The Bahubali colossus

The 39 feet tall magnificent image of Gommata standing on Ratnagiri located to the right side of the principal gateway of Dharmasthala was installed in 1982. This is the second Bahubali image to be installed in the district, the first one being at Venuru (1604). It was the desire of Smt. Rathnamma, the wife of former Dharmadhikari Rathnavarma Heggade, to install an image of Bahubali in the calm environment of Dharmasthala. Accordingly, in 1967, the responsibility of carving of the statue was entrusted to sculptor Ranjala Gopala Shenoy. By selecting the stone available in Mangalapade near Karkala, and utilizing the services of quite a few stone workers, the carving of the image was completed in 1973 under the supervision of Shenoy. This monolithic colossus of 39 feet in height, weighing 170 tons, and carved and completed in Mangalapade located at a distance of 64 km from Dharmasthala, was brought to Dharmasthala on a special trolley having 64 wheels and weighing 60 tons, traversing for 23 days and facing many odds. This was set up on a 13-foot-high pedestal with the help of Special Travelling Grantee in 1975. Then this statue was installed as per religious prescriptions on 3rd February 1982 after a nine-day long ceremony. Thereafter, the Padabhisheka (anointing the feet) is being conducted every year successfully and the mahamastakabhisheka (the great ceremony of anointing the head of the deity) was conducted with great pomp in 1995.. Thereafter the third mahamastakabhisheka was held in February 2007. In the plateau of Ratnagiri Hill there is a carving of a tiger and cow side by side signifying peace and harmony. After climbing 280 steps and reaching the top of the Ratnagiri hill, one stands spell-bound before the is a Mantapa of 12 pillars beside the colossus. The hill can also be reached by traveling along a good asphalted road.