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The Jain community: Mahamasthakabhisheka

Mahamasthakabhisheka

HISTORY OF PREVIOUS EDITIONS

Mahamasthakabhisheka

981 A.D

- The first ever Mahamasthakabhisheka of the sacred 57 feet high monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali was performed in 981 A.D. under the guidance of Chamundaraya. On account of the stupendous height of the image special scaffoldings have to be erected whenever Mahamasthakabhishekas are to be performed. Hence such anointing ceremonies are few and far between performed only at certain conjunctions of the heavenly bodies at intervals of several years and at a very great cost.

1398 A.D.

"The earliest reference to Mahamasthakabhisheka is found in an inscription of 1398, which states that Panditarya had it performed seven times.

1612, 1677, 1825, 1871, 1887 A.D.

-The poet Panchabana refers to an anointment caused to be performed by one Santavarni in 1612, Ananthakavi to another conducted at the expense of Visalaksha Pandita, the Jaina minister of the Mysore kin Chikka-Devaraja-Wodeyar, in 1677 and Santaraja Pandita to a third caused to be performed by the Mysore king Krishna Raja Wodeyar III in about 1825(Epigraphia Carnatica Vol II page 18). Reference is made to a similar ceremony performed in 1827, to another in 1871 in the Indian Antiquary and to another still performed in 1887 at the expense of Sri Lakshmisena Bhattarka of Jain Mutt Kolhapur who is said to have spent nearly Rs. 30,000 for the purpose.

1901 A.D.

- Within recent times there was a grand anointing ceremony on 30th March 1910. It will interesting to note that on that occasion an aerial post was tried by one Mr.G.F.Edwards who sent a message regarding the puja by a homing pigeon which was received by the Madras Mail Office within three hours and forty minutes details of which were published in the Jaina Gazettee Vol VI No. 6.

1925 A.D.

- After the lapse of a decade and a half a very grand Mahamasthakabhisheka was performed on the 15th of March 1925. Months before this date a pooja comittee had been formed with His Holiness Charukirti Panditarya-Varya Swamiji of the Jain Mutt at Shravanabelagola as president and Mr.M.L.Vardhamanaiah of Mysore the Secretary. Bulletins were caused to be issued in various vernaculars and circulated all over India to give the widest publicity possible about the then impending great and religious function of the Jains. With great self sacrifice, Mr.Vardhamanaiah, the energetic and indefatigable Secretary of the Pooja Committee, toured all over India visiting the important Jain centers to invite the Jain Samaj and to make the necessary arrangements for the success of the festival. The news of Mahamasthakabhisheka of Sri Gommateshwara was welcomed with a thrill of joy all over the Jaina world and the one common talk of the Jains early that year was about their intending pilgrimage to Shravanabelagola.

The Mahamastakabhisheka mahotsava began on the 27th February and terminated on the 15th of March with the grand Mahamasthakabhisheka of the sacred and magnificient image of Sri Gommateshwara. Between those two dates there were various festivals including a Panchakalyana pooja. As days passed on the influx of pilgrims went on increasing gradually untill at last towards the middle of March large crowds began to gather in the small town of Shravanabelagola. Jains from all parts India from Calcutta, Cuttack, Kanchi, Kashmir, Belgaum, Benaras, Bombay, Poona, Madras, Meerut, Akola, Alahabad, Lahore, Lalithpur, Delhi, Dacca, Indire, Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Lucknow, Moradabad, Puri, Peshawar, Surat, Ahmadabad, Trichy, Tanjore, Madura, Ramnad, Mangalore, Moodabidri, Karnala, Venur and many other parts of India speaking various vernaculars languages from different professions irrespective of their financial status or education thronged to Shravanabelagola. Many sadhus, sadhvis and shravakas thronged at Shravanabelagola to pay their reverential homage to Gommateshwara and witness the sacred Mahamasthakabhisheka.

With an intention of increasing the importance of the event it was announced that the All India Jain Conference would be held under the distinguished presidency of His Highness the Maharaj of Mysore. The accasion attracted unprecedented number of Jains and the erstwhile village of Shravanabelagola got metamorphosed into a typical Indian city by the middle of March 1925. The pooja committee had made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of the piglrims and had erected a large number of sheds and tents which were fully occupied. His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore had camped at Sravanabelagola for three days. All kinds of bazaars and tamashas and circus added to the buzzle of the place. With the beloved ruler of the state in the midst and with thousands of pilgrims and hundreds of shops, Shravanabelagola could very favourably be compared with any of the average capital cities of the native states in India.

