Shravanabelagola, January 15, 2006: A new air of enthusiasm and energy was infused into the Bhagawan Bahubali Mahamasthakabhisheka Celebrations on Monday with the arrival of charismatic ‘revolutionary’ Jain Munisri Tarun Sagar, famous for his fiery televised breathless addresses.
Munisri Tarun Sagar, who reached Shravanabelagola after a 65 day long walk from Belgaum, was received by a group of monks at Thyagi Nagar, a km away from the Mutt, and was led to the mutt premises in a colourful procession with full dharmic honours, complete with Mangala Kalashas and the flags.

Later, addressing a 5000 strong gathering from the Chavundaraya Mantap in the Mutt flanked by Acharya 108 Vardhamana Sagar Maharaj, HH Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji and 132 other monks who have descended on Shravanabelagola for the Mahamasthakabhisheka Celebrations, Munisri Tarun Sagar was at his inimitable best.

“I did not have any programme to come here. But, even then, I came after a 65 day long walk all the way from Belgaum. I simply could not resist either the divine energy of Bhagawan Bahubali, in whom I have complete faith, or the supreme attraction that is Mahamasthkabhisheka Mahotsav,” he said.
Terming Bhagawan Bahubali as the tallest of all Jain saints, even taller than the 24 Theerthankaras, he said the ideals Bahubali stands for, such as non-violence and renunciation, was extremely relevant in the current times, when everything is reeking in corruption, be it mental, moral or material. “If today, a person can boast of just one of the many virtues of Bhagawan Bahubali, I dare say that that person will go straight to heaven”, he declared.
On the relevance of Mahamasthakabhisheka, Tarun Sagar said the celebrations were highly symbolic as the Abhisheka commences from the head and flows, onto the toes. “That is need of the current times when we consider the rot in the body polity today. There is a need for cleansing the corruption at the top if the society is to emerge clean and healthy for the common man at the bottom,” he said.
Pointing out that the Jain Acharyas from different parts of north India have not come to Shravanabelagola in South India just to taste Idli or Dosa, Tarun Sagar said that was the magnetism of Bahubali and the ideals he embodies. “I am an ordinary saint. But, the Acharyas are like rivers and all rivers have come to confluence at the feet of Bahubali, the serene ocean of peace, love and enlightenment,” he described.
He praised HH Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji, pontiff of Shravanabelagola Digambar Jain Mutt, as a social scientist in the garb of a muni.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, His Holiness Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji, pontiff of Shravanabelagola Digambar Jain Mutt, said it was an honour to have a monk like Tarun Sagar among the 133 monks who have descended on Shravanabelagola. He expressed confidence that the true Munishri Tarun Sagar, though known for his fiery addresses, was soft and full of love and this character would come forth during the celebrations.
Acharya108 Vardhaman Sagar Maharaj and Acharya 108 Virajanandi Maharaja also spoke. MMC06 Working President A R Nirmal Kumar and other top functionaries D R Shaha, Anil Sethi and Arvind Doshi were also present on the occasion. – Jain Heritage Centres News Service (JHCNS)