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THE RECEPTION COMMITTEE ADDRESS. 75 God and for other religious rites. In 1582 (Saka year) the great Devaraja Wadiyar came to the throne. Having realised the greatness and sanctity of the place, he spent huge sums of money in repairing many of the temples and performed a Mastakabhishekam ceremony on the 10th of Pausha Sudi, in the Paridhavi year, Saka Samvat 1595. He also granted the annual revenue of a village named "Madhane" for the expenses of worship. In Saka Samvat 1597 Chikka Devaraja Wadiyar ascended the throne. When he went to Sravana Belgola and saw the Image he was immensely glad. He performed one great abhishekam and dug out the Kalyani Tank (see plate 15). Sri Mummadikrishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur who was anointed King in the Saka year 1722 also performed a great abhishekam. He granted in Saka 1752 the following villages, Sravana Belgola, Uttenahalli, Hosahalli, Nagaiyan Koppalu, Bettana-Koppalu and Kabbalu, for the puja expenses.
It is our great fortune to-day that His Highness Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur, G.C.S.I., G.B.E., has made us all immensely happy by His Highness's sacred and auspicious presence in this Conference. Like his ancestors, His Highness also is with full sympathy protecting us like a father. Therefore. I respectfully beg to offer, on behalf of all the Digambar Jains of India, our grateful thanks to His Highness.
Sisters and Brethren! It is a fortunate thing that the anniversary of this Conference is opened by His Highness.
This Sabha is indebted to the respectful Sadhus and other ladies and gentlemen for the trouble they have taken to attend this anniversary.
Dear Brethren! On behalf of the Jains of this province, I offer many cordial thanks to Danavir, Rajyabhushan, Sir Hukumchandji for the great kindness with which he consented to preside over this anniversary. There is no one who is not familiar with the name of Sir Seth Hukumchandji. He occupies a distinguished place in the Digambar Jain Community. He is the master of immense wealth and the donor of many charities. At the expense of about 25 lakhs of rupees he has
established in Indore, a Sanskrit College, Dharmasala, Boarding Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
