Gold-inked scriptures shine on Gyan Panchmi

Surat: On the auspicious Jain festival of Gyan Panchmi, Surat Gachhadhipati Acharya Abhaydevsurishwarji and his follower Aacharya Moksharatnasurishwarji arranged Aagam puja at Guru Ram Pavanbhumi in Pal area of the city on Wednesday.

The main attraction of the event is 45 Aagam chhod which has been inked in gold that was kept on display for devotees along with kalpsutra that was carved on seashell by an Odiya artist.

“On the occasion of Gyan Panchmi, we put different auspicious religious things including 45 Aagam chhod, which were handwritten with gold ink by a Muslim artist from Surendranagar district a decade ago. Sadly, the artist passed away last year after suffering from Covid-19,” Moksha Ratna Surishwarji told TOI, adding that the invaluable religious scripture now enjoys approximately Rs 5 crore in market value at present.

Shubhmangal foundation had gifted a gold written Bhagwat Gita to a Hindu foundation along with a Sikshapatri to Vadtal Swaminarayan trust. In return, the trust had gifted the gold written kalpsutra to Shubhmangal foundation, he explained.

Along with this, handwritten kapsutra on seashell by an Odiya artist, wood print of Saraswati devi by Rajasthani artist, idol of lord Parshwanath made from a single wood trunk, an ivory Bhandar, Astlakshmi made from shreeparn wood and many more are kept on display, he said.

Talking about the event, the acharya said that 300 devotees from different parts of the country are observing Updhan fast under the supervision of acharya Abhayadev Surishwarji. “We are going to celebrate the Mokshamala vidhi on December 8, the day on which Abhayadev Surishwarji will also complete 60 years of Diksha,” Moksha Ratna Surishwarji added.

He said that of the 300 devotees observing fast, 150 are aged between 7 and 14 years. The 47-day long Updhan fast is a very tough ordeal which demands total dedication, he added.