Agamashastri Indrajain to be successor of Shravanabelagola Jain Matha

Hassan: In a significant development for the Jain community, 22-year-old Agamashastri Indrajain has been appointed as the successor to the Sravanabelagola Jain Matha.

The decision was taken by the Swamijis of various Jain Maths, the trustees of the Digambara Jain Math of Sravanabelagola, and the leaders of the Jain community, keeping in mind the tradition of Indra descendants becoming Swamijis.

It is learned that the appointment had been made in the backdrop of the deteriorating health of Swastishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji, the current head of the Jain Matha, who passed away on Thursday. The discussion about the appointment of a successor had been going on for the past three months.

Agamashastri Indrajain hails from Sagar town in Shimoga district and is a BCom graduate. After the decision to appoint him as the successor was made, he was given a brief initiation into Jainism. For the past 20 days, he has been learning about the heritage of the monastery, rituals, philosophy, and management of the Shravanabelagola Matha.

The religious rites of enthronement are yet to be done, but it is expected that Agamashastri Indrajain will soon take charge as the head of the Jain Matha.