Ujire: Digambar Jain Brahmacharis on Sunday were initiated (deeksha) as kshullak and kshullika during the Mahamastakabhisheka which is under way at Dharmasthala , where the atmosphere was surcharged with dharmic fervour. The initiation was for three brahmacharis and two brahmacharinis.The ceremony was held under the guidance of acharya 108 Vardhamana Sagar Munimaharaj, Acharya 108 Pushpadanta Sagar Munimaharaj, Mataji and members of the Muni Sangha at the Amritavarshini Hall here.Sathish Bayyaji, 24, from Madhya Pradesh, Pooran Bayyaji from Hyderabad, Sriprabhu Bayyaji from Uttar Pradesh, Samyama and Savitha were initiated as kshullaks.Earlier, five people and members of the Muni Sangha were taken out in a grand procession to the hall, following a special prayer at the Bhagwan Chandranatha Swami Basadi.The five people who were given the deeksha were dressed in royal outfits and jewellery. Anitha Surendra Kumar from Dharmasthala drew the Swastik using rice grains. The munis taught their disciples that deeksha was important to attain aatmakalyana and moksha.The five were initiated into the order with the consent of their respective parents. The initiation process ended, complete with Kleshalonchana, the ceremonial plucking of hair on the head and face. The male disciples, who were until now, in expensive outfits, were undressed. White sarees adorned the two female disciples. Members of the muni sangha ordained deeksha with chanting of Pancha Namaskara mantras and shlokas. The disciples were also handed religious scripture for self-study.Vardhamana Sagar Munimaharaj urged the disciples to give up worldly pleasures and involve themselves in meditation and abstinence, saying that this contributed to attaining moksha.Heggade hailedCalling Dharmasthala dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade a saint, minister Jayamala hailed his contribution towards the holistic development of society.She was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the cultural events held as part of the Mahamastakabhisheka at Dharmasthala. The cultural programme started with the minister felicitating Alva’s Foundation chairman Dr M Mohan Alva with an idol of Nataraja.Jayamala recalled her younger days, saying she used to actively take part in the procession of Lord Bahubali’s statue from Karkala to Dharmasthala.Recalling her entry into the world of cinema, Jayamala said her debut movie ‘Kasdaye Kandane’ was shot in Dharmasthala.Actor Ramesh Arvind, who inaugurated the laser show, said the audience was the king, and the success of a movie depended on them. He lauded the efforts of the kshetra in bringing together people from all faiths. He called on people to develop the qualities of truth, ahimsa, sacrifice, patience and restraint in oneself, as high as the statue of Bahubali.Ramesh thanked Heggade for finally consenting to participate in his show ‘Weekend With Ramesh,’ after multiple denials earlier.According to the organisers, the laser show, depicting the story of Bharatha-Bahubali, will be held thrice every day from 7pm-8pm. Each show spans 15 minutes.Sathish Bayyaji was rechristened as Paramasagar Maharaj, Pooran Bayyaji as Paramathma Sagar and Sri Prabhu Bayyaji as Prabhakar Sagar Maharaj. Samyama and Savitha were rechristened as Amarajyothi Mataji and Amrutajyothi Mataji, respectively.Dharmasthala dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade, Hemavathi Heggade, D Surendra Kumar, Anita Surendra Kumar, Supriya Harshendra Kumar and Shradda Amit were present among others.

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