Shravanabelagola, October 22, 2005: His Holiness Acharya 108 Sri Vardhamansagarji Maharaj opined that the Kannada literature has been enriched by the Jain poets and writers and felt that one cannot imagine Kannada literature without Jains. He was delivering his Ashirvachan during the Acharya Vandana programme organised at the inauguration of the All Kannada Jain Literary conference at Shravanabelagola. Further he recalled the contribution of Chavundaraya to the Jain literature through his work ‘Trishashti Shalaka Purana’.
Niranjana Stuthi: Sri Vardhamansagarji chanted the following lines of the Niranjana stuthi written by the Jain poet Ratnakaravarni in his work Bharatesha Vybhava “Parama Paranjyothi Koti Chandraditya Kirana Sugnana Prakasha…”, the chanting of these lines by Acharya Sri created an electrifying effect among the audience.
Acharya 108 Sri Varadattasagarji Maharaja and Acharya 108 Sri Gunanandiji Maharaj also delivered their Ashirvachan during the conference.
The Acharya Vandana programme was conducted under the presence of all the Jain ascetics present at Shravanabelagola. The Hampana couples performed the padapooja to the three acharyas. Later Jain writer Sri T.R.Jodatti and his wife offered the Sri Phalas to the Acharyas. – Jain Heritage Centres News Service (JHCNS)