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BHARATESHA EXHIBITION INAUGURATED
ABSENCE OF FUL FLEDGED CM
REGRETED
Shravanabelagola, Feb 2:
The absence of a full fledged chief minister heading the State Government when
the Mahamastakabhisheka celebrations were underway is a matter of regret,
Shravanabelagola MLA C S Putte Gowda lamented on Thursday.
Delivering the presidential addressed at the inauguration of the 'Bharatesha
Exhibition', Mr.Putte Gowda echoed the opinion of all on the dais, including
Shravanabelagola Pontiff Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji and
Principal Secretary (Tourism) Ms.Shantakumari, when he said it would have been
appropriate if the State had a full fledged chief minister in office when the
exhibition was being inaugurated. He hoped the impasse would be resolved by
Friday.
Principal Secretary (Tourism) Ms. Shantakumari, inaugurating the exhibition,
said the influence of Jainism on Indian society including Hinduism was deep
rooted and Jainism was the reason why animal sacrifices which was rampant under
the Brahminical influence was curbed to a large measure.
Shravanabelagola Pontiff Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji recounted
that the story of brothers Bharata and Bahubali was more than 5000 years old as
testified with the discovery of an idol of Bahubali in the Mohanjedaro site.
However, if one went by the literary records, it was much older and has
influenced all facets of life in various kingdoms since, he quoted the examples
of Bahubali in many ancient literary works.
MMC06 Hon.President MMC06 Honorary President Mr. Naresh Kumar Sethi, Reception
President Mr. Nirmal Kumar Sethi, Exhibition Committee President Satish Jain,
Exhibition Committee convener Padmaprasad, Hassan Deputy Commissioner Ashwath
Narayan Gowda, Superintendent of Police Pandurang Rane, Jilla Panchayat CEO
Jamadhar and Shravanbelagola Gram Panchayat President Sharat Kumar were also
present. Working President A R Nirmal Kumar welcomed.
SHRAVAKA SAMMELAN PROVIDES THE
PLATFORM
DIGAMBAR
JAINS URGE UNION GOVERNMENT TO GRANT MINORITY STATUS
Shravanabelagola, Feb 2:
The 'Shravanak Sammelan' organised at Shravanbelagola on the occasion of the
Mahamasthakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali provided a platform to the Digambar Jain
Samaj to raise a unified voice against the delay in granting of Minority status
to the Jain community. The members of the Digambar Jain community in the country
led by Acharya 108 Vardhamana Sagar muni Maharaj today made an impassioned plea
to the Union Government to accord Digambar Jains the status of religious
minorities.
Inaugurating the Sammelan, MMC06
Honorary President Mr. Naresh Kumar Sethi said the lack of unity within the
Digambar Jain community was the biggest hurdle in securing minority status. He
urged the members of the community to resolve to build a school whenever a
temple is built. Marriages have become so extravagant that many parents of the
girl child were reeling under severe debts and this has to change. Mr. Sethi
said he was ashamed at the increasing number of female feticide within the
Digambar Jain community. On the other hand, Jain girls and women were adopting
lifestyles that go totally against any maternal instinct, rooted a these are in
lifestyles of tight jeans and topless apparels.
The speech by Brahmachari Sri
Ravindra Jain from Jaipur gave a new momentum to the minority discussion. He
called upon the unity of the Digambar and the Swethambar Samaj for posing a
unified voice in connection with the Minority status.
Reception President Mr. Nirmal Kumar Sethi who presided urged all the
participants of the Sammelan to respect the traditions and diversities of the
South and steer clear of sullying them, even inadvertently. He elaborated in
detail the contribution of the Digambar Jains from south India in the
preservation of Jain religion and Jain way of life, he began his description
starting from the contribution of Acharya Sri Shanthisagarji Maharaj in reviving
the Digambar Jains monkhood. Further he appreciated the contribution of the
Bhattrakha tradition in reviving the Jain kshetras and particularly appreciated
His Holiness Swasti Sri Charukeerthi BHattarakha Swamiji. Further speaking about
the minority status of the Jains he opined that, lack of unity is the main cause
for the delay in according the status and hence called for the Eakikaran
of the Jain samaj. He also felt the need to fill the lacunae of structural
deficiency in the samaj. Elaborating further he also quoted the discussion he
had with Aryika Indumati Mathaji about involving more youths in the religion and
motivating them to follow the Jain way of life, for which as suggested by
Aryikaji he put forth the proposal of establishing the 'Jain Veer' award for the
followers of Jain principles.