His highness the Maharaja arrived at Shravanabelagola on the 13th March at 6-30pm and His Highness was given a hearty and royal reception at a special entrance to the village, where a welcome arch had been erected for the purpose. On the way from Mysore to Shravanabelagola special arches were erected at the entrance of each village to welcome His Highness on his way to Shravanabelagola. From Kikkeri, His highness traveled along the new route constructed by Sowkar G.P.Dharaniah of Shravanabelagola. Sir Seth Hukumchandji, Mr.M.L.Vardhamanaiah and Dorbali Jinadas Sastri, the palaca Mahadivan and other dignitaries welcomed His Highness in a traditional manner.

On the following four or five days there were anointing ceremonies performed by the pilgrims from different places in India.

The greatest, grandest and the most sublime and memorable event took place on the 15th March. Early in the morning people were seen going up the Vindhyagiri shouting "Sri Gommateshwara Swamiki Jai, Sri Bahubali Maharajki Jai". About 9'o clock in the morning all the available space on the hill was occupied. It was estimated that not less than 5000 people were seated on the Mantap around the sacred Image. Tens of thousands of pilgrims were on the Chandragiri and in the shade of trees anxiously waiting to see the pooja.

At about 9-30 A.M. the pooja began amidst the loud sounding of bands, pipes and drums and the mingled shouts of, "Jai, Jai", the first pooja was performed in the name of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore. As the collossal and the majestic inage was being bathed with water, cocoanut meal, plantains, jaggery, ghee, sugarcane juice, almonds, date, etc. In quick succession the devout pilgrims found themselves in a land of immortality and joy.

At about 11-30 A.M., His Highness the Maharaja arrived at the foot of the hill by motor and walked up the hill bare footed. His Highness sitting on the special seat arranged for him witnessed the pooja. Then the abhisheka or the anointment with milk took place which was a supremely grand and inspiring sight which almost made the spectators forget themselves and cry, "Gommateshwara Swamiki Jai". Then there was abhisheka with sandalwood, saffron mixture and swarna, gold and sivler flowers, varieties of gems and coins. His Highness presented a few costly shawls to His Holiness Sri Charukeerthi Panditarya Swamiji of Jain Mutt at Shravanabelagola. Then the masthakabhisheka came to a successful close for that day amidst shouts of "Jai, Jai".

On the following four or five days there were anointing ceremonies performed by the pilgrims from different places in India.

1940 A.D.

- The government of MYsore sanctioned the performance of the Mahamasthakabhisheka in February 1940. For the first time the Mysore government took up the celebration of this function which on the previous occasions was performed by the leading Jains. As usual for about a fortnight prior to the day of mahamasthakabhisheka which was held on the 26th February 1940, several religious ceremonies were performed. At 9-30 A.M. on the 26th February the first Abhisheka was performed by the late His Highness Sri Krishnarajendra Bahadur accompanied by the prince Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar. The people assembled were happy to witness the pooja and also to see their Highness in their midst. At 4 P.M. on the same day their Highness were presented with welcome addresses on the occasion of the All India Digambar Jain Mahasabha which was graciously opened by His Highness the Maharaja. Several conferences were held during the occasion. Over Rs. 75,000 were collected by the auction sale of Kalashas to constitute a fund for the protection and upkeep of the sacred image. This pooja also was a grand success and a good occasion for the discussion of several matters concerning the welfare of the Jain Community.

Reference:

Glory Of Gommatesvara - Edited by: C.S.Mallinath, Mercury Publishing House, Madras (1953).

