Mahavir & His Heritage

A film going into the history of Jainism. Attaining the Nirvana, over 2500 years ago Mahavira was the last of the 24 Tirthankaras. Of the present cycle of time the first Tirthankara was Rishabhnath. Mahavira's birth and following quest for the Nirvana is narrated. The film depicts the spread of Jainism across the country, its temple, it a body literature known as Agamas and Shastras, preserved in Jain Bhandara for centuries, its tradition of painting, its sculpture including the Shravanbelgola in Karnataka, where the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta retired in espousing the vows of a Jain monk. It is here in these sacred hills that in a later period, Chamundral  craved a 57 feet monolith image of Gomateshwara Bahubali the son of the first Tirthankara.

Mahamastakabhishek - A Unique Event

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Shravan Belgola, a small town in Karnataka nestling between two sacred hills Chandragiri and Indragiri, has been a place of Jain pilgrimage for past two thousand years. It is famous for its gigantic figure of Lord Bahubali, also known as Gomateshwara. The nude stone colossus, in sublime contemplation is awe-inspiring in its simplicity. Seventeen meters high, the statue is believed to be the world's tallest free-standing monolith. Every twelve years pilgrims gather at this holy place to pay homage to Gomateshwara. This film records such and event on February 9, 1981 when millions of devotees observe the Mahamastakabhisheka, the great head anointing ceremony of Lord Bahubali. Mahamastakabhisheka is held at certain auspicious planetary conjunctions every 12 or 14 years. This year it coincides with the 1000th anniversary of the installation of the idol. This festival is also an occasion to honor Jain scholars.

The film brings to the screen the ancient glory of the historic city of Rajgriha, once the capital of Magadh Empire, about 100 Kilometers south east of Patna. Famed as a seat of learning and religion, it is closely associated with the life and teaching of Lord Mahavira and Gautama Buddha who spent many years of their life here Rajgir, as it is now called, is also famous for its hot springs which provide a cure for many human ailments.