Under the patronage of a general of the Ganga Kings of Mysore called Chamudaraya during the last quarter of the Tenth Century AD the huge statue of Gommata came to be built. It was built by Arishtanemi a superb artist, under the guidance of his gurus,  Nemichandra Siddhantha Chakravartin and Ajitasen Acharya, in order to fulfill the pious wish of his own mother, Kalala Devi.

Sravanabelagola, which is situated, 120 kilometers west of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka, is a noted place of pilgrimage for the Jains. The Gomatheswar sits on the top of a large hill, also called Vindhyagiri or Per-kalbappu, It is 3347 feet above sea level. A flight of 614 steps, chiseled into the granite mountain, leads to the summit, where in an open court the great statue of Sri Gomatheswar stands. Sravanabelagola literally means 'the monk on the top of the hill’. Hermits, mystics and ascetics have resided here since  the 3rd century BC. In those early times the hill was thickly wooded and hermits could feed themselves from the vegetation from the forest. Near the middle of the 10th century AD, temples began to be constructed around the hill and from then the place has become one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the Jain religion. The 58 foot, 8 inch statue of Sri Gomatheswar, carved between 978-993 AD, is out of the granite bedrock of the mountain is the tallest freestanding statue in the world. Sri Gomatheswar, also known as Bahubali, was the son of the legendary first Tirthankara (tirthankaras are the mythical, enlightened sages of Jainism). The main festival of Sravanabelagola is called Maha Masthaka Abhisheka ('Head Anointing Ceremony'), which is held once in 12 to 15 years. An enormous wooden stage is built around the statue of Sri Gomatheswar, Sravanabelagola Prior to the festival. More than two million pilgrims assemble on the slopes of the sacred hill.

 In Febuary 2006 more then two million people are estimated to visit it making it one of the largest gathering of people. During the climax of the festival, priests and devotees standing on top of  the stage and chant mantras and ritually pour thousands of gallons of milk, Sugarcane juice, water, curds and precious herbs over the head of the statue. While flowing down the body of the statue these sacred offerings are believed to acquire a powerful charge of spiritual energy from the great deity. Collected at the feet of the statue and distributed to the throngs of waiting pilgrims, the magical libations are considered to assist individuals in their quest for enlightenment. The festival is performed only once every twelve to fourteen years during periods of rare astrological significance. The next ceremony is between January 22, 2006 and February 19, 2006 with the Mahamastakabisheka on Febuary 14, 2006.

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 his brothers other then Bahubali gave up their kingdoms to become monk but Bahubali refused to surrender.

So Bharata challenged Bahubali on the battlefield and engaged him in duel. When Bahubali was about to overpower Bharata, it came upon him the pointlessness of having pride in physical victory and gave up the fight to became a monk. He began to perform various forms of penance as a Jain Sramana monk. Braving the rigors of sun, rain and storm He unwaveringly observed penance in a Kayotsakga pose . He was attacked by the beasts of the Jungle, had Ants built their mounds around his feet and had serpents crawling on him. With time Creepers entangled his body but he was undeterred and remained firm in his resolve to attain liberation.

Yet he was unable to attain Kevala-Jnana (Absolute Knowledge), as he still had pride in him. He stood erect always 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 the Jain tradition Bahubali attained salvation during the Avasarpini, Which is the descending half-cycle of time-era, and so being the first man to attain liberation he became an object of universal worship.

What is the Mahamastakabisheka festival of Sravana Belagola Gomatheswar ?

The consecration rites are 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 (Worship) 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, i.e Milk, Curd, Water, sugarcane Juice, Powders from selected Plants (Sarvoshadhi).

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. The celestial woman Kushmandini arrived disguised in the form of an old poor woman. She was holding the five liquids in a small silver pot called beliya gola – and declared that she would accomplish what the valiant commander had failed to achieve.

Chamundaraya first laughed at her suggestion but permitted her to make the attempt. Whereupon she poured the contents of her small silver pot, and miracusloly, 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 mastakabhisheka performed occasionally.

Later the ceremony of mastakabhisheka came to be termed as Mahamastakabisheka . It is 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 colored Kalasha or pots are arranged in a geometrical pattern. All the pots are made ready with a cocoanut in the center sorounded by green mango leaves which is fastened by a yellow coloured thread. For the first anointing 900 pots are used, for the second 103 and for the third 5, which totals to 1008 pots.

When the ceremony is due to start a number of Jain priests take up their positions on a high stage especially erected for the purpose. Each priest holds in his hands one Kalasha, or pot of milk and one of ghee. On recieving the signal from the officiating dignitary the priests pour first with milk and then with ghee on Gomateshwara.

Once this first purifying bath or anointing is over, the priests  worship Lord Gommatesvara until 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. The temple musicians play suitable music 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 statue, whose head is anointed on that day by thousands of priests and pilgrims gives to the ritual an impressive character. The festival sprirt begins about a fortnight earlier and terminates a fortnight after the Mahamastakabhisheka.

Tips for visiting Shravanabelgola

• Combine it with Belur and halebedu.
• You can Stay in Hassan and make it a base Shravanabelgola is a small village
• Since footwear is not allowed Get / Wear a pair of socks to climb the hot hill
• The Karnataka State Tourism Office, organizes day trips which cover Sravanabelagola, Halebidu and Belur in a single day.
  

Reaching Sravanabelagola
Road
Sravanabelagola is on the road to Hassan from Bangalore and Mysore, and regular buses ply from Hassan to Belur. The KSTDC organizes conducted tours from Bangalore and Mysore to Hassan, Belur and Halebid. Arasikere is another base from which to reach Belur and Halebid.
The best way to reach Sravanabelagola, is to keep Hassan as your base, which offers a host of transport options (including taxis) to travel to the temple towns. Your hotel can provide tourist cars and information on buses to take you between Hassan and Belur / Halebid

Train
The nearest railhead is Hassan, which is connected to other major junctions such as Bangalore Mysore.

Air
The nearest airports are Bangalore (180 km) and Mangalore (220 km).

Hotels for visiting Sravanabelagola
You can find plenty of budget hotels and resorts in Hassan.You can stay in a hotel in Hassan and cover belur halebid

Best time to visit: November to February

Clothing : Throughout the year: Cottons

Climate :Summer: 20-35°C. Winter: 25-28°C

Languages: Kannada, Hindi and English.

STD Code:  Halebid : 08177 Belur : 08172 Sravanabelagola : 08176