located at an altitude of 3350 feet above sea level in between the Indragiri (Vindhyagiri) and Chandragiri hills. The town of Shravanabelagola is known for its senic beauty as well as for its religious sanctity.
A small water tank midst Shravanabelagola town is called "Belagola" in Kannada language, "Bel" means white and "kola" means the pond, an allusion to the beautiful pond in the middle of the town. Shravanabelagola reached a high point in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad. Shravanabelagola has more than 500 inscriptions.
You can easily walk between the major attractions in Shravanabelagola. Shravanabelagola town has the Jaina matha with very old paintings on its walls. There is also a Sanskrit Patashala to study Sanskrit and Shastras. Shravanabelagola has 28 Jain temples that are spread across the town and the two hillocks Indragiri and Chandragiri. Regular poojas are conducted by the Jaina priests appointed by the Jain Mutt at all the temples as per Jain rituals.

Shravanabelagola is famous for the Bahubali Statue which is supposed to be the tallest monolithic stone statue in the world with a height of 58 feet carved out of a single block of granite. The Gomateswara temple is built on top of a hill at an altitude of 3347 feet, called as Vindhyagiri hill (also known as Doddabetta or Indragiri). About 620 steps provide access to this temple from bottom of the hill. The nude statue of Bahubali is carved carefully with much perfection.
Lord Gomateshwara (Lord Bahubali) was son of the first Jain tirthankara named Lord Adinatha. Lord Adinatha had 99 other sons and when he renounced his kingdom, there was a big fight between the two brothers, Bahubali and Bharatha, over the kingdom. Bharatha lost this battle, but Bahubali did not feel any happiness on seeing his brother's defeat. He then gave the kingdom to his brother and then attained Kevalagnana.
The statue was carved during the period of Chamundaraya, a minister of the Ganga King Rajamalla between 982 and 983 CE. The town of Shravanabelagola is famous with several Jain temples and historical sites.The main temple of Gomateswara is located on Vindhyagiri hill along with Odegal Basadi, Tyagada Kamba, Siddhara Basadi, Chennanna Basadi, Akhanda Bagilu, etc. Chandragiri is home for about 14 shrines among which Chamundaraya Basadi, Chandragupta Basadi, Chandraprabha Basadi, Kattale Basadi and Parshwanatha Basadi are important.

History Of Lord Gomateshwara :-

The popular Shravanabelagola Temple of Lord Gomatheeswara is one of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites in Karnataka, which is renowned for its tallest monolithic statue of Lord Gomatheeswara. The statue of Lord Gomatheeswara or Lord Bahubali is a huge statue with approximately 17mts of height that towers over everything else in its vicinity. The statue was installed by one Chavundaraya in 989 AD, who was apparently a minister of Ganga King Rachamalla Sathyavakya, and is situated at the top of Indragiri hill.
Depicting superb craftsmanship, the statue of Lord Gomatheeswara is a colossal rock cut statue of Saint Gommata, which has been described as the mightiest achievements of ancient Karnataka in the sphere of sculptural art. The statue is also known as Lord Bahubali and is a nude sculpture in an upright position of meditation that is known as ‘Kayotsarga’. The statue is accessible through a flight of more than 500 steps and offers a picturesque view of the plains as well as nearby hills.
The eyes of the statue are open and are viewing the world with a detachment that only a learned man can possess with perfectly chiselled facial expressions. A faint smile is visible at the corner of his mouth that embodies a calm vitality. The amazing part of the statue is that the statue is standing without any support from thigh upwards and the whole figure is standing on an open lotus. The statue is accompanied by two opulently ornamented and intricately carved royal servants named yakshi complimenting the main figure.

The statue is referred to as ‘The statue of Gomateshwar’ by the Kannad people of Karnataka and the same is referred to as Bahubali by the Jains. Every twelve years, at the Shravanabelagola hill, thousands of devotees, tourists come to celebrate the ‘Mahamastakabhisheka festival’. Devotees sprinkle water on the statue from a high platform. After water is sprinkled, the statue is bathed with tons of milk, sugarcane juice, and the saffron flowers paste. The next Mahamastakabhisheka festival is expected to be held in the year 2018.
The best part of the Shravanabelagola Temple of Lord Gomatheeswara is the special festival called Mahamastakabhisheka or head anointing festival. The highlight of this festival is that the statue of Gomatheeswara is bathed with a sacred blend of thousands of gallons of milk, honey and some special herbs, which is then distributed amongst the devotees and pilgrims. The whole sight of bathing the huge statue of Lord Gomatheeswara is awe inspiring; however the best part of the festival is in the end when the statue receives a flower shower from a helicopter.

