Swasti Shri Dr. Devendrakeerthi Bhattaraka Mahaswamiji

Swasti Shri Dr. Devendrakeerthi Bhattaraka Mahaswamiji is Peethadhipati (pontiff) of Sri Hombuja Jain Math (Monastery) at Humcha. ‘Swasti Shri’ stands as honorific prefix and ‘Mahaswamiji’ stands for ‘the great saint’. Bhattarakas are Jain ascetics, religious preceptors, preachers and teachers who head a Math (monastery). They manage the affairs and assets of the Math. They are known for their religious knowledge, austerity and oratory skills. Bhattarakas encourage, guide and help house-holders and organisations for undertaking and completion of various religious projects and activities including construction of temples and installation of deities therein. Delivering religious discourses, maintenance of religion script houses, providing religious education, arranging religious conferences and carrying charitable, philanthropic and welfare activities are the areas of their major activities. They wear sparse clothing dyed in red ochre, and always carry ‘pinchchi’ (a turf of peacock feathers) with them. They are strict vegetarians who consume food before sunset.