Shravanabelagola (Hassan District, Karnataka), January 16, 2013: Vichara Patta Kshullakha Sri Manikya Keerthiji will be the next Bhattarakha of Sri Bhattakalanka Peetha of Sri Digambar Jain Mutt, Sonda (also called as Swadi in Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka). This was announced formally at a function held at Shravanabelagola by His Holiness Swasti Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji the Pontiff of Shravanabelagola Jain Mutt. During the function Sri Manikswamy Sumathinath Halli was initiated into the ascetic hood when he was given the Vichara Pattakshullaka Diksha by Sri Charukeerthi Swamiji as per the Digambar Jain tradition & was renamed as Sri Manikya Keerthi. The function was held in the premises of Bhandari Basadi at Shravanabelagola. On January 15th evening Sri Manikyaswamy was given a rousing welcome to Shravanabelagola. This was followed by the diksha programme on January 16th. His Holiness Swasti Sri Dhavalkeerthi Bhattarakha Swamiji, pontiff of Sri Kshetra Arihantagiri Jain Mutt & His Holiness Swasti Sri Bhanukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji, pontiff of Sri Kshetra Kambadahalli Jain Mutt were also present on the occasion.
Profile of Sri Manikswamy Sumathinath Halli – Sri Manikya Swamy aged around 29 years hails from the Akkialur village of Hangal taluk in Haveri district in the state of Karnataka. He comes from a religious backgroun family, his parents are Late Sumathinath G Halli & Smt Sushila Sumathihalli. Late Muni 108 Sri Shambhavanandiji Maharaj happens to be his uncle. Sri Manikya Swamy completed his primary education at Akki Aluru & secondary education at Sri Bhujabali Brhamacharya Ashram, Karkala. Later he completed his high school at Sri Gommateshwara Vidyapeetha Brahmacharya Ashrama, Shravanabelagola. He has completed the ‘Uttama Certification’ in Hindi & ‘Kavya Certification’ in Sanskrit. Further he has completed ‘Shastri Certification’ from Sri Jain Vidyalaya, Morena, Madhya Pradesh. His mother tongue is Kannada & knows Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil & English. He also has good knowledge with operating computers & its applications. After his studies he has spent considerable period with Sri Dhavalakeerthi Swamiji of Arihantagiri & has been well tranined in Jain Jyotishya, Vastu, Aradhana & conducting Panchakalyana Pratishta vidhis by Sri Swamiji. He is also well experienced in conducting many Jain aradhanas, vidhis & Panchakalyanas independently. He is a Balabrahmachari & is a member of Bharatavarshiya Digambar Jain Shastri Parishath’s executive committee.
It can be recalled here that His Holiness Swasti Sri Bhattakalanka Bhattaraka Swamiji of Sonda Jain Mutt had passed away on September 21, 2012 at Sonda & the search was on to find a suitable person to this coveted seat. – Nitin H.P. & Jain Heritage Centres News Service
An exclusive photo gallery of Sri Manikya Keertthiji’s Vichara Pattakshullaka Diksha programme