He requested the Digambar Jain
Munis to guide the Samaj about the confusion prevailing amongst the Digambar
Jains in connection with the rituals and pooja of Yaksha and Yakshis. For this
he quoted his discussion with Sri D.Veerendra Heggde of Dharmasthala as
questioned by Heggdeji, in connection with the difference of opinion in between
some of the Digambar Munis of the North and South about the rituals and other
ideological following. Further elaborating on this he said he was dumb founded
and was still unable to find a clear solution. For this he urged the entire muni
sangh present to put an end to such unnecessary confusions and there by leading
towards the unity of the Digambar Jains from North and South.
Addressing the two-day 'Shravaka Sammelan' or the general assembly, Acharya 108
Vardhamana Sagar Munimaharaj said it was difficult today to find persons from
the Digambar Jain community either in the civil service or any other wing of the
administration and attributed this to the climate of reservation in the country.
"Meritorious Jain students are finding it impossible to secure positions in the
civil service and this is because of the failure of the Government to secure
Digambar Jains the status of religious minorities. This should be done without
brooking further delay and the entire community must make a concerted effort at
securing this legitimate status," he said.
Expressing his sadness at the rapid degeneration of the Jain way of life
among the current generation, the Acharya Sri said effective action must to
taken to stem the rot among the current generation, with many moving away from
the very basic cannons of the religion and indulging in acts and deeds one
cannot even conceive. "It is a matter of shame that we have to publicly discuss
these things on such an occasion where in reality these issues must be thrashed
out inside the confines of a family home," he regretted.
On the tendency of many devotees in North India to uproot idols from the
heritage sites and install them in new temples, the Acharya said this was
against the very spirit of the religion. Through such acts, one was showing
great irreverence to the learned saints of the past who presided over the
consecrations. "One must learn from South India how to restore heritage sites
even while preserving its antiquity. Shravanabelagola's Swasthishri Charukeerthi
Bhattaraka Swamiji and Dharmasthala's Veerendra Heggade are great role models in
this. And nobody should force changes in age old rituals in different temples,"
he added.
The Acharya urged the members of the community to unite and wash away any sense
of shame they harboured about the Digambar Jain way of life. He cited South
India and the Jains here as an example and pointed out that nothing can be
achieved if one went against the laws of the land.
In a direct warning to the detractors within the community and the monks who
have chosen different paths away from the mainstream, the Acharya said while
they were welcome back to the fold if they changed their ways, all efforts by
them to sneak into the mainstream would be rendered futile.
South India Jain Sabha President Mr. Kallappanna Awade pointed out that Digambar
Jains were losing political representation with not even one Digambar Jain being
a member of today's parliament whereas there were as many as 36 members in the
Nehru administration.
Working President A.R.Nirmal Kumar who welcomed stressed the need for providing
financial assistance to all students to pursue all levels of education.
Shravanabelagola pontiff Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamji graced. Mr.
Mahaveer Prasad Jain, Chief Whip of Rajasthan Government, Hastinapur's
Brahmachari Ravindraji and Mr. Nirmal Kumar Setna also spoke. MMC06 A giant
palanquin constructed out the Kalasha collections at a cost of Rs.6.25 lakh was
unveiled on the occasion.
GRAND
MAHAMASTHAKABHISHEKA PROCESSION ON FEBRUARY 5TH
Shravanabelagola, Feb 3:
More than One lakh people are expected to congregate on this pilgrim township on
February 5 on the occasion of the grand Mahamastakabhisheka procession featuring
more than 90 tableaux and cultural groups from different parts of the State.
Briefing media-persons at the newly built Government media centre after an
inspection of the works underway at different locations for various guest
houses, Shravanabelagola Pontiff Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji
said for the first time, idols of all the 24 theerthankaras will be taken out
seated in individual silver palanquins in the procession. "We expected Congress
president Sonia Gandhi to participate in the celebrations on February 5. But,
this is not happening and this has enabled us devote all our energy in
organizing the procession, which will be a grand one," he said. The procession
which will commence from the Panchakalyana mantap will circle the Vindhyagiri
hills at 3 p.m and return to the mantap.
The procession will feature folk troupes performing dollu kunitha, veeragase,
pooja kunitha, hulivesha, kamsale, goruvara kunitha, suggi kunitha, jaggalige,
karaga dance, kamjeelu, somanakunitha, nandi kunitha, maragalu kunitha,
hejjemela, karadi mela, puravanthike and jogathi kunitha among others. The newly
donated silver chariot and the silver palanquins will be an added attraction
apart from the various tableaux and music groups. A folk troupe from Kerala will
perform the traditional 'Chenda'.
