Sravanabelagola

The hill of Sravanabelagola, 120 kilometers west of Bangalore, is a noted place of pilgrimage for the Jains.  The hill, also called Vindhyagiri or Per-kalbappu, is 3347 feet above sea level. A flight of 614 steps, finely chiseled into the granite of the mountain, leads to the gigantic statue of Sri Gomatheswara also known as Bahubali.

Sravanabelagola means 'the monk on the top of the hill' and hermits, mystics and ascetics have resided here since at least the 3rd century BC. The statue was anointed in 981 AD. Carved from a single block of stone, the statue, 17m tall, is the tallest free-standing statue in the world.

The chief festival of Sravanabelagola is called Maha Masthaka Abhisheka, or the 'Head Anointing Ceremony'. Prior to the festival enormous wooden scaffolding is built around the statue of Sri Gomatheswara and more than one million pilgrims assemble around and upon the slopes of the sacred hill.

During the climax of the festival, priests and devotees standing atop the scaffolding chant holy mantras and ritually pour thousands of gallons of milk, honey and precious herbs over the head of the statue. Collected at the feet of the statue and distributed to the throngs of waiting pilgrims, the “magical” libations are considered to assist individuals in their quest for enlightenment. The festival is performed only once every twelve to fourteen years during periods of rare astrological significance. Recent festivals occurred in February 1981 and December 1993.