Gomateshwara Bahubali Bhagwan Statue, Sravanabelagola, Karnataka India

Standing tall with all the serene splendour on the Vindyagiri (or Indragiri or Doddabetta) Hills is the statue of Lord Gomateshwara (Bahubali) that stands about 57 feet high and 10 feet long (wide). Bahubali is considered to be the inventor of the concept of "ahimsa" or non-violence by the Jains, which forms the basic tenet of their religion. Bahubali was the first to have attained salvation.The monolithic image of Bahubali is carved beautifully with accurate sense of expression and one can see the beautiful curly hairs over the head of the statue. The creepers and plants twisting their way up his body are symbolic of his motionless assignment of spiritual discovery. The whole sculpture is simple, gigantic but definitely imposingly majestic. Carved from the black granite found in the hills, this statue is the epitome of tranquillity and equanimity.

Mahamastakabhishekam: An ancient Indian tradition, religious fervour and a rare feast to the eyes of every devotee and tourist is the Mahamastakabhishekam of Gomateshwara Bhagawan Bahubali statue. Once in 12 years lakhs of devotees congregate here to participate in the sacred festival of anointing Bhagawan Bahubali statue. During this ceremonial festival of Mahamastakabhishekam fresh and pure tender coconut, sugarcane juice, milk, rice flour, turmeric paste, kashaya (herbal concoction), shrigandha (sandal paste), chandana (coloured sandal paste), ashtagandha (8 varieties of sandal paste), saffron, gold and silver flowers, and precious stones are all poured on the head of Lord Gomateshwara that is a sight to behold.It is said that this ritual to Gomateshwara image at Shravanabelagola is in memory of the first consecratory bath Prathista Abhisheka given to the image by the Chamundaraya and his guru Acharya Sri Nemichandra Siddantha Chakravarthi. Since then this ritual has been followed devoutly every 12 years. According to the inscription number 360 of the Epigraphic Karnatic, a grand ceremony took place in the year 1398 AD and seven such ceremonies during the years 1612, 1659, 1677, 1800, 1875 and 1887 had taken place earlier.