“Bahubali lords over the town near Hassan in Karnataka”Shravanabelagola is a small township tucked away between the Indragiri and Chandragiri hills. A visit to Shravanabelagola, an important Jain pilgrimage centre, about one hour from Hassan(Karnataka) is easily done if you are in the vicinity. Lord Gomateshwara’s statue in the city occupies a significant place in the Jain legacy of Karnataka. It is here that Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, became an ascetic after relinquishing his throne. It is believed the Sravanabelagola reached its peak under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad as far as the architectural and scriptural legacy of the city is concerned. The gigantic monolith of Lord Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubali as he is also called, in Shravanabelagola is an ideal example of that brilliance.The statue is set atop the Vindhyagiri hills, also called Indragiri. Lord Gomateshwara is depicted completely nude in accordance with certain beliefs. The 55- ft- high monolith can be seen towering over the city from several Kilometers away. There are some inscriptions written on the slabs near the right and left foot of the image of Lord Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola. The inscription on the right hand slab is as follows:
“Sri-Chamundarajam madisidam;
Sri-Chamundarajan "se" Yv 'v' ittan;
Sri-Gamgaraja suttalayavam madisida;”
The first two lines of the inscription state that “Chamunda Raja caused to be made the image, at the foot of which the inscription is engraved, and the third line states Gamgaraja caused to be made the buildings which surround the image.
Every 12th year, during the Mahamastaka Abhishekam ceremony, the monolith of Gomateshwara is anointed with thousands of tons of coconut milk, Jaggery, curd, bananas and flowers by Jain Pilgrims. It is belived that only the blessed get to perform the rituals. Thousands arrive at Sravanabelagola to witness the event of a lifetime. The last Mahamastaka Abhishekam which was conducted round February 8 to19, 2005, had drawn the attention of not just India but the entire world.
Distances:
157 km of Bangalore, 211 km of Mangalore, 103 km of Mysore, 50 km of Hassan
Getting There:
The nearest airport is in Bangalore (157 kms). Hassan, the nearest railhead is connected with Mangalore, Mysore and Bangalore. The Bangalore Mangalore Highway (NH48) passes from Hassan and Sravanabelagola, which is only 10 km from Channarayapatna, also on highway. KSRTC buses ply regularly from Bangalore and Mangalore.
Accommodation:
Most of the accommodation is run by a local Jain organization, where as there are several private hotels. One can also opt for a stay at Hassan.
Best time:
Any time of the year, avoid during summer as it is really hot summer. October to march is the best time to visit.
“Sri-Chamundarajam madisidam;
Sri-Chamundarajan "se" Yv 'v' ittan;
Sri-Gamgaraja suttalayavam madisida;”
The first two lines of the inscription state that “Chamunda Raja caused to be made the image, at the foot of which the inscription is engraved, and the third line states Gamgaraja caused to be made the buildings which surround the image.
Every 12th year, during the Mahamastaka Abhishekam ceremony, the monolith of Gomateshwara is anointed with thousands of tons of coconut milk, Jaggery, curd, bananas and flowers by Jain Pilgrims. It is belived that only the blessed get to perform the rituals. Thousands arrive at Sravanabelagola to witness the event of a lifetime. The last Mahamastaka Abhishekam which was conducted round February 8 to19, 2005, had drawn the attention of not just India but the entire world.Distances:
157 km of Bangalore, 211 km of Mangalore, 103 km of Mysore, 50 km of Hassan
Getting There:
The nearest airport is in Bangalore (157 kms). Hassan, the nearest railhead is connected with Mangalore, Mysore and Bangalore. The Bangalore Mangalore Highway (NH48) passes from Hassan and Sravanabelagola, which is only 10 km from Channarayapatna, also on highway. KSRTC buses ply regularly from Bangalore and Mangalore.
Accommodation:Most of the accommodation is run by a local Jain organization, where as there are several private hotels. One can also opt for a stay at Hassan.
Best time:
Any time of the year, avoid during summer as it is really hot summer. October to march is the best time to visit.
Festival of Mahamastakabhishekam which is held once in 12 years. During the festival the statue of Lord Gomateswara is bathed in milk, curds, ghee(clarified butter), saffron and gold coins. The statue is visible from a distance of 30 kilometers.
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