The word Mahamasthakabhisheka is a combination of three words viz: Maha (great), Masthaka (head) and Abhisheka (anointing) which literally means ‘the head anointing ceremony’. Unlike the other idols the ceremony is called Mahamasthakabhisheka and not Masthakabhisheka. This is because the ceremony is performed only once in 12 years on the contrary the abhisheka to the Gommata idol at Gommatagiri is performed every year. The earliest one on record took place in 1398 A.D. and the latest in 2006 A.D.