Mysuru: The iconic Nandi statue atop Chamundi Hill was the cynosure of all eyes of the visitors today morning as the members of  Bettada Balaga Charitable Trust performed Mahabhishekha to the statue.

This is for the 13th year the members of the Trust conducted the Mahabhishekha for the statute on account of Third Karthika Masa celebrations. A large number of devotees thronged the Nandi statue since morning to witness the annual spectacle organised by the members of the Trust who regularly climb the hill steps.

The statue, which underwent a ‘special’ cleaning recently, was bathed in 36 items like milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, vibhuthi, sandalwood paste, turmeric, kumkum, flowers, bilwa leaves, grapes, banana, sugarcane juice, dates, lime juice and ashtagandha, which was performed from an elevated platform.

This monolithic statue of Nandi is a major tourist attraction atop Chamundi Hill. The statue, reckoned to be at least 350 years old, was sculpted during the period of Dodda Devaraja Wadiyar who ruled from 1659 to 1673 and is the only one of its kind in the State. The statue is 3,489 ft  above sea level.

Though Nandi is found adorning Shiva temples, this is one of the few standalone statues, measuring about 15 ft in height and 24 ft in width and carved out of a single boulder.

The practice of performing ‘abhisheka’ to Nandi was rejuvenated about 13 years ago with regular climbers of the hill reviving the tradition which was said to be in vogue during the era of the Wadiyars.  The abhisheka was also performed using fruits, flowers and other ingredients.

Many tourists from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana  who visited the Chamundeshwari Temple at the hilltop, drove straight to the Nandi statue after learning about the event. The statue was decorated with flowers after the ‘abhisheka’ and a special puja was performed.

The annual ritual was performed by more than two dozen temple priests led by Shadakshari Purohith and Nandi Purohith Parashiva in the presence of Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, Sri Hosamut’s Sri Chidananda Swamiji, Adichunchanagiri Shaka Mutt Seer Sri Somanatha Swamiji and Mysore Royal family titular head Yaduveer Krishnadutta Chamaraja Wadiyar .

PRASADAM TO 7,000 DEVOTEES

It may be recalled, the members of the Chamundi Betta Mettilu Hattuva Balaga had performed a similar abhisheka to the statue on Nov. 12 on the first Monday of Kartika Masa. Today, the members of the trust distributed prasadam like bisibele bath, sweet pongal, curd rice and laddu to more than 7,000 devotees.

The Police Department provided security by deploying Police personnel and had diverted traffic to ease the traffic congestion  enroute to temple. Interestingly, local Muslim Industrialist Rafeeq donated 150 litres milk to perform abhisheka. 300 litres of milk and curd was used apart from other items for the abhisheka.     

Speaking to presspersons, Beettada  Balaga Charitable Trust Treasurer V.N. Sundar said that the members of the trust has been conducting this ritual praying for good rains, for peace, progress and public welfare in the society.  There are 130 members in the Trust. A total of Rs. 7 lakh was spent for this ritual in which the members of the trust have alone funded Rs. 4 lakh, while the remaining Rs. 3 lakh was collected from donors, he said.

Bettada Balaga Charitable Trust,  President S.Prakash, Secretary N. Govind, Trustee Shivakumar, Shankar, Ramesh,   Basavaraju, Kanya Shivamurthy and others were present.