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Gomateshwara Monolith
 Location
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Dharmasthala, Karnataka
Also Known As
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Bahubali
Significance
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Jain Pilgrimage
The Most Revered Jain Pilgrimage Wedged between two stark rocky hills, the legendary pilgrim centre of Shravan Belagola and shrine of the Jains since early times is 150 km from Bangalore , 52 km from Hassan and 80 km from Mysore . Shravanbelagola is one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrim centres in India.
The Monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, a Jain saint and an object of worship for centuries, standing atop one of the hills (Indragirl hill), is 17 metres high and is said to be one of the tallest and most graceful monolithic statues in the world.
The symmetry in stone was created around 983 AD by Chamundaraya, a general and minister of the Ganga, King Rachamatta. This giant statue was carved out of a single block of stone.
It is regarded as one of the largest monolithic statues in the world. Lord Bahubali or Gomateshwar, the gigantic monolith statue is situated at the famous Manjunath Temple in Dharmasthala.
It symbolises renunciation, self-control and subjugation of ego as the primary steps towards salvation. The naked Digambara form of Bahubali represents complete victory over earthly desires.
Legend
Lord Gomatesheshwara was the Jain prince Bahubali who during a war with his greedy elder brother, Bharata who sought to usurp his kingdom, accepted defeat at the moment of his victory because of the futility of it all.
He renounced the world and his rights to his own kingdom, much to the severe repentance of the Bharata and left to lead a life of penance and meditation, attaining Nirvana
Priests climb up to pour pots of coconut water, turmeric paste, and vermillion powder over the statue's head.
Worship of The Lord
The Mahamastakabhisheka festival, an elaborate ritual, held here once every 12 years attracts devotees from all over the world. The statue of Bahubali is anointed with potfuls of exotic offerings including honey, almonds, saffron, sandalwood, coconut milk, dates, bananas, poppy seed, ghee and even gold and silver coins.
This ceremony is called Mahamastakabhisheka and the next ceremony is in 2005 as the last one was in 1993. Sravanabelagola has remained a great Jain centre and the goal of thousands of pilgrims who flock to see the magnificent and gigantic statue of Lord Gomateswara or Bahubali.
It was the Ganga King Rachamalla who commissioned the sculptor Arstameni in 981 A.D. to create this mammoth statue.
Nearby Attractions
The other attractions in the little township of Sravanabelagola are the Jain ''Bastis' (temples) and 'Muths' (monasteries).
One among them is the Chandragupta basti built by Emperor Ashoka, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. It has eight superb carved idols studded with semi-precious stones.
HOW TO GET THERE
Sravanabelagola is 2 ½ hours bus journey from Mysore , three hours trip from Bangalore .
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