Shravanabelagola (Hassan District, Karnataka), June 10, 2013: Acharya Dharasena who inherited the the teachings of Lord Mahavira exhorted upon two learned Jain Acharyas. Acharya Pushpadantha and Acharya Boothabali compiled and documented this Jaina Siddantha in Prakrit language and called them as Shatkandagama. This was completed on the jyeshta panchami day.This day was called as ShrutaPanchami. In memory of this day Shravanabelagola’s National Institute of Prakrit Studies and Research (NIPSAR) had organised the ShrutaPanchami celebrations at Shravanabelagola from June 10-14, 2013. On the occasion Special pooja, chanting of lines from the Jain Agamas, discourses and exhibition of the Dhavala works & other publications of the institute were organised.
The celebrations were inaugurated by the founder president of the institute His Holiness Swasti Sri Charukeerthi Bhattarakha Swamiji the pontiff of Shravanabelagola Jain Mutt. He inuagurated the event by chanting the holy verses from the first volume of Dhavala (Shatkandagama has been further divided as Dhavala, Jayadhavala & Mahadhavala. They are collectively called as the Dhavalas.) works, volume -1. This was followed by singing of the Saraswati Stuthi in Prakrit language, the state and national anthems by the students of Sri Gommateshwara Brahmacharya Ashrama Vidyapeetha, Shravalabelagola.
Delivering his discourse on the occasion His Holiness Charukeerthi Swamiji explained in detail the various forms of Jiva, its forms and many other details related to it. He further said that – “the Dhavala works encompass in them a lot of aspects related to the life and its forms and provokes scientists & historians to carry on further research globally.”
On the other four days, Sri Ramesh Shastri, Hajari Parshwanath Shastri, Dr.M.P.Siddartha, Rajendra Patil Shastri, Sri Parshwanath Shastri chanted 10 hymns from the first volume of Dhavala works and interpreted their meaning.
Prof. Jevendhara Kumar Hotapeti, the director of the institute compiled the meanings of the hymns chanted on every day and summarised them. Sri Shanthinath Shirahatti Shastri gave a detailed account about the origin and historicity of the concept of Shrutapanchami.
The celebrations concluded with Shrutha pooja & Mangalaarathi by Pandit Sri Nandakumar & Pandit Sri Rajanna on June 14, 2013. – Jain Heritage Centres News Service