Gomateshwara/Bahubali – Overlooking Karkala

K

arkala is known for many Jain monuments.  Among them, the statue of Bahubali also called Gomateshwara stands tall literally.  

Celebration of human competency

     The 42-feet monolith installed on 300 feet high rocky mountain appears to overlook the town. The majestic idol is estimated to weigh around 80 tonnes.  Hats off to those craftsmen who erected such mammoth statue in such an elevated place in the bygone machine-less days! Their sheer faith on human energy is commendable.

Next after Shravanabelagola

     It is believed to be built around 1432 AD by the Pandya Dynasty. Lalitha Keerti, a Jain monk in Karkala is said to have instructed the king Veerapandya Bhairava Raja to take the initiative.  The statue was created to commemorate Prince Bahubali who spent 12 years meditating while renouncing all the worldly pleasures.

     The statue in standing position is the second largest of similar kind in the world, the first being the one at Shravanabelagola, again in Karnataka.

The great bath

     An auspicious bath Mahamasthakaabhisheka is held every 12 years.  The statue is bathed with saffron paste, milk, sugarcane juice, sandal paste etc. Gomateshwara assumes different hues as He is anointed with different bathing materials.

     Scaffolds up to the head and above are erected for the benefit of devotees who participate in abhisheka rituals. Even visitors are allowed to climb the platform buying tickets for a few days prior and post abhisheka until the platforms are dismantled.

     Pooja rituals are performed every day. Annual festival too is held.

Access

     Steps are carved on the rocky mountain to reach the top. Ascending the hill using the steps is a sheer joy. For the benefit of those who are unable to climb or in a hurry, there is a motorable road from behind the mountain.