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SIR SETH HUKUMCHANDJI'S ADDRESS.
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the famous Gommatesara was written by Sri Nemi Chandra Siddhanta Chakravarthi, who caused the consecration of the Image of Sri Gommatesvara to be performed. A Kannada commentary on this work was made by Sri Chamundaraya, the great worshipper of Sri Gommata. Sri Kesavavarni's Sanskrit commentary is based on this Kannada-vritti. Sir Chamundaraya's Charitrasara, in Sanskrit, is also a very famous work. So far as I know, thousands of books in Prakrit and Samskrit, written in Kannada characters on palm leaves are still to be found in bhandars. There are also many prose and poetical works in Kannada, which occupy the topmost place in that Literature. The Jain Ramayana of Sri Pampa Kavi, famous like the Ramayana of Valmiki and Tulsidas, is taught in the schools and colleges of this country. This Association should take steps to translate and publish in Hindi such celebrated works from Kannada. Otherwise they would be destroyed in the bhandars themselves.
I think it proper to mention here that Sri Dhavala, Jaya Dhavala and Maha Dhavala the three great masterpieces on Jain Religion which are kept in the Bhandar at Mudbidri are not taught or read by any of us till now. The Acharyas who wrote these books, wrote them for the benefit of the learned and the religious minded people. But those who stand in the way of publishing these sacred books, will only attract Jnanavarniya Karma. This Association should take in hand immediately the work of publishing these books.
The rules regarding partition as laid down in the Jaina Law of Inheritance and Partition are excellent. All the Jains should try to follow them.
In this province there are a large number of temples, images and inscriptions testifying to the glory of Digambar Jain Religion. I suggest that this Association may publish full accounts of these ancient monuments and protect them from decay. I think it is necessary to build a canopy over the head of the historical image of Sri Bahubali for the sake of its protection. But if the engineers do not approve of the idea of building a canupy, then the
abhishekams at least should be performed at shorter intervals. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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