Seer objects to portrayal of Jainism in PU textbook

Mangaluru: The II PU history textbook in Kannada, has upset the Jain community who claim that there are inconsistencies and discrepancies regarding Bhagwan Mahaveer and the Jain religion in the textbook.
Noticing these mistakes, the Moodabidri seer has requested primary and secondary education minister Suresh Kumar to withhold the textbook till corrections are made.
Interestingly, the text book has been prescribed for PU since 2015-16 academic year.
Swasti Sri Charukeerthi Panditachayavarya Maha Swamiji of Jain Kashi Mutt, Moodbidri, told TOI the discrepancies were brought to his notice only recently.
The Seer said that certain paragraphs that have appeared in the textbook pertaining to Bhagwan Mahaveer’s history and message are not accurate and they are not in accordance to the beliefs held by the community.
The seer said references to Bhagwan Mahaveer appear in 'India History – with special reference to Karnataka’ section wherein the text gives the meaning that Bhagwan Mahaveer was married. "In Shwethambara sect there is a belief that Mahaveer was married before becoming Bhagwan, but Digambara sect believes that he was celibate from childhood (Bala brahmachari)," said the seer suggesting the textbook draft committee sit with experts in the field of religion and make necessary corrections.
The seer also pointed out that the textbook states that Jainism was limited only to Kosala, Vanga and Magadha, which is incorrect. Jainism was followed in 'Akhanda Bharatha' and it is `a religion which does not have a beginning nor end’’ which is not only the belief of Jains, but a historical fact. As per Jain calculation, the first Tirthankara was born in the fourth era, but it has been wrongly mentioned in the text book as Shalivahana Shaka, said the seer.
He said brahmacharya (celibacy) was one of the sacred vows added by Bhagwan Mahaveer and the rest of the vows – namely ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (not stealing) and aparigraha (non-acquisition) --were propagated by the earlier 23 Tirthankaras. The text puts this under `panchasheela’ but it should be under `pancha anuvrata’, noted the seer.