Architecture Of Shravanabelagola :-

The Shravanabelagola Gomatheeswara statue is the largest monolithic idol in the world. It spans centuries with different ruling dynasties and kings adding their own contributions and so is a living historical evidence of the last millennia. Historians describe the idol of the Lord as both magnificent and munificent – both beautiful and graceful, breath taking yet serene.

It is this impossible combination of beauty and serenity that gives the Shravanabelagola its unique appeal. Standing 57 feet tall, the Lord is a beacon for the world weary who flock here to shed their worldly burdens and to embrace a life of peace and ahimsa, meaning non-violence.
Shravanabelagola – Religious Significance
Bahubali, as the Jains call Lord Gomatheeswara, offers the path to eternal happiness by helping man live a life attuned to the natural world around him and not causing any harm to any living being. The Jains believe that Bahubali is endowed with great qualities that inspire renunciation, enlightenment and to attain salvation.

Major Attractions:-

The biggest attraction of this shrine is obviously the statue of Bahubali. Open eyes denote that his detachment from the material world and the anthill in the background indicates the never ending self-punishment of Bahubali. Engraved in this anthill are a snake and a creeper which wrap around the hands and legs of the statue. This structure stands on an open lotus portraying its completeness.
Apart from the statue, there are fourteen other Jainism shrines on the hills of Chandragiri. There are statues of all the twenty-four Tirthankaras of Jains along with the great king, Chandragupta Maurya, who was also buried here. The best time to visit this temple is during the Mahamastakabhisheka festival.

 Attractions Of Gomateshwara Statue:-

The Gomateshwara statue in Kayotsarga’s posture is the most amazing sight in Shravanabelagola. It is that of a Digambar (nude) form of Bahubali standing on an open lotus depicting the atonement. On either side of the statue stand two chauri bearers while the anthill in the background signifies unceasing devotion; entwining branches with flowers and bunches of fruits and a snake on the upper limbs of Gommateshwara are carved beautifully.

Around the temple:-

This does not nullify the other marvelously crafted shrines and basadis at the foot hills of Chandragiri and Vindhyagiri Hills; sculpted with single minded devotion to their lord with the temple architecture style of the Hoysala period. Kanchina and Lakki pond at the base on the plains below the hills are two such places where one can take a relaxed walk and spend some time in the surroundings. Chavundaraya basadi, Chandragupta basadi and many more are scattered around the hills simple and yet profound in their history, giving us an insight into the times and culture of the Hoysala and Western Ganga Kingdoms. More than 800 inscriptions dating from 600 to 1830 are found all around Shravanabelagola. The stories about the glory and the power of the Western Ganga Dynasty, the Hoysala kingdom, the Vijayanagar Empire and the Wodeyar Dynasty are told by some of the inscriptions found on the Chandragiri hill while Lord Gomateshwara’s statue towers above all. One should visit Hassan (57km), Mysore (83km) and Arasikere (63km) too while visiting
Shravanabelagola.

 Events:-

Once in 12 years.Next one is in 2018.

