The Hindu : Karnataka News : Two volumes of `Dhavalatrya Grantha Pravesha' released

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 04, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Two volumes of `Dhavalatrya Grantha Pravesha' released

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHRAVANABELAGOLA, JULY 3. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmastala, today urged the people to preserve rare manuscripts and ancient texts written on palm leaves, which he said were repositories of knowledge.

Releasing two volumes of "Dhavalatrya Grantha Pravesha" here, Dr. Heggade lauded Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji of Sreekshetra Shravanabelagola for revising and publishing the rare text, which introduced readers to the Karma theory.

He said while it took 26 years for scholars to translate and publish 39 volumes in Hindi, the Kannada scholars had translated the work in six years.

Recalling the days when he first saw the original text at Moodbidre, a Jain Centre, he said the Moodbidre Math was reluctant to share the rare text with some scholars from north India who desired to translate it into Hindi.

It was his grandfather who had convinced the math authorities to handover the text for the greater good of humanity, he said.

Dr. Heggade said this repository of knowledge not only belonged to Jains but also to other sections of society.

Noting that the Karma theory was the contribution of India to the world, he said the publication of its translation was a special event in 21st century. There was no comprehensive text to elaborate the Karma theory as "Dhavalatraya" did.

Regretting the increasing violence, he said the "ahimsa" theory propagated by Gandhiji and Mahaveera was facing danger now and it was time for the people to introspect in this regard.

Lauding the swamiji for deciding to conduct Mahamastakabhisheka in February 2006, he appealed to the people to cooperate with the swamiji and make the event a success.

Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji said of the texts on Jainism, only a few dwelt on Karma Siddantha.

To popularise it, the National Prakrut Study and Research Centre (NPSRC) had taken up the translation of the "Dhavala" text, which comprised preachings of Mahaveera, into Kannada.

The swamiji said that only those who knew Sanskrit and Prakrut understood it. Hence, it had been decided to translate "Dhavala" into Kannada to spread the Karma theory. Though he had studied Jain scriptures, nowhere except in the "Dhavalatraya" text he found the theory being dealt comprehensively.

He said all the 39 volumes would be brought out by February 2006 when the Mahamastakabhisheka would be held.

On the importance of "Dhavalatraya", Sannaiah of the NPSRC said the text was in the form of microfilms in the University of Mysore.

It was necessary to copy and preserve it for posterity, he added.

Presiding over the function, S.N. Ashok Kumar, editor of Gommatavani, congratulated the team of translators and the swamiji on their efforts in translating the text.

The volumes were brought to the dais on a silver palquin and released after performing Jain rituals.

Rathnamma Heggade, mother of Dr. Veerendra Heggade, contributed Rs. 5 lakh for the publication of the text.

Cassettes on the poetry of Rathnakaravarni, Jain poet, were released on the occasion.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka