What is Shravanabelagola?

  • Shravanabelagola, is a Jain pilgrimage centre located near Channarayapatna of Hassan district in Karnataka, about 144 kms from state capital Bengaluru.
  • Gommateshwara Bahubali statue, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations for Jains.
  • Shravanabelagola has two hills, Chandragiri and Vindyagiri. Gommateshwara Statue, the 57-foot (17 m) high monolithic statue, is located on the Vindyagiri Hill. 
  • More than 800 inscriptions have been found at Shravanabelagola, dating to various times from 600 AD to 1830 AD.
  • The statue Gommateshwara is dedicated to the Jain God Bahubal.
  • It was built around 983 A.D. and is one of the largest free-standing statues in the world. 
  • On August 5, 2007, the statue was voted as the first of Seven wonders of India as 49 per cent of the total votes went in favour of it.
  • The Mahamastakabhisheka festival is held once in 12 years, when the Gommateshwara statue is anointed with milk, saffron, ghee, etc.
  • It is reported that the prime minister will inaugurate newly constructed 50-bed Bahubali General Hospital and new stairs that have been constructed just before the mega event. 
  • He will also commission the 140-km fully-electrified Bengaluru-Mysuru rail tracks and flag off the Humsafar Express train from Mysuru to Udaipur in Rajasthan. 

Source:Indian Express

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