Context: 

Nine-day mahamastakabhisheka celebrations begin at Venur in Karnataka

Background:-

The Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsava of Bhagavan Shri Bahubali Swami, the first Mokshagami and son of the first Theerthankara of Jainism, began with rituals at Venur in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

About Mahamastakabhisheka: 

1. The Mahamastakabhisheka refers to the abhiṣheka (anointment) of the Jain images when held on a large scale.
2. The most famous of such consecrations is the anointment of the located at Shravanabelagola(Hassan district) in Karnataka, India.
3. It is an important Jain festival held once in every 12 years. It is an integral part of the ancient and composite Jain tradition.
4. Karnataka has many important Jain pilgrim centres, temples and monuments.
5. Shravanabelagola, Dharmasthala, Karkala, Moodbidri, Venur, Humcha and Narasimharajapura will astonish the visitors by their vast and abundant Jain heritage.

About Bahubali: 

1. Bahubali, according to the traditions of Jainism,is the son of the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha.
2. After Bahubali won a duel with his half brother for control of the kingdom, he is believed by the Jains to have realized the transience of temporal affairs and renounced the world.
3. According to legend, he then stood immobile, with feet straight ahead and arms at his side, meditating for an entire year in the Yogic position of kayotsarga (“dismissing the body”). He was so unmindful of the world around him that vines grew undisturbed up his arms and legs and anthills rose around his feet.
4. His meditation led him to true victory over human passion and, according to the beliefs of the Digambara sect of Jainism, enabled him to become the first human of this kalpa (world age) to gain liberation.