Tirtha and Tirthamkara:-

The etymological basis of a Tirtha as a holy place of worship can be properly traced to the term Tirthamkara which signifies a liberated soul according to Jain religions tradition. A Tirthamkara is one who has eliminated the last vestiges of Karmic pollution attaching to the soul through a rigorous ascetic regimen prescribed in Jain religious canon, known as agamas and has attained omniscience. He thus becomes a creator of a Tirtha or a Tirthamkara, a fordmaker. It is by means of this Tirtha, or ford, a worldly being can cross this life and attain moksa. It is in this context of the unique Jain connection of the term Tirtha, a historic genesis of the temple tradition and idol or icon worship can be traced in Jain religious practices since prehistoric times.
In the allegorical or spiritual sense, the dictionary meaning of the term‘pilgrim’ is “one journeying through life as a stranger in this world.” As a matter of fact, in Jainism a place of pilgrimage is called a tirtha or tirtha-ksetra. A tirtha (Literally, a ford) is so called because it helps the aspirant in crossing the ocean of samsara which is full of pain and suffering and in attaining liberation from the unending round of rebirths.
A Jain Tirthamkara is a maker of such a ford or bridge. The very concept of pilgrimage, of going to a sacred place for spiritual edification is embodied in the term Tirthamkara which is the ultimate symbol of Jain liberation and also the ideal. It is thus are extension of the process of ritual of worship in Jainism.
Pilgrimage to holy places, Tirtha-Ksetras for a Jain is a concrete reminder of the Jain Tirthamkaras, deities, and events in their lives such as birth, nirvana which is held to be sacred and memorable. A visit to such places is meritorious and spiritually purifying.
Such exalted sites of Jain pilgrimage fall into four categories. The Kalyanaka Ksetras associated with the birth and other memorable events in the life of the Tirthamkara ; the Siddha-Ksetras or Tirtha-Ksetras where countless arahats- liberated non-Tirthamkaras- attained liberation; nirvana-bhumi, where certain Tirthamkaras attained liberation; the Atishaya-Ksetras associated with miraculous events in the lives of great monks and Kala-Ksetras reputed for their artistic monuments, temples and images many a time, more than one of these characteristics are present at one and the same site.
As the Jain Tirthamkaras and ascetics have always carried out their austerities in secluded places, forests, far from the human habitation and mountain-tops, it is not surprising that the Jain Tirtha-Ksetras are situated in such places in the midst of captivating scenery and peaceful surroundings conducive to concentrated meditation and spiritual contemplation.
The sacred association of the place (such as nirvana, birth of Tirthamkara) give it an added sanctity. Jains place great value upon pilgrimage to such shrines. Indeed, a common Jain considers it an important goal of his life to make at least one visit, with his family if possible, to one or more of several Tirtha-Ksetras Jainism holds as sacred.
During the pilgrimage the entire time is spent in different religious activities such as continence, abstinence, fasting worship, meditation, study of scriptures, listening to religious discourses, chanting and recitation of religious hymns or devotional songs and charity.
In Jainism, pilgrimage is a ritual that is shared by the laity and the monastic community. Pilgrimage lends structure to the wanderings of Jain monks and nuns, who are forbidden from living long in one place and who thus spend their ascetic life in traveling on feet from one place to another except during the rainy season- Varshayoga or Chaturmasa.

Mythological Background of Gommateswara:-

Bahubali Gommateshwara was the second son of Rishabhanatha, the first Jain Tirthankara and his queen Sunanda. He had a step-brother named Bharata. After the renunciation of Rishabha, the two sons, Bharata and Bahubali, get two different regions of the Rishabha’s kingdom to rule over. Bharata soon began to subdue the various principalities around him, and even wanted his brother Bahubali and ninety eight others to submit to him. All except Bahubali gave up their kingdoms and became monks. Bahubali alone refused to surrender.
So Bharata challenged Bahubali on the battlefield and engaged him in duel. As Bahubali was about to overpower Bharata, he suddenly realized the absurdity of pride in physical victory and gave up the fight and became a monk and began to perform various penances as a Jain Sramana. He steadfastly observed penance in a Kayotsakga pose braving the rigors of sun, rain and storm. The beasts of the Jingle attacked him. Ants built their little mounds at his feet. Serpents crawled up his legs. Creepers sprang up and entangled his body. But undeterred he remained firm in his resolve to attain liberation.
Yet, unable to attain Kevala-Jnana, as he still harboured pride, he stood erect conscious of his suffering. His father, Rishabhanatha the Tirthamkara asked his daughters Brahmi and Sundari to go and persuade him to give up his pride. Bahubali did so and achieved enlightenment.
Bharata erected a stature of his brother at Podanpura. In the course of time, this region was overgrown with forest and the image became invisible to all but the initiated. According to Jain tradition, it was Bahubali who attained salvation first during the Avasarpini, Descending half-cycle of time-era, and so being the first man to attain liberation he became an object of universal worship.

