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KARMAYOGI SWASTI SRI CHARUKEERTI BHATTARAKHA PATTACHARYA SWAMIJI
HERITAGE OF
SHRAVANABELAGOLA >
KARMAYOGI SWASTI SRI CHARUKEERTI BHATTARAKHA PATTACHARYA SWAMIJI
Sri
Swamiji continued as a successor of Swasti Sri Bhattakalanka
Charukeerthi Swamiji as a boy of nineteen years. He was a student of Sri
Gommateshwara Vidyala of Shravanabelagola.
His original name was Ratnaverma and was
changed into Kshullaka Sri Chandrakeerti on 12-12-1969. Later he was
called Sri Charukeerti Swamiji.
He was born on 3rd of May 1949 at Varanga,
Dakshina Kannada district. He completed his childhood days and primary
education in Varanga, Karkala, Hombuja and Kundadri. He was called Sri
Charukeerthi Panditacharyavarya on 19th April 1970. He also assumed the
chairman ship of administrative committee of Sri Kshetra.
He went to Indore to study Jaina Darshana
and Jain agamas in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages in which he was
deeply interested. He was trained by Nathulal Shastri regarding Hypothesis and Justice. He evinced
greater zeal to learn Hindi and attained Sahitya Visharadha
degree in Hindi. He was deeply interested by the discourses rendered by
His Holiness Acharya Sri Vidyanandji Maharaj. He paved the way for
establishing the bridge of contact between the Jains of south and north. On returning from Indore
he concentrated completely on framing and planning the developmental programmes and schemes
for Sri Kshetra.
The period between 1972 to 1979 is
considered as the golden period during which time Shravanabelagola
entered into the golden pages of history. Swamiji played a pivotal role
in organising the Jain samaj and awakened it by traveling all over the
country. He studied the ins and outs of the Jain samaj. He developed
lose proximity with it and renovated almost all the Jain temples of
Shravanabelagola with the help of devotees. He constructed many guest
houses and dharmashalas for the pilgrims and gave a new dimension to the
place. This facilitated the pilgrims, devotees and tourists to stay
comfortably by utilising the facilities provided. Another important
point to note was that in 1974 he awakened the Jain community by
planning Dharmachakra Sri Vihar which year marked the 2500th year
of nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavira. The people thronged to witness from
nooks and corners of villages, towns and cities of the country
irrespective of the caste and creed. This led to the incarnation of
message of BHagwan Mahavira among the people.
In 1979 he envisaged the measures to
provide necessary facilities by constructing guest houses to the
pilgrims visiting Shravanabelagola and which was a prelude for the
Mahamasthakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali held in 1981. Acharya Sri
Vidyanandaji Maharaj was the driving force behind all his achievements
and contributions. The 1000th year of Mahamasthakabhisheka was held
successfully. This implied the greatest skill and dedication of Swamiji
in organisational abilities as a result Smt Indira Gandhi, the then
prime minister of India conferred the title Karmayogi on him. Swamiji
rendered his services as chairman of the Mahamasthakabhisheka
celebration committee when Bahubali statue was installed by Sri
Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari at Dharmasthala in 1982.
Swamiji involved himself in many socialand
academic of the place by drawing the attention of the people and leaders
of the community. Ten villages around Shravanabelagola was selected for
implementing the developmental programmes. These places were provided
with basic amenities such as drinking water, water tanks, community
health care centres, roads and light. Ambulent hospitals, self
employment schemes, education and services were established providing
opportunities for all the people at large.
He studied the principles of Jainism to
its core along with Dr.T.G.Kalagatagi and gained greater knowledge about
the religion. He studied the classics of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and
other Greek philosophers as well as the modern philosophers like
Bertrand Russel, Dr.Radhakrishnan, Sri Aurobindo and Swami Vivekananda.
He immensely studied Bhagavadgeetha with interpreatations along with
Ramakrishna Rao of Mysore. He also studied Dvaitha, Advitha,
Vishishtadvitha and SHakti Vishishtadvitha philosophies and also
Buddhism, Islam and christianity. He studied Upanishads and its
dimensions in depth. He attained supremacy of knowledge by studying
Dhavala, Jayadhavala and Mahamadhavala at the abode of Sri Vasupujya.
During this period he obtained the postgraduate degrees in history from
Mysore university and in philosophy from Bangalore university. He also
studied Acharya Kundakunda's works and especially Samayasara.
With a vision to propagate the message of
Jaina philosophy he established and devloped Sri Gommatesha Vidya Peetha
and also the award - Sri Gommatesha VIdyapeetha Puraskara. He
also established primary and secondary education centres, Bahubali
College of Pharmacy, Engineering and Nursing courses to impart modern
education to the students and aspirants. He has established endowment
organisation of Prakrit Gnana BHarathi in Bangalore to provide the
Knowledge in Prakrit even to the common people. Many conventions have
been held in Bangalore have been held at Bangalore and Hyderab in this
connection, Prakrit Gnana Bharathi Award ha been conferred on
many scholars in the field. He established National Prakrit Study and
Research Centre in Shravanabelagola which as inaugurated in 1983 by
Sri Shankar Dayal Sharma the president of India. He has also founded
Sri Chavundaraya Award in 1993 at Kannada Sahitya Parishad,
Bangalore in name of Sri Chavundaraya the Ganga
Commander-in-chief. This is conferred on erudites in Kannada literature
and language.
He has started Charitable Ayurvedic
hospital, laboratories, x-ray departments and Gommateshwara mobile
hospital. He possesses visionary ideas for the development of Sri
Kshetra.
He possesses a command over Jainism and
languages such as Kannada, Hindi, English, Sanskrit and Tulu. He has all
over the globe and spread the message of Lord Mahavir. Especially in
countries of Europe, Africa, America and Asian continents. He headed the
paqnchakalyana pratishta mahotsav of establishing the Bhagwan Mahavir
statue in the Jain temple of Leicester (UK).
He was conferred with the title 'Jina
Dharma Prabhavaka' by Acharaya Sri Vardhaman Sagar.
Sri Swamiji has provided Shravanabelagola
a unique identity in the world tourists map through his foresight and
visionary thinking.
---------------
Bibliography:
1. Kalyananda Haadi: Ed.Dr.Siddalinga
Pattanashetty (1999)
2. Shravanabelagola Srigalavara
Bashana Sangraha: Ed. A.Shantharaja Shastry (1932)
3. Shravanabelagola Ondhu Samikshe: Ed.
Dr.G.S.Shivarudrappa (Bangalore University Publication, 1983)
4. Gommateshvara Commemoration Volume:
Ed. Dr.T.G.Kalghatgi (Published by: S.D.J.M.I. Managing Committee Shravanabelagola,
1981)
5. Dhavala Teertha - 1995: Ed.Sri
Jeevandharkumar Hotapeti (Published by: S.D.J.M.I. Managing Committee Shravanabelagola,
1981)
5. Dhavala Teertha - 1996: Ed.Sri
Jeevandharkumar Hotapeti (Published by: S.D.J.M.I. Managing Committee Shravanabelagola,
1981)
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