With the State government refusing to spend any funds on researching further into the Jain inscriptions at Konakondla and develop the village into a tourist attraction, the Bharat Varsheeya Digambara Jain Thirthakshetra Committee (BVDJTC) has come forward to develop the same spending crores of rupees.

A congregation of over a hundred people belonging to the Jain community at the village in the Vajrakaruru mandal of the district has decided to build a memorial in the name of Acharya Kondakunda besides the construction of a residential vidyapeeth (a place of learning) to teach, research and propagate his teachings.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr R.V. Chakravarthi, credited with finding out these Jain religious places almost five decades ago in Konakondla, said that Acharya Kondakunda, who wrote the Jain religious texts — Pachastikayasara, Pravachanasara, Samayasara, Niyamasara and Barasanuvekkha — was also the author of the famous Tamil treatise ‘Tirukkural’, otherwise known to be written by famous Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar.

“Since Kondakunda, also known as Padmanandi, born in this village (Konakondla) was a Digambara, of no less a stature than that of the famous Gomata in Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, he sent his disciple Tiruvalla Nayanar to present the treatise to saints including that of the famous Avvaiyar of Sangam period, who mistook Tiruvalla Nayanar to be the author of the treatise,” said Mr Chakravarthi, speaking to a rapt audience at Konakondla.

The Bharat Varsheeya Digambara Jain Thirthakshetra Committee decides to build a memorial in the name of Acharya Kondakunda besides the construction of a residential vidyapeeth (a place of learning) to teach, research and propagate his teachings at the village

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by V.K. Rakesh Reddy / Anantapur – July 07th, 2015