MOODBIDRI SWAMIJI PROFILE

His Holiness Dr Swasti Shree Bhattaraka Charukeerthi Pandithacharyavarya Mahaswamiji, Shree Jain Math, Moodbidri.

Karnataka,INDIA

+918258236318

jainkashi@yahoo.com-   srisriji.05@gmail.com

A Profile

According to local tradition, the Moodbidri Bhattaraka Gurupeetha (Religious Pontiff’s Seat) is traced to the line of Acharya Kunda Kunda. The titular name of the religious head runs like this:

“Srimad Delli Kanakadri Shwethapura Sudhapura Sangeethapura, Srimad Belagola, Kshemavenupura Siddha Simhasanadheeshwara.”

Bhattaraka is said to mean a scholar who has mastered all branches of knowledge and arts with an unquenching thirst for knowledge. A Bhattaraka is expected to be well-versed in religious knowledge acquired through intense study and to be the well-wisher of monks and great souls. He should propagate religious principles.

The present Gurupeetha was founded in 1220 by the then Pontiff, Swasti Shree Charukeerthi Pandithachayavarya of Shravanabelagola Mutt.

Moodbidri Mutt is a great seat of Jain Bhattaraka (Jain Pontiff) and one of the most prominent Jain Mutts. The Bhattarakas hold the literary title, ‘Charukeerthi Swamiji’. They have been pontiffs of Jains and kings alike and wield great influence, command and respect in Royal Darbars (royal assemblies) of all the states in India. The Bhattarakas of the Moodbidri Jain Mutt have been very famous for their accomplishments in learning Sanskrit, Prakrit, Jainology, herbal medicine and philosophy.

The Moodbidri Jain Library is the richest of all Jain literary collections throughout India and contains very ancient and unique works of Jain Acharyas (philosophers) written on palm leaves. The renowned Jain scriptures viz. Dhavala, Jaya Dhavala and Maha Dhavala, known to be the most precious holy literature are preserved at Jain Mutt under the Swamiji’s custody.

Presently, this sacred seat of the Bhattaraka is held by a young and energetic sage who is enthroned on this religious seat of Jain Mutt as a successor to the previous Swamiji.. He secured Diploma in computer science and civil engineering vasthu architect in Building Construction. He had his post graduate education and obtained M. A. in Economics and Vastuvisharada (a course on traditional Indian architecture). At present, the Swamiji is the supreme Head of a lot of institutions such as Ramarani Research Centre, Sri Mahaveera College, swassthi shree residential Jain Pre-university College, Gamaka School of Art, Choodamani Art Gallery and also the Managing Trustee of the famous 18 Jain Temples of Moodbidri which includes world- famous Thousand Pillar Temple and Siddhanta Temple which has invaluable, antique and precious stone-idols. He also runs an old age home for the old and a free student hostel.

He is one of the promoters of Bharathiya Sanskrithika Parishad of Karnataka, Jeevan Vigyan Academy of Bangalore and Animal Kindness Society of Bangalore. He is the Head of the Moodbidri Chapter of World Conference for Peace and Religion. He is the Managing Trustee of Dhavalathraya Trust (Regd.)

“Vivekabhyudaya”, a popular monthly propagating the Shramana Sanskrithi (Jain culture), is being published for the last 76 years by the Jain Mutt.

Right from the day of his becoming the Head of the Jain Mutt, the Swamiji kept himself busy in all kinds of religious, cultural and social activities and he organized literary conference and religious functions. He attended conferences world-wide and carried out the work of his predecessor and gave Moodbidri a new distinction as centre of religious activities, art and culture.

He was the principal speaker at the 2000^th millennium celebration of Jesus Christ in Mysore. He is one of the members of “Jnana Peetha Foundation”, Delhi, which confers the prestigious national literary award every year called “Jnana Peetha Award”. The Swamiji was the honorary guest at the 10-day Jain ritual called “Dashalakshana Parva” in Nepal in the year 2000. He delivered his speech on Lord Mahaveera at the 2600^th International Mahaveera Birth Anniversary Celebration in Singapore in 2002. He also delivered the key note address on Jainology, Vegetarianism and Yoga at Munich University and Munster University in Germany. The Swamiji is actively participating in programs organized by Delhi Peace Summit headed by the President of India.

He participated in World Conference for Religion and Peace at Barcelona, Spain, in July 2004 and spoke about ‘nonviolence and the role of youth in world peace”. There was a dialogue on celibacy in Jainism with inter-faith organizations. As the cultural ambassador of India he has undertaken morethan 40 foreign tours of countries like the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Denmark,Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia,Nepal,UAE. He has attended four pwr conference since2018, Barcelona,Melbourne,saltlake city Utah,Toronto Canada  the World Religious Conference. He has consecrated more than 50 Panchakalyaan jina(bimba) idol Installations. He has been chosen as the permanent all-religious advisor of international institutions like peacenext.org, gurusangam.org, jaina.org,parliament of world religion member,hwpl seoul koria member, U. S. A, International Jain Foram,Vegetarian Congress and as Bharatiya Samskruthika Parishat. He is the promoter of Adyashree Charukeerthi Yakshagana Balaga, Advisor of Jain Research Centre, Mahaveera Bhavana, Moodbidri. He is also the Founder-President of Tribhuvan Art Gallery, Moodbidri. The Swamiji is also engaged in innumerable non-profit activities and organizations.

In recognition of his immense knowledge in architecture, Kolkata Astrological University honored him by presenting the honorary “Bharat Mata Award” at the International Astrological Conference.2004 honored DOCTORATE, The “Non-violence” Organization honored him by conferring the award of “Dharma Rathna”. He was also honored with the “Jain Jyothi” award by the Governor of Karnataka State, Honorable Sri T N Chaturvedi in Bangalore.2015 USA CONGRESS HONOURED SWAMIJI, and 2016 SRILANKA honored as Jagath kalyaan guru SWAMIJI attended four parliament of world religions around the globe 2017 Maharashtra government co-op minister honored with the Dharma Rathnakara title at Sholapur,2018 felicitate Chicago jain centre USA, 30 june2018 and recently November 30 Jain centre KATMANDU NEPAL

His future dreams are many Prominent of them being to establish an ashram to propagate the Jain way of life. He has already given a start for the publication of rare works housed in Ramarani Research Centre. Such is the Swamiji”s great personality backed with zeal and thirst for all kinds of creative wisdom.

The Jain Mutt can be accessed at the website www.jainkashi.com which is the first-ever website of a Jain religious institution in India.