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JAINA MONASTERIES of 117
The Pontiff wears saffron two-piece cloth and a turban also saffron in colour. He wears wooden sandals and is honoured with a parasol. In continuation of palli tradition in which Nirgrantha monk headed the pallis, the Bhattaras do not wear under garment and take nirvana diksha at the time of death. They are cremated in sitting posture on the rocks.
Pontiffs are appointed by the Jaina Society from among the learned persons well versed in religious literature and of sterling character. Most of the Pontiffs were from the nearby villages, Veeranamoor and Agaloor. Generally when the Pontiff feels his end, he appoints another person to succeed him.
Appointment and charge handing over ceremony is referred to as Pattaabishekam - Coronation. Pontiffs carry as their insignia a Pinja (peacock feather) Kamandala (Water Pot) rosary of beads - Jabamalai. Symbolically, the Pinja is handed over to new Pontiff. When the Bhattara system came into vogue, there was a chain of four mathas connected in a consortium all the four having the same title i.e. Lakshmi Sena Bhattara. The four centres are referred to Chatur - Simasanatheswaras - i.e. Delhi - Kolhapura (Maharastra) - Jinakanchi (Tamilnadu) Penukonda (Andhra Pradesh). If there happens the sudden demise of a Pontiff in one of the centres, then Madathipathis of other centres come to appoint a new pontiff. Such an occasion arose in Sithamoor during 1958. The chief of Kolhapur math (was also a Tamilian from the Village of Mudaloor in Tiruvannamalai Dt.) came to appoint a new Pontiff as the incumbent died suddenly. There arose difference of opinion among the section of the society on this appointment and prolonged litigation
went upto 1973, and the Pontiff from NarasimharajaJain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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