The Sacred Shravanabelagola

"It is the privilege of Bharatiya Jnanapith to publish on the occasion of the One Thousandth Year Celebrations of the installation of Gommaleśvar Bahubali's Statue and its Maha-mastakabhisek at Sravana-Belagola, Karnataka, on 22nd February 1981. This remarkable book 'The Sacred Sravana-Belagola-A Socio-Religious Study' is the only book of its kind in English giving in a succinct manner an account of the environment, the shrines, the monuments and the historical development of Sravana-Belagola as also delineating the unique role of Chamundaraja in conceiving the project of getting the colossus of Bahubali carved out of a whole rock and finding sculptors who could chisel out in tangible form the intrinsic spirituality of the great Yogi that Bahubali was. The benign smile blooming forth from the rapture of deep meditation is a living blessing that purifies the devotees and enchants the visitors. Dr. Vilas A. Sangave is a scholar of deep study. His comprehension of his themes is always thorough, without being ponderous. Because of his rich background of history, sociology and Jain lore, he has made this study a mirror which reflects facets of Indian culture best epitomised even in the name of this pious piece of earth-Sravana-Belagola, the pond of crystal-clear waters in an idyllic setting sanctified by the meditating Shramana Sadhus of yore. The utility of the book will impress, we hope, the academician as well as the general reader. How one wishes the founders of Bharatiya Jnanpith, late Shri Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and Shrimati Rama Jain, were sitting at the feet of Bhagwan Bahubali on this auspicious occasion. They set the path which Bharatiya Jnanpith has been endeavouring all along to follow. Sahu Shriyans Prasad Jain as President and Shri Ashok Kumar Jain as Managing Trustee of Bharatiya Jnanpith are guiding our activities and giving us all encouragement to expand the activities of the Trust. As in all such projects pursued by others on this Great Occasion, the author's source of inspiration has been Pujya Elacharya Vidyanandji Maharaj, honoured as Siddhanta Chakravarti. The blessings of His Holiness Karmayogi Bhattäraka Charukirtiji Swami of Śravana-Belagoļa are ever with us too. Lakshmi Chandra Jain Director Bharatiya Jnanpith"