On the issue of monks using mobiles, the Swamiji said he was not in favour of
monks who have renounced the worldly possessions and contacts using such
devices. "The more detached from the material world they remain the better. For,
it is their endeavor to attain salvation and this would be compromised if they
fail to remain detached," he added.
The Swamiji said it also the duty of all the devotees and organizations such as
the Mutts to ensure that the code of conduct and rules and regulations laid down
for the monks is adhered to at all times.
Earlier in the morning two monks secured initiation from Acharya 108 Vardhamana
Sagar and Acharya 108 Sanmathi Sagar in the presence of all the 187 other monks
present, amidst the chanting of slokas and performance of the pancha kalyana
pooja. The initiation proceedings which began early in the morning saw Kshullak
Akshay Sagar, who came donned in a saffron cloth, being initiated as Munisri
Gommata Sagar and attaining the digambar stage. This was followed by Brahmachari
Bhojjappa Gaji who came clad in a white cloth, being initiated as Kshullak
Shravanasagar clad only in loin cloths.
During the initiation ceremony, Acharya Devendra Sagar, Acharya Namnith Sagar
and Acharya Punya Sagar performed 'Kleshalochana', plucking of all the hairs on
their head, beard and moustache with bare hands, as the dharmic atmosphere at
the mantap became all pervading.
Later, Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji said a major deeksha or
initiation ceremony will be held on February 13 when as many as 30 persons are
expected to be initiated.
STAGE ALL
SET FOR PANCHAKALYANA MAHOTSAV
HOMAGE TO ADINATA, THE FIRST
TIRTHANKARA
Shravanabelagola, Feb 3:
The stage is all set for the dharmic rituals of the Mahamasthakabhisheka
celebrations of Bhagawan Bahubali to attain criticality on Saturday with the
Panchakalyana Mahotsava, a six day long homage of grat significance to Adinatha,
the first Theerthankaras and father of Bahubali.
The euphoria surrounding the Mahamasthakabhisheka celebrations of Bhagawan
Bahubali has overshadowed this event being conducted since the first
celebrations nearly 1025 years ago. The Panchakalyana programme is a day long
celebration, marking a remembrance of the Teerthankara tradition. And this year
Vice President of India Sri Bairon Singh Shekawat will be the chief guest of
Panchakalyana programme on February 6, the third day when the rituals feature
Adinatha's coronation as well as renunciation.
At this year's Panchakalyana Mahotsava being held from February 4 to 9, all
stages of the life of Adinatha would be re-created through dharmic rituals on
the one hand and through simultaneous theatre performances on the other to
ensure that the message of the first theerthankara is communicated to the nearly
20,000 strong gathering of devotees and pilgrims expected to attend the
celebrations each day.
Work is under way at a hectic pace in the giant Panchakalyana Pendal and the
Samskara Shala being put up for the celebrations nearly three kms away from the
Mutt premises.
The celebrations will feature the life and times of Adinatha, also known as
Rushabhanath, from his conception in the womb of this mother, his birth, his
penance, his renunciation and his attainment of Nirvana- the five stages of his
life. "During the panchakalyana, all the struggles Adinatha underwent will
be imparted on a statue of the first theertankara and the panchakalyana rituals
will turn that statue fit of worship or installation in any Jain temple anywhere
in the world," says Sukumar Tatobha Upadhye, one of the five prathishtacharyas
of this year's panchakalyana. The other prathishtacharyas of the panchakalyana,
a position of honour, are M J Ratna Raju, Shanthiraja Shastri, Hasamukh Lal Jain
and Parshwanath. Seven to fourteen assistants will assist them.
"The root mantra of panchakalyana celebrations is 'Nemichandra prathisha thilaka'
and this year the panchakalyana will be performed on a 21 inch Adinatha statue
made of saffron Jaipur marble, sculpted by the local sculptors," says Upadhye,
who has performed as many as 225 Panchakalyanas, essentially meaning
consecration of a statue into a deity, in different parts of the country
including Maharashtra, Ayodhya, Nagpur, Delhi and Rajasthan. The white marble
statue of Adinatha consecrated during the last Mahamasthakabhisheka (1993) is
worshiped today at the Samava Sarana Temple at Nallore in Karkala taluk of Udupi
district.
