Moodubidre
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A backgrounder
March 4, 2024: The Times of India
Known as Jain Kashi, this South Karnataka region celebrates disarmament and peace in a grand, colourful ritual, reports NARAYANI GANESH Photos: Narayani Ganesh
With more than eighteen ancient Jain temples and a culture that spans millennia, Moodubidre, a small town in Southern Karnataka, could soon be declared a world heritage site, once due process is completed. It is known as the Jain Kashi, its crowning glory being the 35-feet-tall stone monolith of Bahubali, symbolising disarmament, detachment, penance, austerity, ahimsa, peace, harmony, compassion and brotherhood.
As the second son of Rishabhnath, the first Jain tirthankara and brother of Chakravartin Bharat, Bahubali transcended the material world after going through conflict over rights to the kingdom. After defeating his brother, Bahubali got disgusted with the world and became a monk, meditated for twelve years motionless in standing position with vines and creepers climbing up his legs and attained kevala jnana. Yet, he is not a tirthankara as he did not preach but as a siddha, attained moksh at Mt Kailash.
This area in South Karnataka is home to five colossal Bahubali murtis, in Shravanabelagola, Karkala, Dharmasthala, Venur and Gommatagiri. In the just concluded once-intwelve-year Mahamastabhishek ritual at Venur (February 22-March 1, 2024) Bahubali was anointed with twelve different kinds of liquid of- ferings and also flower petal showerings from a helicopter. Venur was capital of the Ajila dynasty whose current head Arasu Padmaprasad, a practicing ayurvedic doctor and working president of Shri Digambara Jain Teertha Kshetra Samiti, oversaw preparations and inaugurated the first day offerings.
The elaborate scaffolding erected to enable devotees to climb to the very top and pour oblations over Bahubali’s head, was constructed at a cost of Rs One crore. Each day’s puja and abhishek is sponsored by a family that spends around Rs 30 lakhs. Jeevandhar Kumar of Perinje village and family were responsible for the fourth day. They take care of a Shiv temple, just as some other Jain families too take care of Hindu temples in the region.
The Mahamastabhishek is conducted with donations from thousands of people and enables strengthening of infrastructure like roads, water, electricity and there is a vibrant community service activity that sees visitors pouring in from all parts of India and the world. All this is performed with utmost respect for the environment, respect for all species, with focus on green practices that are non-violent and non-exploitative, the very core of Jain philosophy. “The festival upholds annadaan, mass feeding; abhayadaan, protection of the needy; aushadaan, health services and vidya daan, education,” says Mahaswamiji of Jain Mutt, Moodubidre, Charukeerthi Swamiji. “Anyone can attain godhood with good practices; special attention is given to protecting the environment with sustainable practices like saying ‘no’ to plastic and caring for all species. This needs to be taught and inculcated in children right from school,” he says.
Saffron trader NB Sreyamsa Kumar, his son Rajendra and family from Tumkur say that they hope the fragrance of saffron from Kashmir, their offering to the abhishek, brings peace in and around India. The family also offered turmeric abhishek.
Annadaan was led by Jagadish Heggade, who, with his team of 60 cooks, fed up to 20,000 people daily at the venue, offering sattvic breakfast, lunch and supper, all sponsored by individual families each day. Health and blood donation camps, free distribution of spectacles and wheelchairs are covered by the committee comprising 50 members.
The mahamastabhishek celebrations will happen in Karkala in 2028, Shravanabelagola in 2030 and Dharmasthala in 2031, motivating people to participate and imbibe eternal principles that add value to life.