THE ALL INDIA JAIN CONFERENCE 1940

A special session of the All India Jaina Conference was held on the 14th March at 9 A.M. in the spacious Pandal which was very tastefully decorated. The gathering was largely representative and the Pandal was full even at 8-30 A.M. with the senior officials of the state, leading dignitaries of the Jain community and other ladies and gentlemen hailing from all parts of India. His Highness Sri Krishna Rajendra Wodeyar Bahadur, the Maharaja of Mysore rrived punctually at 9 A.M. His Highness's arrival was eagerly looked for by thousands of Jaina pilgrims from all over Indian who had heard of the many personal virtues of the Mysore Rajarishi and who therefore now wanted to have a glimpse of and pay their respects to that enlightened and universally venerated Maharaja. When His Highness entered the Pandal the whole audience rose up to give a warm and respectful welcome. His Highness took his seat on a silver throne which was placed on a cloth of gold. This throne was given as a present to His Holiness by Danavir Seth Gurumukhrai Sakhanandi of Bombay as a loyal and respectful tribute from the Jaina Community.

The conference began with the singing of the hymns of prayer to SRi Gommateshwara and songs of welcome to the beloved ruler of Mysore by the girls of the Bombay Sravaki Ashram. Then the palaca Mahavidwan, Dorbali Jinadasa Shastri read Sanskrit verses specially composed for the ocasion in praise of the benign Government of Mysore and the noble and inherent traits of virtue and wisdom in the character of His Highness the Maharaja. A brief and beautiful address of welcome on behalf of the Jaina Community of India was read and presented to His Highness the Maharaja. A brief and beautiful address of welcome on behalf of the Jaina community of India was read and presented to His Highness the Maharaja in an exquisitely carved gold and silver casket by Mr.M.L.Vardhamanaiah, the chairman of the Reception committee. Then His Highness was garlended by Sir Seth Hukumchandji of Indire. There upon Hi highness rose up amidst deafening cheers to declare the conference open. In doing so His Highness delivered a very scholarly and interesting address which ran as follows:

MYSORE MAHARAJA'S ADDRESS AT THE ALL INDIA JAIN CONFERENCE 1940

"Let me thank you for the cordial welcome which you have given me today and for the warm sentiments which you have expressed towards me in your address. I need not assure you that I deeply appreciate them."

WELCOME TO THE "LAND OF PILGRIMAGE" -

It given me great pleasure to be with you on a solemn and auspicious occasion like the present when you have assembled in such large numbers from all parts of India for a holy purpose. In welcoming this All India gathering of the Jains to the land of Mysore, I cannot forget that this land is to them a land of pilgrimage, consecrated by some of the holiest traditions and tenderest memories of their faith. This picturesque rock on an elevated tableland was as a thousand years' old tradition has it, the scene whee the velerable Bhagawan Srutakevali Bhadrabahu leading the first migration of the Jains to the Southern Peninsular broke his journey through the jungles and took up his abode and tradition still points to the cave in which years after he passed away, in Sallekhana, leaving his footprints on the rock. It was in this holy land, the Dakshina-Kasi, the Benares of the South that as the same tradition has it, the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta, the fame of whose prowess turned away the invincible hosts of Alexander the Great, doffing the Emperor's for the ascetic's robe, nursed his master, the Srutakevali, in his last moments and worshipped his footprints. Since that day, many a royal prince of the south and many a holy monk from the north have vowed themselves to death by euthanasia, that Sallekhana which answers to the Samadhimarana of the Hindu Yogi.

This is also the holy spot sacred to the Muniswara Gommata, whom tradition represents to have been the younger brother of Bharata, the eponumous Emperor of Bharatavarsha. The Land of Mysore, therefore, symbolises Gommata's spiritual Empire as Bharatavarsha stands for the empire of his brother Bharata. For a thousand years has the Muniswara's colossal statue carved, it may be, out of a huge boulder on the rock and visible for miles around ruled over this scene unsurpassed in massive grandeur and sublimity of spiritual power by anything that the Egyptian or Assyrian monuments can show.

But Jainism not only found a second birth place and home in Mysore, Jainism repaid the debt. For Jainism, if it did not create our Kannada literarure, inspired some of the noblest masterpieces of that literature in its early history: and Jaina learned men have ever since continued to render signal service to it.