Mahamastakabhisheka festival of Sravana Belagola Gommatesvara:-

The pratishthapana mahotsava, the consecration ceremony, of the great Gommateswara image took place on Sunday, 13th March, 981 from 3.12 a.m. to 5.06 p.m. the day according to Indian calendar being from sunrise to sunset.
The consecration rites were conducted according to the rules prescribed in the Jain texts by Chamundaraya, the commander-in -chief of the kings of the Ganga dynasty of Talkad. It was a grand event, its scale befitting both the huge rise of the image as well as the exalted statue of the Yajamana, the host, Chamundaraya.
Among the many rituals in the consecration ceremony there is the abhisheka or the sacred bath, According to a legend, when Chamundaraya attempted to perform the ‘panchamrita-abhisheka’ ceremony, or bathing of the image with five liquids, viz. milk, butter, honey, sugar, and water with a faint air of vanity.
Vast quantities of these five substances were collected in many hundreds of pots, but to the intense annoyance of Chamundaraya, when the liquids were poured from a great scaffolding upon the head of the image they would not descend below the navel of the image. He tried again and again but in vain, and thus the intention of bathing the image from head to foot was frustrated. Then a celestial nymph Kushmandini appeared disguised as an old poor woman, holding the five liquids in a small silver pot a beliya gola – and declared that she would accomplish what the valiant commander had failed to achieve.
Chamundaraya first laughed at the suggestion but later permitted her to make the attempt. Whereupon she poured the contents of her small silver pot, and lo, the sacred liquid at once flowed down and completely bathed the image! This old woman was none else than the Gullikajiji and her devotion did a miracle which a mighty minister like Chamundaraya could not do. Chamundaraya, the great warrior and creator of the image accepted his defeat at the feet of this humble devotee and repented for having succumbed to the feelings of pride and arrogance at having caused such a magnificent statue to be sculpted.
He now approached the task with humble devotion and the panchamritabhisheka covered the image from head to toe. From that time the town came to be known as Beliya gola, the silver pot or a tank of pure water, and the head-anointing ceremony was performed periodically. Chamundaraya erected an image of the old woman Gullikajiji just opposite to the colossus outside the door. No better homage could ever have been paid by a magnanimous vanquished to his victor in more dignified manner than this.
The abhisheka, as a rule, is a daily event for any image in worship, but the colossal size of the Gommateshwara image makes it impossible. Thus only the feet of the image are bathed daily in what is known as pada puja, and the head-anointing ceremony, or the mastaka-bhisheka performed occasionally.
Later the ceremony of mastakabhisheka came to be termed as maha mastakabhishakas. As it was performed at certain conjunctions of the planetary bodies at intervals of 10 to 15 years. The ritual is impressive and spectacular with many monks and priests and thousands of pilgrims taking part in it. The mahamastabhisheka is thus popularly known as the Grand Festival of Head-Anointing Ceremony of Sravana Belagola.
The festival begins a few days earlier and terminates a few days after the day of mahamastakabhisheka. During this period various festivals and pujas take place. On the morning of the Grand abhisheka the courtyards in front of colossus presents a glorious sight. On the ground, strewn with layers of fresh green paddy, 1008 coloured Kalasha or pots are arranged in a geometrical pattern. Each pot has a cocoanut with green mango leaves fastened to it with auspicious colour thread. Of the 1008 pots, 900 are used for the first anointing 103 for the second and only 5 for the third and last anointing.
When the ceremony is due to start a number of Jain priests take up their positions on a high scaffolding especially erected for the purpose. Each priest holds in his hands one Kalasha, or pot of milk and one of ghee. At the signal of the officiating dignitary they lustrate the image first with milk and then with ghee.
After this first purifying bath or anointing, the Jain priests offer worship to the Gommatesvara image till noon. At the stroke of one O’clock the great mahamastakabhisheka begins. In the former times, when Sravana Belagola was within the territories of Mysore State, the Maharaja of Mysore State had the hereditary privilege of per-forming the first puja of the image on the occasion.
As the appointed hour draws near, a thousand priests climb to their places on the scaffolding with pots of water. Suitable music is played by the temple musicians while the priests chant hymns and prayers from the Jain sacred texts. At the auspicious moment the thousand pots of water are emptied over the image amidst shouts of Jai Jai.
The huge proportions of the graceful colossus, whose head is anointed on that day by thousands of priests and pilgrims gives to the ritual an impressive character. The festival begins about a fortnight earlier and terminates after a fortnight of the Mahamastakabhisheka.

Chamundaraya, the Builder of Gommateswara:-

Chamundaraya, the illustrious general of the Ganga kings of Mysore, in the last quarter of the Tenth Century A.D. caused the present colossus of Gommata to be built by Arishtanemi a superb artist, under the guidance of his own gurus, Ajitasen Acharya and Nemichandra Siddhantha Chakravartin, in order to fulfill the pious wish of his own mother, Kalala Devi.
Short film of Shravanabelagola festival by Karoki Lewis

Bili-gola (white pond):-

  Bili-gola (white pond) nestling between the two hills, became Belgola, and consistently used between 650 A.D. and 1889 A.D. Shramana or Shravana after Digambar  monks used this place, was added to form Shravanabelagola. Apart froe there are two ponds on Vindhyagiri , three on  Chandragiri, there are ponds or tanks near almost every monument. There is no record of construction of ponds before time of Gangaraja (early 12th cent.). There are 7 temples in the town and — more in Jinanathapura and surrounding areas. The foundation of Jmnanathapura a northern foot of Chandragiri was undertaken by Gangaraja in 1117. The Santivara Basadi located here, is the most ornate of the Hoysala Basadis in Karnataka.

