Prof. Dr. Nagarajaiah Hampana
Prof. Dr. Adelheid Mette, born in 1934, in Germany, studied classical Philology, Archaeology, Philosophy, Indo-Germanic linguistics and Ancient History at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Hamburg (1953-58). Her dissertation was on Aeolic metres in the plays of Euripides (1959). With PhD in Greek, Latin and classical Archaeology, and working as freelance writer, she wrote articles for the Dictionary of the Early Greek Epic. Her interest in Prosody and Philosophy lead her to Ancient Indian Sanskrit and Prakrit. Inspired by Professors Walther Schubring, Ludwig Alsdorf and Klaus Bruhn, Religious and Cultural history of India, and Jainism in particular, became her favourite subjects of study.
Prof. Adelheid Mette's thirst for knowledge leads her to Tibetan Buddhist Studies. Albeit, she selected the ancient Prakrit work Oha-nijjutti and its commentary in Sanskrit by Dronacharya (C. 13th century), for her habilitation. She thoroughly examined the Pind'esana, 'Seeking Alms Food', the longest chapter in the Oha-nijjutti text. Later, Dr. Metteji, based on four Manuscripts of the medieval period, and a long verse commentary in Prakrit, ably reconstructed a critical edition of the Ogha-Niryukti(Brhad)bhāshya. Her fascination for this work compelled her to continue researches on the same text which was published in 1974 under the title Pind'esana - Das Kapitel der Oha-nijjutti über den Bettelgang.
Professor Adelheid Mette belongs to the glorious tradition of German Scholars. She has taught in the Universities of Hamburg and Munich. She visited India and recalls her visits to Delhi, Sarnath, Banaras, Śravaṇabeḷagoḷa and Mūḍabidure. Her recent book and magnum opus, The doctrine of Deliverance of the Jaina {Die Erlösungslehre der Jaina, 2010), in German language, is a seminal study and an excellent digest for both the beginner and scholar.
The Bahubali Prakrit Vidyapeeth and National Institute of Prakrit Studies and Research, Shri Dhavala Teertham, Shravanabelagola, having considered Professor Dr. Adelheid's invaluable service to the promotion of Prakrit language and literature, takes pleasure in bestowing the prestigious International Prakrit Jnanabharati Award for the Year 2009, in the Holy presence of His Holiness Jagadguru Karmayogi Svastishri Charukeerthy Bhattaraka Mahaswamiji. We wish her good health and happiness to serve the cause for many more years. Svasti.
ShravaNabelagola
14-10-2010
Karnataka, India
