World Jain Conference 1987 4th Conference

SR No.: 014038
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satish Jain, Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Ahimsa International
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 202
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 7 MB

Page 117

recently we have received a donation of 150 palm leaf manuscripts from Sri Mahavir Trust of Bangalore who had preserved all these volumes in a small Jaina Temple.
2. Veeravani Jaina Siddhantha Bhavan, Moodbidri :
Sri Veeravani Jain Siddhantha Bhavan is another manuscript library of Moodbidri, which was organised by late Sri V. Lokanatha Shastri, a scholar of the locality. This particular library is housed in a building which had come up with the support of the public of Moodbidri. In it there are about 1,000 old palm-leaf and paper volumes. Late Shri Lokanatha Shastri could read the old script and therefore he published about 30 books out of them. As regards big volumes, which he could not publish owing to the paucity of funds, he copied them in his own hand. and send them to several publishers of the South as well as of the North. Any way, his services in the publication of the unpublished volumes have been great. It is believed that there are yet few unpublished volumes in this library which, we hope, would be published in course of time.
3. Library at the Siddhanta Basadi, Moodbidri :
The accession ceremony or the Pitharohana Ceremony of the pontiff or the Bhattaraka of the Jain Math has been conducted in this Temple and hence, it is known as Guru Basadi. (Basadi means a Jain Temple.) It is here that the single manuscript copies of Dhavala, Jaya Dhavala and Maha Dhavala were discovered and hence this temple is called "The Siddhanta Basadi". Here we would like to bring to your notice that the well-known Jina figures made of precious stones like diamond, pearls, coral, ajade, emerald. ruby, sapphire and so on are exhibited here along with Samavasarana models all made of gold and precious stones. All these are kept in safe custody guarded by two or three guards and watchmen. Moodbidri is known for this invaluable treasure of these figures also. To witness them hundreds of people come over here daily, especially from North India.
In the same temple there is a small library having only about 20 manuscript volumes, which are the oldest of all those available at Moodbidri, along with the duplicate paper copies of the Siddhanta granthas copied in Kannada and Sanskrit Scripts. The sacred volumes of all the original Dhavala are also kept here to which people owe a great reverence. They are actually adored by the pilgrims.
It is said that these volumes were originally written and preserved in the Sri Shantinatha Temple of Bankapur in Dharwar District of Karnataka State, and that when the temple was attacked and seized by the non-believers, the priests and other people of the noble class who wanted to protect them from the barbarity of these invaders, simply caried them to Moodbidri where they could get protection. Anyway, this particular event took place in the 11th Century and it has got some
9