12,000 devotees take outprocession in Shravanabelagola

Mangalore Today News Network

Shravanabelagola, Feb 10, 2018 : Thousands of devotees took out a procession on the streets of Shravanabelagola as part of Janmakalyana Mahotsava of Pancha Kalyana of Adinath Theerthankara, on Friday. The event is part of the Mahamastakabhisheka of Bhagawan Bahubali.

Jain Mutt seer Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami launched the Janmabhishika to Jina Balaka by performing various rituals.

The programme started with Suprabhatam, earlier in the day.

Around 12,000 devotees, who have arrived from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and other states, holding Jain religion flag and kalashas, took out a procession in the town.

Performance of folk arts such as nagari, dolu, tamate and kombu enthralled the devotees.

The devotees, holding placards with messages such as ’Happiness from non-violence’, ’Peace with Sacrifice’, ’Progress from the Alliance’, walked along the procession.

Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami and MLA C N Balakrishna flagged off the procession at Bahubali College of Engineering in the town. The procession concluded at Sumeru Parvata, which is constructed at Panchakalyananagar, 3 km away from the college.

Later, Jinasishu was taken out in a procession on an elephant from Tyaginagar to Sumeru Parvata.

Following the procession, jalabhisheka to Jinasishu was performed on Panduka Shile.

Addressing the gathering, Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami explained about the significance of the Janmabhishika.

Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala D Veerendra Heggade couple, Vardhaman Sagar Maharaj, poets and tyagis, participated in the event.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will visit the town on Saturday to participate in the Mahamasthakabhisheka to the statue of Bahubali.

He will attend the Rajyabhisheka, scheduled to be held at Chavundaraya Sabha Mantap,  here.

courtesy:DHNS