Hassan: Scores of Jain munis have been descending on Shravanabelagola for the Mahamastakabhisheka of the statue of Bahubali, but all eyes are on Chinmay Maharaj, often called the "Jungle Wale Baba" who arrived at the Jain pilgrim centre on foot on Monday, walking 600 kms from Belagavi to get there .
The Baba, who lives deep inside forests, meditating, braving rain and the heat, set out on foot from Dharampur in Belagavi on December 20 last year for Shravanabelagola, and on arrival was received by great reverence by pilgrims at the entrance to the town and taken in a procession around it.
A devotee of Jungle Wale Baba, Pradeep, says he walked 10 kms a day sometimes and 25 to 30 kms on others to reach Shravanabelagola. He will stay at Tyagi Nagar, which is reserved for Jain Munis, for two-days before retiring to the scrub forests of Chandragiri Hill for meditation. For his safety, forest officials have reportedly caught a few leopards from the Chandragiri Hill.
His followers say he eats once a day and not in bowls or plates but food served on his bare hands. It's said that people, who have come in contact with him have quit smoking, given up liquor, and even become vegetarians. While in the forests he remains accessible to tribals and other forest dwellers besides anyone else who may seek him out. Chinmaya Maharaj will stay in Shravanabelagola till the completion of the head anointing ceremony of Bahubali, which is scheduled to be held between February 17 and 25.