At the panchakalyana celebrations, apart from the main statue, other statues
along with 24 copper idols of the theerthankaras are also invoked through havans
and homas with 1008 kalasha abhisheka being conducted on the second day with the
liquids used including milk, tender coconut, sugar cane juice and saffron among
others. The specially constructed Panchakalayana Nagar comprises 24 rooms,
capable of housing 500 people complete with medical care centre, police station,
continuous water supply, a langar and emergency services.
JAINS TO
ESTABLISH DHARMIC VV AT SHRAVANABELAGOLA
Shravanabelagola, Feb 3:
The two-day Digambar Jain general assembly today resolved to establish a Dharmic
V V at Shravanabelagola in order to accord proper focus on dharmic values for
the current generation and the coming ones.
Adopting resolutions presented by Assembly President Nirmal Kumar Sethi, the
Jain resolved that all restoration works of Jain places of worship will be
undertaken without harming the antiquity of these places. It was also resolved
that no changes would be brought out or would be allowed to be brought about in
the age old practices of rituals and rites current in vogue in different places
of worship in different parts of the country.
It was resolved that the Jain community would consciously put a halt on
excessive and wasteful spending in all dharmic and social programmes. All out
efforts would be made to consciously turn the attention of the generation toward
the Jain dharmic values. The assembly declared unity and discipline as the Jain
slogans of the 21st century. The assembly decided that the Jain community would
support all those who propound the values enshrined in Jain way of life.
Acharya 108 Vardhamana Sagar munimaharaj, Acharya 108 Viragsagar munimaharaj,
Arika Vijayamathi Mathaji, Acharya 108 Padmanandi munimaharaj, Popular Munishri
Tarun Sagar, MMC06 General Secretary Aravind Doshi, Retd IAS officer A A Shetty,
S Shastri and A N Chandrakeerthi spoke on the occasion.
PANCHAKALYANA MAHOTSAVA COMMENCES AMIDST DHARMIC FERVOUR
Shravanabelagola, Feb 4: Om
Namo Arihantanam…Om Namo Siddanam…Om Namo Aayiriyanam…Om Namo Uvajjayanam…Namo
Luve Savvasahoonam ….These chants and devotional songs accompanied by drum
beating music rent the air in Shravanabelagola on Saturday morning as the Six
day Panchakalyana Mahotsav got off to a rousing start with a grand religious
procession from Bandara Basadi in the Mutt premises to the Panchakalyana Mantap
a km away complete with six caparisoned elephants.
Panchakalyana Mahotsava, an homage of great significance to Adinatha, the first
Theerthankaras and father of Bahubali, began in the wee hours on Saturday with
the mangala sana of the families chosen as gods and goddesses, 'Indras' and 'Indranis',
to perform the rituals as the Mahotsav is symbolic of the heavenly beings paying
homage to Adinatha.
While the 'Indranis' were clad in Saffron sarees with kum-kum coloured lining,
the men were clad in white dhotis.
The couples then circled the idols in the teample and then it was the turn of
the Indras and Indranis to place the idols of the 24 Theerthankaras in silver
palanquins amidst chanting of slokas. At the event being conducted since the
first celebrations nearly 1025 years ago, what followed was placing of the idol
of 'Sarvanuyakshi' atop a caparisoned elephant, in the presence of
Shravanabelagola pontiff Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji.
With all idols in place, the procession commenced with complete music bands
blaring out devotional songs and 108 damsels carrying Kalashas, the procession
passed through the main streets of Shravanabelagola before reaching the
Panchakalyana Mantap with the 200 strong group of Acharyas and monks in tow.
Indra Mahendra Kumar Jain and Indrani Saritha Jain, the chief organizers of the
Panchakalyana Mahotsav, participated in the procession seated atop one of the
six elephants that was part of the procession.
Once the procession reached the Panchakalyana pendal, MMC06 Reception president
Nirmal Kumar Sethi inaugurated the Panchakalyana mantap and Acharya 108
Vardhamana Sagar munimaharaj and other acharyas placed the idols in assigned
places inside the mantap.
Later addressing media-persons, Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji said
around 700 devotees have reached Indra Nagar within Kalasha Nagar in the town
from West Bengal, Delhi, Mumbai and Assam to participate in the Panchakalyana
celebrations. 32 Indra-Indrani couples, including Jwala Kumar from Mysore and
Ananthapadmanabha Kumar from Shravanabelagola, will conduct the Mahotsav.
