Karnataka - Mangalore   

`Teachings of Mahaveer relevant even today'

Staff Correspondent

Function organised to mark the 2,604th birth anniversary of Mahaveer

OFFERINGS: Devotees performing kalashabhisheka to a statue of Mahaveer on the occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti at Jain Basadi, Bajilakeri, in Mangalore on Tuesday.

MANGALORE: The teachings of Mahaveer, the 24th Theerthankara, holds good even in the modern era and people should try to put into practice his teachings and spread his message, K. Chinnappa Gowda, Head, Department of Kannada, Mangalore University, said here on Tuesday.

He was speaking on the life and message of Mahaveer at a function organised by the Mangalore Jain Society and Jain Milan to mark the 2,604th birth anniversary of Mahaveer at Jain Basadi, Bajilakeri, in the city.

Mr. Gowda said that Mahaveer lived for 72 years. He spent 30 years in "grahasthashrama", 12 years in penance and 30 years in preaching.

Mahaveer's teachings comprised three main components. They are "ahimsa", "karma siddantha" and "anekanthavada". The "aparigraha" taught by him dealt with the relationship of a person with society.

The principles of "aparigraha" had social dimension.

Mr. Gowda said that Mahaveera's teachings help build human relations.

The "karma siddantha" did not recognise the caste system, he added.

Mahaveer stressed on purification of mind. This is required for people who are facing many complexities in the modern era, he added.

Mr. Gowda said that it took nearly thousand years for the Jain philosophy to take a definite shape. The Jain philosophy took birth after thousand years of debate and discussion.

Former Union minister V. Dhananjaya Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Western Range, K. S. Suresh Babu, K. Abhayachandra Jain, MLA, and former president of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and writer Vamana Nandavar were present.

H.V. Parshwanath, Deputy Commissioner, presided over the function.

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