Caption: Picture shows the Digambar Jains, adorned with crowns, who participated in Kalpadhruva Aradhana Mahotsava at the newly-inaugurated Mahaveer Bhavana in city yesterday in the presence of Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji, Sri Bhuvanakeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji, D. Surendra Kumar, National Working President of Bharatiya Jain Milan and others. Picture shows Mysore Digambar Jain Samaja Vice-Presidents N. Prasanna Kumar (left) and B.S. Santosh Kumar felicitating Prof. Dejagow as Prof. Hampa Nagarajaiah and Dr. Padma Shekar look on.
Mysore, June 12
Though members of Jain community are committed to non-violence, it does not mean that they will tolerate anything, said eminent Jainism scholar Prof. Hampa Nagarajaiah (Hampana).
He was delivering the presidential address at a felicitation held as part of the two-day inaugural function of Mahaveer Bhavana in Srirampura here yesterday under the auspices of Digambar Jain Samaja and Mahaveer Bhavana Nirmana Samithi.
Though injustice should be fought against, it should not become a reason to get into violence. Gandhiji’s non-violent way of protest against the British which paved the way for India’s independence should be a model to all, he opined.
Let the Mahaveer Bhavana, instead of being just a building and kalyana mantap, be a platform to honour those who strive for the welfare of Jain community, Nagarajaiah wished.
He lauded the litterateurs for spreading the words of Lord Mahaveera among all generations, adding that Jainism always gave due prominence to literature and art. Jainism showed that Kannada which was earlier mainly a spoken language, could also be used in literature.
The tradition of building a library with each Basadi showed the Jains’ love for literature and it has continued even in the midst of many changes. The very idea of Mutts came from Jainism. A place where apart from the spread of religious thoughts, children were also imparted teaching came to be known as a Mutt, he averred.
Veteran litterateurs and scholars Prof. D. Javaregowda, Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar, Dr. T.V. Venkatachala Shastri, B.S. Sannaiah, Seetharam Jagirdar, G.G. Manjunath, Dr. Taranath, Dr. K. Anantharamu, Pt. P. Nagarajaiah, Prof. Jeevandhar Kumar Hothapete, A. Anandkumar, Dr. Y.C. Bhanumathi, Dr. Saraswathi Vijayakumar and Dr. Padmavathamma were honoured on the occasion.
Speaking on behalf of the honourees, Dr. Dejagow said Jain culture was the foundation for the culture of Karnataka. Pampa, Ranna and other poets who authored many volumes in Kannada language were Jains. The culture and literature found in Karnataka are not present anywhere else in the world. There are more than 4,000 poets, 500 Yakshagana poets and on an average 20 books are published everyday, he added.
Saying that he always advices politicians to read literature, which is turned down by them as they say that they cannot politick if they read, Dejagow added that people should read books of Pampa, Ranna and other poets, through which the country would become prosperous.
Kalpadhruva Mahotsava
Earlier, at the Kalpadhruva Aradhana Mahotsava celebrated for two hours, 24 silver kalashas were adorned in front of the stage and abhisheka was performed to the idols of 24 Theerthankaras simultaneously.
Mysore University Prakrit and Jainology Department’s Dr. Padma Shekar was the chief guest. Shravanabelagola Digambar Jain Mutt’s Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji and Kanakagiri Digambar Jain Mutt’s Sri Bhuvanakeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji conducted the rituals.
Chinmay Vishwasen Jain invoked. Arun Pandit compered. H.P. Prasad, Director, Digambar Jain Samaja and Convenor of Publicity Committee, proposed a vote of thanks.
Digambar Jain Samaja President S.N. Prakash Babu, Mahaveer Bhavana Samithi Working President M.A. Sudheer and others were present.
source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / June 12th, 2012