Jain Siddhant Bhaskar

SR No.: 010062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hiralal Jain, Others
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1940
Total Pages: 143
Language: Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 7 MB

Page 124

THE JAINA ANTIQUARY.
i Vol. V
148
the Sadhana or practice for it may have been. The aim of this Siksha, descipline, and Diksha, concentration, being to attain to Arhathood or Siddhahood, not merely Siddhis or 'powers', a study of Jaina Antiquities, and appreciation of Sravana Belgoļa culture, which is a type thereof, will show how real spirituality and perfectibility of life or its sublimation was in Universal practice of all types of adherents of the Jaina Faith in South India. It will also serve, not only as a unifying force not only in the activities of the Jaina community to-day in all India (aarta), but will also demonstrate, in India and abroad, the essential unity of goal (17F27) descipline (fren) and concentration (DFI) of Hindusim, Buddhism and Jainism, fancied and some times operated, as mutually cancellıng and warring faiths, unfit to inspire common political action for national ends. In these days when spiritual sublimation of thought and action in politics is set out to be India's special contribution to the modern warring world and recommended to be practised by political workers in India, in all its simple and self-denying austerity, it would indeed be of some help to realise what great levels of practical self-dedication and cultural eminence were reached, even by politicians and statesmen in medieval India, even through the inspiration of the Sages of this great South Indian Spiritual University.'
Śravana Belgola' has a very romantic history From all Jaina accounts in literature and Epigraphs, it was originally a bare hill in an uninhabited country,' but in time it became a Thutha or place of pilgrimage, a Karmakshētra for Siksha and dīksha or a University of piety and culture, and even a religious state' or Samasthanam somewhat like the Vatican. Some account of this grand 'sublimation of mere forbidding earth by the aspiring, advancing and selfpurifying soul of Man will form the substance of this study.
Yet, Sravana Belgoļa, through the ages, has continued to be a place of Memorial Toumbs, besides being the abode of several grand beautiful and rich temples and the most famous of ancient sculp. tures, the wonder and miracle of art, the sacred image of Bhujabali or Gommalēswara ortherwise called Kukkutēswara. Thus Sravana 1. I.S. B. No.
2 I S. B. No. 141.