Mysuru: The Mahabhisheka to Nandi Statue atop Chamundi Hill was performed by Bettada Balaga Charitable Trust in the presence of thousands of devotees this morning. Prior to the Mahabhisheka, the Nandi Statue was cleaned with water early in the morning following which the rituals commenced at 9.30 am.
Suttur Mutt Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, after making ‘Sankalpa’, performed special puja at the foot of the statue before going to the top of the statue along with other Seers to perform the Mahabhisheka.
The Mahabhisheka began with pouring of milk (Ksheerabhisheka), followed by other items which included Vagya, Argya, Achamana, curds, ghee, honey, sugar, vibhuthi, sandalwood paste, turmeric, kumkum, sindoora, flowers, bilwapatra, banana, grapes, dates, cucumber, sugarcane juice, tender coconut, lime, oil, panchamrutha, dharbe, and ashtagandha etc.,
Rituals were completed with the performance of Jalabhishekha and Mahamangalarathi.
For the first time in the 12-year history of Mahabhisheka, the Nandi Statue was draped with a blue coloured velvet cloth measuring 50 mts in length to mark the 12-year event. The cloth, worth over Rs. 30,000, was draped after the Abhisheka. Rituals were followed by ‘Anna Santarpane’ to the devotees.
Sri Datta Vijayananda Theertha Swamiji of Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama, Hosmath Seer Sri Chidananda Swamiji, Bettada Balaga Charitable Trust President A. Prakash, office-bearers Govinda and U.N. Sundar, Trustees M.S. Subbamma, Sathyanarayana, Shankaranna, Ramesh and others were present.
It may be mentioned here that members of Chamundi Betta Mettilu Hattuva Balaga had performed a similar Abhisheka to the statue on Oct. 23, the first Monday of Karthika Month.
Just in October, it was reported that archeology department had spent considerable amount in getting the statue cleaned and it had turned white . A comparative study of photographs available with British Library also indicated the Statue was indeed white about 150 years back.
Your report dated Oct 8, 2017 also attributed this statement to the official of the archeology department: These colours cause damage to the statue and at the same time cause skin disease. These chemicals can potentially lead to cracks for the statue…”
Within one month thereafter you have reported two events of Mahaabisheka by different self styled groups.
The obvious question who permits these people to indulge in this Mahabisheka ? Certainly it was not part of any age old tradition. This is some 350 years old heritage monolith. Undeniably protected under the ” the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological sites and remains Act 1961.
Even one wants to respect public sentiments and allow such events it cannot be at the whims of private group of people and acts of one-upmanship. It should be at the best an annual event fixed on the basis of some religious `significance. It should be quality controlled and the colours etc used should be organic and archeology department should put in a standard procedure to clean the monolithic soon thereafter.
One fails to understand what the so called ” Mysore Heritage Region Development and protection Committee” is doing in this regard ?