Jain Journal 1996 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 24

NEWS ON JAINISM AROUND THE WORLD
The bas relief panel of Lord Mahāvīra at Satyamangalam
The Archaeological Survey of India, which is supposed to maintain the magnificent bas relief panel of the Jain Saint Mahāvīra, atop the monolithic boulder at Satyamangalam, 6 km from Kulithalai, seems to have forgotten its existence. The panel, measuring 6 feet in length and 5 feet in height, on a single piece of rock, popularly called 'Gundankallu', is over 1,000 years old, and depicts Lord Mahāvīra in sitting posture flanked by a Yakṣa and Yakṣi on either side. The typical three-umbrella motif of Jains is seen just above the head of Mahavira. Fortunately, despite the elements, the panel is in a very good condition.
A song sequence of a popular film was shot at the site recently, and a large portion of the rock just right of the panel was painted in gaudy colours, to give effect to the dance scene. When the shooting was over, all connected with the shooting left the area without bothering to clean it up. The local villagers, however, with great difficulty managed to remove the paints. There seems to have been a board at the site, put up by the ASI declaring the bas relief panel as a protected monument. But now the board is not there, and only a long iron rod, where the board existed once upon a time, is the proof that the ASI was incharge of the monument.
From The Hindu, October 2, 1995.
Jain Acarya brings life to sleepy village
Kolanpak, a sleepy village in Nalgonda district, about 80 km from Hyderabad, came alive on one Friday with people from neighbouring areas thronging it to have "darshan" of the Jain Acharya Sri Rajyesh Surishwarji who had come 1,200 km from Durg (Madhya Pradesh) on foot to be present at the installation of eight idols in a 200-year-old Jain temple there on Jan. 26.
The temple is being renovated for the big day. Men from Jaipur have been working since 1990 on white marble and coloured stones brought from the Pink City for use in the temple. The consecration ceremonies in the temple-stated to be about 200-year-old begin on Jan. 18.