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Shravanabelagola
January 22:
Spread
message of peace, non-violence: President -
source:
The Hindu
MESSAGE OF PEACE: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who
declared open the Mahamasthakabhisheka celebrations at
Shravanabelagola, being felicitated. Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh,
Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, Digambara Jain Math's Charukeerthi
Bhattaraka Sw amiji, and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda
present him with a memento. —
PHOTO: K. Bhagya Prakash
Shravanabelagola (Hassan district): The hills of
Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri in the ancient town of Shravanabelagola
resounded with chants of "Bhagawan Bahubali ki jai" as
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Sunday declared open the first
Mahamastakabhisheka of the millennium and reiterated the relevance
of the Jain tenets of non-violence in a strife-ridden world.
Mr. Kalam said the practice of truth, ahimsa and vairagya that are
the tenets of Jainism was relevant in modern times and the message
of peace and non-violence as enunciated by Bahubali should be taken
to all parts of the country.
Addressing a vast gathering of Jain munis, nuns, acharyas and
devotees who have assembled here from all parts of the world, the
President said the spiritual congregation symbolised the continuity
of a great tradition, which started in the 3rd century B.C. by
Chandragupta Maurya, who settled here with 12,000 sages and munis
performing austerities.
"It is a beautiful sight of people of multiple faiths and
affiliations gathering to celebrate a great cultural event. The most
sacred meaning of life consists of helping the establishment of
peace and harmony on earth. This can only be achieved through the
practice of truth, ahimsa and vairagya by all of us," the
President said.
The Mahamastakabhisheka is held once in 12 years and Sunday's
inauguration marked the launching of the events and rituals that
will lead up to the grand event of the anointment of the 57-foot
statue that will be held from February 8 to 19.
The President combined his speech — replete with philosophical
connotations and cultural traditions — with poetry and expressed
his appreciation of the evolution and ascent of the human soul as
propounded in Jainism.
Mr. Kalam went nostalgic at the sight of the Jain Munis who
congregated here and described his spiritual experience when he
visited Pavapuri and recalled the contribution of Jainism to Indian
philosophy, thought, literature and science. He said great poets
such as Pampa, Ranna and Ratnakara Varni had enriched Kannada
literature, while Jain rulers contributed immensely to the field of
art and architecture.
"With his everlasting smile and benign looks, Gomateshwara
Bahubali declares ahimsa and vairagya as the solution for all the
ills of this world. I am happy that Mahamastakabhisheka has become
an auspicious festival not only for the Jains but also for people
from different religions. This is a great unifier and I wish that
this message of unification is taken and all the sects in every
religion forget the differences and follow the twin principles of
ahimsa and vairagya," he said.
Source: The Hindu Shravanabelagola
January19: Acharya Sri Viraga Sagar Muni Maharaj reached Shravanabelagola
with a group of 34 monks to participate in Mahamasthakabhisheka of Bhagwan Bahubali beginning on
8th February. 114 Digambar Munis have already converged at this Jain pilgrimage
centre.
Shravanabelagola, Jan 3: Karnataka Chief Minister Mr. N Dharam Singh on Tuesday gave strict directions to the officials to complete all the works in connection with the
Mahamasthakabhisheka Celebrations before January 20, in time for the inauguration of the celebrations by President A P J Abdul Kalam on January 22.
The state government and the Sri Digambara Jain Mutt Trust, the organizers, are discussing with Air Deccan exclusive services from Bangalore and Mangalore to Hassan. Six new
helipads for chartered copters, a multimedia center to interpret and present Jain literature to the expected influx of 30,000 pilgrims a day are on anvil.
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