Mysuru :
The more than 360-year-old monolith of Nandi, located mid-way on Mysuru-Chamundi Hill Road, was today, bathed in more than 30 items like milk, honey, curds, kumkum, ghee, dry fruits, tender coconut, sandal, turmeric, rice flour, etc., as devotees performed ‘Mahabhishekha’ to it.
It may be recalled that the event is being jointly organised annually by the members of ‘Bettada Balaga’ (a group of regular morning walkers to the hill) and ‘Srikshethra Chamundi Bettada Sri Nandiya Puja Mahotsava Samiti’ since 2006.
Legend has it that performing the ritual on third Sunday of Kartikamasa of the Hindu calendar enhances the life of the stone statue. It is also said that the practice of performing Mahasbhishekha to the monolith existed during the reigns of Wadiyars.
Prior to the Mahabhishekha, the statue was cleaned with water before a group of over a dozen priests conducted the abhishekha, which was witnessed by thousands of devotees and tourists.
The ritual, which began at around 10.30 am with Suttur Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji performing the ‘abhishekha’ in the presence of Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Datta Vijayananda Swamiji, Junior Pontiff of Ganapathy Ashram, Chidananda Swamiji of Hosamutt, Jamanagiri Swamiji, Vyaghramukharudrapada Cave in Nandi premises and others, continued for more than four hours.
Interestingly, both Pramoda Devi and Yaduveer also performed abhishekhas.
It is said that this is the 10th Mahabhishekha being performed by the ‘Bettada Balaga’ which spends more than Rs. 2 lakh for the ‘Mahabhishekha’ annually.
Organisers had arranged lunch for more than 5,000 devotees and visitors while the employees of JSS Hospital have organised a Deepotsava at the Nandi premises on Nov.30 at 6.30 pm.
Samiti Convenor S. Shivakumar, Balaga President S. Prakashan, Working President N. Govinda, Secretary H.S. Jagannath, Treasurer V.N. Sundhar were among those present.
Scenes of foreign tourists and locals clicking pictures of the celebrations on their mobile phones and cameras were common at the venue which had been provided tight security with vehicular traffic being restricted.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / November 29th, 2015