The present seer of Shravanabelagola :-

  The present seer of the Dharmapeetha of Shravanabelagola is Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji. His earlier name was Rathnavarma. He accepted his sainthood when he was 20 years of age. Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji became the seer of the Dharmapeetha of Shravanabelagola on April .

Location:-

  Shravanabelagola is located 51 km south east of Hassan in Karnataka at an Altitude of about 3350 feet above sea level. There are excellent roads from Bangalor and Mysore. The nearest airport is Banglore which at a distance of 157 km. and the nearest railway station is Hassan. Shravanabelagola is wedged between two rocky hills - the Vindyagiri and the Chandragiri.

Shravanabelagola Temple Timings:-

    Shravanabelagola Temple opens its gates at 6 A.M. and closes at 6:30 P.M.
    However, it remains closed from 11:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

Shravanabelagola Temple Food Timings:-

    Prasad is offered to all the devotees from 12 noon.
    Pilgrims can offer dry fruits as Prasad to the Lord.

Poojas and Rituals at Shravanabelagola Temple:-

    There is a special ritual that needs to be observed before the  head anointing ceremony is held. This consists of a big wooden scaffolding which is constructed around the Lord Gommateshwara statue. Thousands of pilgrims arrive for this occasion. And, the most important part of this festival consist of chanting holy mantras and pouring gallons of milk, honey and precious herbs that are poured over the head of the statue. The devotees believe that while the offerings are poured over the icon, a strong spiritual energy is passed from the auspicious deity. These offerings are made available to the people who stand in a queue and are believed to assist pilgrims in their search of enlightenment.
    And the ritual of the Mahamasthakabhisheka ceremony consists of a beautiful ceremony where the icon is anointed with a mixture comprising of water, turmeric, rice flour, sugarcane juice, sandalwood paste, saffron, gold and silver flowers. The next head anointing ceremony will be held in 2018.

Nearby Temples:-

    Halebid Temple:-

 Halebid also called as the town of Dwara Samudhra is a conventional temple complex. It is home to two Jain temples which are made from traditional soap stones. There are many sculptures of dancers, birds and animals that are still prevalent in the carvings.
 
 Chennakesava temple:-

 One can visit this temple on the same day while paying a visit to the famous Shravanabelagola shrine. The Chennakesava temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and had been constructed by King Vishnuvardhana. There is another temple named as Kappe Chennigraya shrine that was built by Queen Shantaladevi. There are many people who believe that the temple was built over a period of 100 years. One of the major attractions in the temple consists of Darpana Sundari or a beautiful lady with a mirror. From architectural students to pilgrims, every person admires the beauty of these sculptures.
  
Kali Temple:-

 The Kali Temple was built at the edge of a lake off the main highway that connects Hassan with Halebidu. In addition, there are many beautiful carvings that are engraved on the walls of the auspicious shrine. There are many tourists who plan a visit to this sacred place of worship all around the year.

How To Reach:-

By Air:-

The nearest airport is at Bangalore (157 kms), regular flights of Indian and Jet Air connect Bangalore to the main areas of the country

By Rail:-

Shravanbelgoda(SBGA) is a Railway station now, but it is served only by a dialy passenger train from Mysore (via Hassan). Nearest Big station is Hassan (57 Km) and Bangalore is (157 Km away). Taxi or cars are the other options from here.

By Road:-

Shravanabelagola is well connected by road from all important towns in Karnataka. You can get here from Mysore, Bangalore or Hassan. Buses from Hassan are frequent. But there are no direct buses to Shravanabelagola. You have to change over at Channarayapatna. Local transport from Channarayapatna includes auto rickshaws, private cars and buses. From Bangalore you can hire a taxi or bus to reach the main town, the route is simple. After taking NH-4 from Bangalore, once you cross Nelamangala, take a deviation towards Mangalore on Mangalore-Bangalore highway (NH48). Just follow this road until Hirisave from where you will see router marking which leads to Shravanabelagola. Hirisave is 18KM from Sharavanabelagola, if you are using Google maps for navigation, then it will ask you to go further from Hirisave and then take a left: This route is not good. It is recommended to take deviation from Hirisave to reach Shravanabelagola.