Rons Bantwal

Moodbidri, Aug 17: Nagara Panchami was celebrated with religious fervour across all 18 basadis of Jain Kashi Moodbidri, with abhisheka offered to the presiding deities and devotees associated with each basadi offering milk, fruits and coconuts and performing pooja at the respective Nagabana.

Sri Digambar Jain Math, Jain Kashi Moodbidri Mahakshetra and Jain Mahasamsthana Peethadhipathi Bharat Bhushan Jagadguru Swasthishree Jagadguru Swasthishree Dr Bhattaraka Charukeerthi Pandithacharyavarya Mahaswamiji was present at Guru Basadi. He blessed the devotees and prayed for the well-being of all those who participated in the worship and for peace in the world.

Explaining the significance of Naga worship in Jainism, Bhattaraka Charukeerthi Pandithacharyavarya said Nagadeva is worshipped as part of the daily religious rituals in Jain tradition. During the Sandhyavandana ritual, Upachara pooja is offered to Nagadeva before the Panchakumara pooja and worship of Sri Jinendra Bhagavan. Naga mantras are also recited and remembered during Kalasha Sthapana and Punyaha Vachana rituals.

He said the tradition of Naga worship has an ancient history and dates back to the time of Lord Adinatha, the first Tirthankara of the fourth era. The Ashtakula Nagas have a prominent place in the worship, while arghya is offered daily in remembrance of a total of 60,000 Naga clans.

He further said Dharanendra and Padmavati, the Yaksha and Yakshi of the 23rd Tirthankara, Lord Sri Parshvanatha Swami, are Bhavanavasi deities and protectors of the Jain order. “The deities who protect the Jain order are worshipped with reverence, humility and gratitude as an expression of devotion,” he said.

Dar Sena, Nemiraj, Virendra, Abhay Kumar, Parshvanath, Vrinda Rajendra Aramane, Manjula Abhayachandra, S Sudha, Divya and Arathi were present on the occasion. Viraj Indra performed the pooja at Guru Basadi, while Jagatpala Indra performed the pooja at the Thousand Pillar Basadi.