Rons Bantwal

Daijwiorld Media Network - Moodbidri

Moodbidri, Aug 9: Nagara Panchami was celebrated with great devotion at all ancient Jain basadis (temples) across the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, including Jain Kashi Moodbidri.

The celebrations began early in the morning at 6:35 am, with a large number of devotees and community members arriving to participate in the rituals. They brought fruits, coconuts, and offerings of milk for the Naga deity, which were offered under the guidance of the temple priest, Indra.

On Friday, August 9, special poojas were conducted at 18 basadis under the presence and guidance of Shri Jain Math’s Jagadguru Dr Swasti Shri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Panditacharya Pattacharya Swamiji. Swamiji participated in the abhisheka (anointment) of Lord Tirthankara at Guru Basadi, Kere Basadi, and Saavira Kambada Basadi, followed by the Naga pooja. He blessed and offered his guidance to all devotees who attended, emphasizing the significance of Naga worship.

Swamiji highlighted that in Jain Agamas (sacred scriptures), worship rituals include the daily pooja of Ashta Kula Naga Devaru and 60,000 Naga deities at the basadis. He referred to the fourth chapter, tenth sutra of Acharya Umaswami's Tattvartha Sutra, which mentions Naga deities among the ten classifications of Bhavanavasis (inhabitants of heavenly abodes), emphasizing their importance.

He further explained that Nagara Panchami has been observed since ancient times at all the basadis in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. On this auspicious day, a special Panchamrita abhisheka, aarti, and Shodasha Upachara pooja are performed for the Naga deity, the Kshetrapala (guardian deity) of the basadi.