Women and Jainism – National Seminar held at Acharya Nagarjuna University
The National Seminar on “Women and Jainism” was held at the Nagarjuna University, on February 11th and 12th 2012 sponsored by the UGC and Sree Atma Vallabh Jain Museum[1], Nagarjunanagar – 522 510.
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The inaugural function was held on February 11th 2012, 10.30 am at Prof. L. Venugopal Reddy Seminar Hall of Dr H. H. Deichmann[2] & Dr S. John David[3] Auditorium[4], ANU Campus. It was presided over by Prof K. Viyyanna Rao, Vice-Chancellor i/c Acharya Nagarjuna University. The Chief Guest was Prof Hampa Nagarajaih[5] who delivered key-note address. The Guests of Honour was Prof G. Prasad, Prof N. Samyulu O. S. D, ANU, Prof Y. P. Ramasubbaiah, Dean, College Development Council, ANU and Prof ……, R. Saraswathi, Dean, Faculty of Humanities, ANU.
Dharmachand Binakiya[6], N. Samyulu, Hampa Nagarajaih, K. Viyyanna Rao, Bhaskara Murthy, Murali Mohan, ……, R. Saraswathi.
The audience included reputed Jaina scholars, jainologists, Samanis, Buddha Bikkus and researchers. A sectional view of the audience. The two Sadhvis came from Jain Vishva Bharati University[7], Ludnun, Rajasthan – 341 306. They belong to Terapanth[8] branch of Jainism in which certain exemptions have been given to female ascetics to travel by car, aeroplane and take food prepared specifically for them etc., instead of walking barefoot and food obtained from others.
Another sectional view of the audience.
A session was going on. Prof Hampa Nagarajaih and Dr Jawahar were at the centre.
Prof Bhaskara Murthy[9], ….., Dharmachand Binakiya, Prof Kamala Hampa Nagarajaih
One of the Samanis from Jain Vishva Bharati University was presenting her paper.
A young lady-delegate presents a paper.
A view of the paper presenters on the dais.
Prof Hampa Nagarajaih during valedictory address.
Dr Kokila H. Shah was honoured by a Bhutanese young scholar.
Dr Murali Moha, the convener was honoured by Dharmachand Binakiya. He has been the backbone of the conduct of the seminar with tireless work and in contact with all invitees, delegates and others and personally looked into their arrival, stay, departure etc. Perhaps, only a few could personally take care of like him in Seminars.
Totally 40 papers were presented by various Jaina scholars, Jainologists, Samanis, and researchers covering different aspects of the women, nuns and other females ascetics of Jainism. The position of Jaina women, Sadhvis in particular was discussed according to Digambara, Swetambara, Yappaniya and other branches of Jainism. There was an active discussion, debate and deliberation during the paper presentation session.
The media coverage of the seminar is found in the following sites:
http://www.thehansindia.info/News/Article.asp?category=5&subCategory=3&ContentId=39047
[1] Sree Atma Vallabh Jain Museum in ANU campus was inaugurated on 29-4-2008 by Prof. P. Chenna Reddy, the Director of Archeaology and Museums, Andhra Pradesh. The Jain Museum was constructed by Sri Sankeswar Parswanath Giriraj Trust, Vijayawada, at a cost of Rs. 40 lakhs. The Vice-Chancellor Prof. V.Balamohandas presided
over the function and hoped that the Museum would spread awareness of the Jain religious principles. The Chief Guest Prof. P. Chenna Reddy assured the University of the A.P. government’s help in the activities of the museum, since no other university in the state had the distinction of having a Jain Museum. The Secretary of the Trust Sri Dharmchand Binakia said that the construction was aimed at fostering educational and research activities in the subject for which he assured financial support.
Vol. X : No. 1 ACHARYA NAGARJUNA UNIVERSITY PUBLICATION APRIL-JUNE 2008; http://www.nagarjunauniversity.ac.in/newsletters/nlapjun2008.pdf
[2] Dr.H.H.Deichmann, a German business entrepreneur, Founder-President, Wort & Tat, Germany, associated with AMG in 1977 and in course of time, became the chief donor. http://www.amg.in/donors/14/14
[3] Dr. John David, Founder, worked for up-lifting the living conditions of poor people socially and economically oppressed and backward persons. http://www.amg.in/who-we-are/12-about-us/27-about-us
[4] Acharya Nagarjuna University has added yet another feather in its history after the Dr. H.H. Deichmann & Dr.S. John David Auditorium-cum-seminar hall was inaugurated on Saturday at a glittering function held on the ANU campus on Saturday (10-11-2007). The auditorium was built at a cost of Rs. 5 crore, with Deichmann sponsoring Rs.2 crore. Construction of the auditorium began during the tenure of then Vice-Chancellor L. Venugopala Reddy and was completed in November 2007. The spacious auditorium could accommodate 1,000 persons and consists of two seminar halls, each with a capacity of 150 persons. http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/11/stories/2007111159420300.htm
[9] The Co-ordinator of the Centre for Jain Studies, Prof. D. Bhaskara Murthi also spoke on the need to gather and exhibit in the Museum the Jain statues and artefacts being unearthed at several places in the state.
Vol. X : No. 1 ACHARYA NAGARJUNA UNIVERSITY PUBLICATION APRIL-JUNE 2008
Filed under: Acharya, Ambika, ascetic, Digambara, female, history, jain, Jain Museum, jainism, Jogini, kalpa, linguistics, linguistuic study, mahavir, Malli, mallinatha, Nagarjuna, Nagarjuna University, naked, nirvana, nudity, pashvanatha, politics, Sadhvi, Samani, Saraswati, Social science, sociology, Sree Atma Vallabh, Sree Atma Vallabh Jain Museum, sutra, Swetambara, tirtankara, woman, women, Yogini | Tagged: Ambika, delegate, Digambara, jain, Jaina, jainism, jogini, Mahavir, Mahavira, malli, mallinatha, mantra, Nagarjuna, nagarjuna University, Padmavati, Pashwanath, sadhvi, samani, Saraswati, Swetambara, tantra, Terapanth, tirthankara, UGC, woman, women, Yakkini, yantra, Yapaniya, yogini | Leave a comment »
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