|
ASHTANIKA POOJA FOR WORLD PEACE
COMMENCES
Shravanabelagola, Mar 7: An
eight day Ashtanika pooja for world peace in connection with the 2006
Mahamasthakabhisheka celebrations began at the Digambar Jain Mutt's Bandara
Basadi.
It maybe recalled here that the
Mahamasthakabhisheka celebrations had commenced with a similar Ashtanika pooja
that lasts eight days. The pooja, which began today morning marks the beginning
of the closure of dharmic rites in connection with the Mahamasthakabhisheka
celeberations.
The Ashtanika pooja began
Wednesday morning with the Siddha chakra aradhana, and Ashtavidharchana and
Vinyanjali later in the evening, to the Sahasra Koota Jina Bimbha, encompassing
all the 24 Teerthankaras. As a part of the pooja abhisheka for the the
deity today was conducted using eight pooja items namely water, sandalwood,
akshata, flowers, charu, deepa, dhoopa and fruits. During the course of the
pooja which will last another seven days, the deity will be worshipped with
items increasing daily by the multiples of eight.
By the end of the eighth day,
marking closure of the dharmic rites in connection with the celebrations, the
deity would have received as many as 2,400 abhishekas with different materials.
The day also marked the
celebrations of the 37th anniversary of Acharya 108 Vardhamana Sagar Muni
Maharaj's deeksha. This venerated Jain monk had taken deeksha as a young
nineteen year old from late Acharya 108 Dharma Sagar Muni maharaj.
Jain monks and nuns, including
Acharya 108 Gurunandi Muni Maharaj and Acharya 108 Devsen Muni Maharaj, observed
the occasion by performing padapooja of Acharya Vardhamana Sagar at Varni Bhavan
inside the Mutt premises. Digambar Jain Mutt's HH Jagadguru Karmayogi
Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji graced the occasion and presented
the Acharya, under whose leadership the Mahamasthakabhisheka of 2006 was
conducted, with five silver kalashas and a silver statue of Bhagawan Bahubali.
|
