A spectacular finale to this splendid ceremony is a shower of flowers from a helicopter. The Department of Information and the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, heartily welcome you to witness this grand event - truly Karnataka's honour and India 's pride.

Shravanabelagola is situated about 140 kms northwest of the city of Bangalore , the capital of Karnataka. The town has been a prominent centre for Jain art, architecture, religion and culture for over two millennia. About two thousand years ago, Bhagawan Bhadrabahu, the earliest among the great Jain Acharyas came to Shravanabelagola from Ujjain , Madhya Pradesh, with his disciples. Influenced by this ascetic, Chandragupta Maurya, the great emperor who ruled a large part of India , settled in this region, handing over the reins of his kingdom to his son.

Legend has it that Lord Gomateshwara, also known as Bahubali, was the son of the first Jain Teerthankara, Lord Adinatha. Challenged by his brother Bharatha over the succession to the throne, Bahubali took on Bharatha in a duel that involved three forms - Drishtiyuddha, Mallayuddha and Jalayuddha. Though Bahubali finally emerged victorious, he was overwhelmed by both the enormity and the futility of the desire for material wealth - a pursuit that sets brother against brother. He then renounced his kingdom and all other worldly pleasures.

Driven by his quest for the ultimate bliss or Moksh, Bahubali stood in deep meditation and radiated the glow of spiritual tranquility. Chavundaraya, prime minister and commander-in-chief of the Ganga Kingdom , consecrated the statue of Bahubali in meditative form in 981 AD. The magnificent monolith has seen a thousand springs, and to this day stands as an embodiment of extraordinary renunciation for which the Jain philosophy stands for.

In appreciation of the majesty, splendour and strong spiritual significance, Bahubali came to be known as Gomata. The statue, which has withstood the test of time so well, reinforcing the truth "realisation of the self is the real way to Moksh (salvation)". The statue of Lord Gomateshwara has withstood the test of time reinforcing the truth,"Realization of the self is the real way to Moksh".