SWAMIJI
AND CM GREET EACH OTHER
Shravanabelagola, Feb 4:
Shravanabelagola Digambar Jain Mutt pontiff Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka
Swamiji today expressed happiness at Mr.H D Kumaraswamy assuming office as the
Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Speaking to mediapersons, the Swamiji said he was happy that Mr.H D Kumaraswamy,
a person from Hassan, was at the Chief Minister of the State at the time of the
Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsav. He expressed confidence that Mr.Kumaraswamy in the
company of Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will be successful in achieving
the development goals they have sent for themselves and added that both
Mr.Kumaraswamy and Mr.Yediyurappa have always evinced keen interest in the
Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsav.
Meanwhile, replying to a greeting from the Swamiji, Chief Minister
Mr.Kumaraswamy expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Swamiji for his words of
encouragement and sought the blessings of the Swamiji to be 'guiding force for
all the development works' he wants to take up in the State.
"It is the greatest fortune bestowed upon me by Lord Bahubali. I consider it the
blessings of the Lord that I am given this opportunity to take part in his
service. I shall take this opportunity to surrender myself to the Lord and learn
from the message he wished to spread to the world," Kumaraswamy stated in the
message today.
RAJASTHAN'S ASHOK KUMAR PATNI TO OFFER THE FIRST KALASHA ABHISHEKA
Shravanabelagola, Feb 4:
The much sought after honour of offering the first kalasha at the new
millennium's first Mahamastkabhisheka Mahotsava celebrations has become that of
Rajasthan's Patni family, with Ashok Kumar Patni and his family all set to do
the honours on February 8.
Hailing from Kishneganj, Rajasthan, Ashok Kumar Patni and family have been
chosen by Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka for the honours, in recognition of
the philonthropic act of this RK Marbles family of donating a sum of Rs.1.08
crores toward the 100 beded Bahubali Children's Hospital constructed by the mutt
and which was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on Jan 22. Ashok Kumar
Patni had made the donation in the memory of his father late Ratanlal Kavrilal
Patni.
LAKHS
WITNESS THE GRAND MAHAMASTAKABHISHEKA PROCESSION
Shravanabelagola, Feb 5:
Traffic came to a virtual standstill on Sunday afternoon with people turning out
in droves to witness the colourful Mahamastakabhisheka procession complete with
elephants, tableaux, singing and dancing folk troupes and the idols of Jain
Theerthankaras and other symbols of worship and reverence in this pilgrim town
on Sunday afternoon, with the idols of the 24 Theerthankaras being carried for
the first time each in Silver palanquins.
The more than two km long procession was inaugurated by Shravanabelagola Pontiff
Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji from the Panchakalyana Mantap at
around 3.30 pm by leading it from the front with a caparisoned elephant right
behind him. Thousands of devotees and troupes, lined up for the procession,
commenced their performances as soon as the Swamiji flagged it off. The Swamiji
accompanied the procession throughout its entire six km route from the
Panchakalyana Mantap and back after circling the Vindhyagiri Hills and en route
passing through the main thoroughfares of the town.
Tableaux from different parts of the Karnataka, including Mangalore, Karkala,
Chikkamangalore, Shimoga, Hubli, Hassan and Dharwad featured various aspects of
the Jain way of life and the life of Bahubali. The star attraction among all the
tableaux in the procession was the tableau from Mangalore featuring the fight
between brothers Bharata and Bahubali, with both the artistes atop the tableau
dressed up in magnificent Yakshagana costumes.
Dancing and singing alongside the troupes from different parts of Karnataka were
devotees from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, apart representatives of other
states. The 24 Theertankaras and 'Jina Vani' in their palanquins and the
resplendent Silver chariot featuring Bahubali, and 'Indra' Mahendra Kumar Jain
and 'Indrani' Saritha Jain made up the rear. It was well past 7 pm when the
procession wound its way back to the Panchakalyana Mantap. Other Indra-Indranis
participated in the procession seated atop the elephants.
The procession featured folk troupes performing dollu kunitha, veeragase, pooja
kunitha, hulivesha, kamsale, goruvara kunitha, suggi kunitha, jaggalige,
kamjeelu, somanakunitha, nandi kunitha, maragalu kunitha, hejjemela, karadi mela,
puravanthike and jogathi kunitha among others.
CM'S FIRST
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Shravanabelagola, Feb 5: In
their first public engagement after taking over office, Chief Minister H D
Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will particpate on Monday
in the Rajyabhisheka ceremony, a part of the Adinatha Panchakalyana Mahotsav
underway on the occasion of the Mahamastakabhisheka celebrations, alongwith Vice
President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
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