Udupi, August 22, 2013: The 180-tonne granite rock structure, which is to be sculpted into a 32-feet-long statue of the exponent of the Dwaita philosophy Sri Madhwacharya, was given a rousing reception here on Wednesday.

The granite rock structure was here en-route to Kunjargiri hill, about 11 km from Udupi, where it would be sculpted and erected. The installing of the statue is an ambitious project taken up by Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swamiji of Palimar Math, one of the ‘Ashta Maths’ or eight maths of Udupi.

When the granite rock arrived at Karavali Junction at around 3.20 p.m. here, many people garlanded it and many others showered petals on it. Crackers were also burst on the occasion. K. Raghupati Bhat, former MLA, Raghuram Acharya, Dewan of Pejawar Math, Balaram Bhat, Manager of Palimar Math, were among those present.

Later speaking to presspersons, Ashok Gudigar, chief sculptor of the statue, said that work on the statue would commence in two weeks. Sheds would be erected for the purpose atop the Kunjargiri hill. As many as 10 sculptors including three local sculptors would work on creating the statue.

The statue would be sculpted following 32 parameters laid down in the text “Tantrasara” written by Sri Madhwacharya. It would be sculpted in the Dakshina Kannada style. “The sculpting of the statue will take about 10 months,” he said.

The statue would be first sculpted and then erected on a 10-feet platform or “peetha”, making the total height of the structure 42 feet.

The 180-tonne rock structure was from a quarry at Koira in Devanahalli village near Bangalore. Hence, it could be called Koira granite.

He had past experience of sculpting such huge statutes including a 41-feet statue of Lord Bahubali, which was erected at Songadh in Bhavanagar district of Gujarat, a 34-feet statue of Sri Kanakadasa in Hosadurga, a 30-feet statue of Lord Hanuman carved for the film actor Arjun Sarja in Chennai.

Source: The Hindu, August 22, 2013