Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri
Moodbidri, Aug 9: The sacred occasion of Nool Hunnime Shravana, a key spiritual event in the Jain calendar, was observed with solemn rituals and vibrant devotion at the Jain Kashi Mahasansthan in Moodbidri on Saturday.
Celebrated as the day when Jain devotees adorn the Ratnatraya Sutra — the symbolic thread representing the three core tenets of Jainism: right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct — the festival drew hundreds of Shravakas to the town’s revered 18 Basadis (Jain temples), where special pujas and havans were held.
The ceremonies were led by Acharya Gulab Bhushan Muniraj, under whose spiritual guidance devotees performed the sacred thread ritual and rededicated themselves to the Jain path of righteousness and self-discipline.
Presiding over the celebrations at the historic Sri Digambar Jain Matha, Jagadguru Swasti Shri Dr Charukeerthi Panditacharyavarya Mahaswamiji, Peethadhipathi of the Jain Kashi Mahasansthan, delivered his blessings to the gathering.
“This is a day of spiritual protection and inner renewal for all who walk the path of dharma,” he said, urging devotees to strengthen their commitment to righteous living.
Following the havan rituals, the traditional Janivara Dharane (wearing of the sacred thread) was conducted with great reverence. The afternoon saw the conclusion of the 16th Shanti Chakra Aradhana, a ritual symbolising peace and spiritual harmony, at Shanti Bhavana, adjacent to the Matha.
Devotees performed Padapuja (ceremonial worship of the Acharya’s feet) and offered Aarti, receiving blessings (Dharma Labha) from the Bhattarakas present.
Several notable figures from the community were in attendance, including former minister K Abhayachandra Jain, Tilak Prasad, Darshan Shetty, Sanjayant Kumar, Sudesh Betkeri, Shweta Jain, and K Sooraj, who took part in the rituals and spiritual observances.
The celebrations reaffirmed Moodbidri’s status as ‘Jain Kashi’, a spiritual and cultural hub of the Jain community, where tradition and devotion continue to thrive through generations.