DHARMASTHALA: Members of Sri Ananthanath Jain Samaj from Mandya performed the penultimate anointment rituals of Lord Bahubali at Ratnagiri on Sunday. While the main rituals in connection with the once in 12-years mahamastakabhisheka were held for 3-days from February 16, the organisers have held the rituals to cater to demands of Jains from other parts of India over the weekends since then and anointment rituals on March 24 will be the last one. Veerendra Heggade , dharmadhikari, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala felicitated Ananthanath Jain Samaj in the presence of Siddhantha Keerthi Bhattaraka swamiji of Aarathipura Jain Math, Mandya who delivered benedictions on this occasion.Heggade said message of Jainism is all the more relevant in present times and clear message of non-violence, peace and amity goes out to the society through the conduct of mahamastakabhisheka rituals in such a time.Paying special tribute to media – print, visual and internet – for taking the mahamastakabhisheka to living rooms of the devotees across the world, Heggade said it is reports in all forms of media that has conveyed the true essence of this important religious event to the masses. The reports have covered all facets of the event – right from time the monolith was transported to Ratnagiri to the previous three editions of mahamastakabhisheka in an elaborate fashion.The media reports in the run up to the fourth edition that got underway on February 9 also helped create a positive atmosphere which saw a flood of devotees come down to Ratnagiri and partake in the religious festivities organised in connection with mahamastakabhisheka, he said. Noting that the reports have proved to be a treasure trove of information, Heggade said the organising committee will be bringing out a book on all media reports as a record of the event.The task of renovating 200 tanks across Karnataka to mark the occasion is a noble decision taken by Heggade, noted Sri Siddhantha Keerthi Bhattaraka. “This (task) one day will become ‘Maha Vaibhava’ (Mega wonder), the seer said in an apparent reference to ‘Panchamaha Vaibhava’ held in the run up the anointment rituals under the guidance of Hemavathi Heggade, wife of Heggade, who is the ‘Anarghya Ratna of the Jain community,” the seer declared.The anointment rituals were carried out using water, milk, sugarcane juice, turmeric, kashaya, sandalwood paste, asthagandha and other mangala dravyas. Organisers facilitated media to offer mahamastakabhisheka to the monolith in recognition of their work during the event. Srinivas Nayak Indaje, president, DKWJU thanked the organisers for this opportunity. Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka swamiji of Jain Math, Moodbidri will lead the last rituals on March 24.

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