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INDIA'S NO.1 JAIN NUN PASSES
AWAY
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The body of Prathama Ganani
Arika Ratna 105 Vijayamathi Mataji who attained Sallekana-Samadhi on
Sunday kept for devotees to pay homage at Shanti Sagar Memorial Hall. |
Shravanabelagola, Feb 19:
Lakhs paid homage to Prathama Ganani Arika Ratna 105 Vijayamathi Mataji, the
senior most Jain nun of the country, who passed away at the Shantisagar Memorial
Hall here on Sunday morning. She was 78.
The Mataji has her own group of followers and has guided other nuns for nearly
50 years after she took deeksha when she was just 28 years old from Acharya
Vimal Sagar Muni Maharaj. In the mega deeksha held on the occasion of the
Mahamasthakabhisheka celeberations here last week, the Mataji had initiated five
women as nuns.
A venerated and highly respected Nun, the Mataji was a scholar and known for her
style of devotional meetings in different parts of the country. The Mataji had
reached Shravanabelagola for the Mahamasthakabhisheka celeberations on January
29 after traveling nearly 1,200 kms on foot from Pondicherry. Impressed by her
dedication and leadership qualities, she was accorded the title 'Prathama Ganani'
by Acharya Mahaveer Keerthi.
The Mataji hails from Kamanagar village of Bharatpur district, Rajasthan. The
last rites were performed in the presence of the 250 strong gathering of munis
and nuns in the town under the stewardship of Swasthishri Charukeerthi
Bhattaraka Swamiji of Shravanabelagola. The Bhattaraka Swamji of Moodabidri and
Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade have condoled the death of the
Mataji.
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