Greatness Of Jainism

No less memorable have been the services of Jainism to the evolution of India's spiritual and philosophical life. Jainism has cultivated certain aspects of that life which have broadened India's religious outlook. It is not merely that Jainism has aimed at carrying Ahimsa to its logical conclusion undetterred by the practicalities of the world., it is not only that Jainism has attemped to perfect the doctrine of the Jina, - what is unique in Jainism among Indian religions and philosophical systems is that it has sought emancipation in an upward movement of the spirit towards the realm of Infinitude and transcendence - and that it has made power, will, character, in one word Charitra, an integral element of perfection side by side with knowledge and faith. And Jainism has sought a harmony of all religions and of all philosophial an dialectical standpoints, in its Sarvadharma and its Anekantavada. At the other end of the scale in its rock cut sculptured architecture, Jainism has created a new style and carried it to a pitch of excellence which places the glories of Mount Abu side by side with the Mausoleum of the Taj among the architectural wonders of the World.

A Welcome Awakening

But all human beings are subject to decay, and your own later day history has not been exempted from the operation of this universal law. Fortune, however, is depicted as a riding on a wheel, every descent leads to an ascent, an Avasarpini period must be followed by an utsarpini. And to one who has closely watched the signs of the times, it cannot but be evident that a great awakening has come to the Jaina community all over India. You have resolved to bid farewell to all disputes of rival sects which have brought your religious usages and traditions into the purview of the Courts of Law. You have resolved no longer to remain a divided houses. You have resolved to hark back to the pristine purity of your spiritual doctrine and tenets, and to conform your social organisation to the simple rigour of your faith, and purge it of some of its latter day accretions as may not be in harmony with the teachings of the Jina.

==Social Conferences and Politics

Treading the path of pilgrimage like your ancestors and like your asiatic brethren of other faiths, you have come here primarily for a religious purpose, but you have not overlooked that ancient association of religion and life, and have taken advantage of this sacred occasion to hold a conference of the Jain community. The conference is, I understand, a purely religious and social one. It will have nothing to do with politics. I commend the wisdom of the promoters on this limitation. Let me not, however, be misunderstood in this commendation as putting politics outside the pale of your consideration as something to be dreaded or ignored. On the contrary, I feel that every educated person should take an earnest and intelligent interest in the political questions of the day and contribute his and (I ought, perhaps to add) here share share towards the solution of the problems that must inevitably arise from the necessity of adapting the organisation of humanity to the needs of its expanding consciousness. But you, gentlemen, have assembled here as members of a perticular religious community having religious and social problems peculiarly your own. Your purpose is to discuss these problems and to devise means for the progress of your community. On this occasion you are Jains first and Indians afterwards and as such you have every right to your own standpoint and may most fitly discuss there from your special needs and aims. But in the sphere of politics, whether concerning India as a whole or any of the areas of which it is composed, you are Indians first and Jains afterwards. As Jains you command the sympathetic interest of everyone in looking at the problems of your community from your particular standpoint.

A comprehensive View Of National Progress

An Indians your political point of view, has also the political point of view of every other religious community in India, should in my opinion, bet hat of India as a whole. So long as the thousand and one different communities into which our community is split up bear this doctrine in mind and act towards one another in a true spirit of brotherhood, we need have no misgivings as to her future. It is when the purely social and religious questions invade politics that vast difficulties arise, difficulties which much inevitably retard the progress of the country. We must therefore wish every community all possible success in its endeavour to advance itself religiously, socially and educationally. At the same time, we must realise that if there is to be real progress in the country at large it must be all along the line, it must embrace every community and I personally consider it the sacred duty of the more advanced communities not only to have earnest regard for their own progress, but also to extend a helping hand to less fortunate communities, which from some relediable cause, are lagging in the path of human evolution.

Conclusion

I wish this conference all possible success. In Sir Hukumchand, you have a president of whom you have every reason to feel proud and I have no doubt that his advice and guidance will be of inestimable value to you all. His example should be a stimulous to the younger members of your community, and I trust there are many who will endeavour to follow in his foot steps. Gentlemen, I thank you once again for your address and for the cordial sentiments you have expressed, and I wish you all ever-increasing prosperity.

The whole audience listened to the address with rapt attention. When His highness left the hall the people vociferously gave vent to their feelings of their loyalty and regard by shouting "Mysore Maharaja Ki Jai", as a token of their joy and gratefulness for the honour that His Highness had very graciously conferred on the Jaina community.

Reference:

Glory Of Gommatesvara - Edited by: C.S.Mallinath, Mercury Publishing House, Madras (1953).