Lord Bahubali Statue,karkala (Karkala)

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Mahamastakabhisheka
The event of a lifetime unfolds
Mahamastakabhisheka, one of India 's most important religious events, and one that occurs only once in every 12 years, The grand event, the head anointing ceremony of Lord Bahubali who stands serenely atop a hill in Karkala in Udupi District in Karnataka State, South India, is scheduled within this decade.

An ancient town overlooked by rocky hill, draws over lakhs devotees from across the world who throng the place to seek solace at the feet of the colossal monolith of Lord Gomateshwara, a perfect testimony to compassion, serenity, sacrifice and grace.

The devotees include believers not just from the Jain community, but from across - cutting through barriers of caste, creed, and religion.

During the 10 hour ceremony, priests climb hundreds of steps leading to the top of monolith, the 2nd largest in the world, and empty hundreds of pots of tender coconut, sugarcane juice, milk, rice flour, turmeric paste, kashaya (a herbal concoction), shrigandha (sandal paste), chandana (coloured sandal paste), ashtagandha (eight varieties of sandal paste), saffron, gold and silver flowers, and precious stones.

A spectacular finale to this splendid ceremony is a shower of flowers from a helicopter.

The Department of Information and the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, heartily welcome you to witness this grand event - truly Karnataka's honour and India 's pride.

Karkala is situated about 60 kms northeast of the city of Mangalore. The town has been a prominent centre for Jain art, architecture, religion and culture for over two millennia. About two thousand years ago, Bhagawan Bhadrabahu, the earliest among the great Jain Acharyas came to Shravanabelagola from Ujjain , Madhya Pradesh, with his disciples. Influenced by this ascetic, Chandragupta Maurya, the great emperor who ruled a large part of India , settled in this region, handing over the reins of his kingdom to his son.

Legend has it that Lord Gomateshwara, also known as Bahubali, was the son of the first Jain Teerthankara, Lord Adinatha. Challenged by his brother Bharatha over the succession to the throne, Bahubali took on Bharatha in a duel that involved three forms - Drishtiyuddha, Mallayuddha and Jalayuddha. Though Bahubali finally emerged victorious, he was overwhelmed by both the enormity and the futility of the desire for material wealth - a pursuit that sets brother against brother. He then renounced his kingdom and all other worldly pleasures.

Driven by his quest for the ultimate bliss or Moksh, Bahubali stood in deep meditation and radiated the glow of spiritual tranquility. The magnificent monolith has seen a thousand springs, and to this day stands as an embodiment of extraordinary renunciation for which the Jain philosophy stands for.

In appreciation of the majesty, splendour and strong spiritual significance, Bahubali came to be known as Gomata. The statue, which has withstood the test of time so well, reinforcing the truth "realisation of the self is the real way to Moksh (salvation)".

The statue of Lord Gomateshwara has withstood the test of time reinforcing the truth,"Realization of the self is the real way to Moksh".


A grand festival that comes alive once in 12 years, the Mahamastakabhisheka is held for 9 days. The 10-hour ceremony that is estimated to attract over 30 lakh devotees, involves the anointing of the gigantic monolith of Lord Gomateshwara. On the occasion, appointed priests anoint the Lord, first with water, and then with tender coconut, sugarcane juice, milk, rice flour, turmeric paste, kashaya (a herbal concoction), shrigandha (sandal paste), chandana (coloured sandal paste), ashtagandha (eight varieties of sandal paste), saffron, gold and silver flowers, precious stones and finally with a shower of flowers.