DIKSHA CEREMONY- SHRI CHAMPA LAL JI MAHARAJ SECT-JODHPUR
Diksha ceremony of two mumukshu's, Shri Sunil Fateh Lal Ji Surana from Sanwad, aged 26 years and Shri Prashant Ugam Raj Ji Deshlahra from Sonarpal (Chhatis Garh) of age 20 years was held at a simple function on 11th December, 2000 at Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Diksha were held under in Sthanakwasi Jain sampradaya under the sect of Gachhadhipati Shri Champa Lal Ji Maharaj. Many saints and sadhwis as well as Jain families from far and near were present on the occasion.

UPADHYAY MUNI SHRI KANAHIYA LAL JI MAHARAJ, PASSED AWAY
Upadhyay Muni Shri Kanahiya Lal Ji Maharaj belonging to Shraman Sangh of the Sthanakwasi sect breathed his last after a long spell of illness at Vardhman Mahavir Kendra, Mount Abu on 18th December, 2000 at the age of 86 years. He had been initiated under Shri Fateh Chand Ji Maharaj at the age of eighteen years. He was a great scholar and a celebrity, and had immensely contributed to Jain literature, particularly, on the studies of Jain Agams

DIKSHA CEREMONY PERFORMED AT JAIPUR & JODHPUR
As announced earlier, Diksha (Initiation programme) of four sadhwis was held on 6th and 7th December, 2000. Km. Ekta Daga was initiated at Jaipur by Mahasati Maina Sundari Ji and Mahasati Shri Ratan Kunwar Ji Maharaj disciple of Acharya Shri Hira chand Ji Maharaj. Shri Ashok Gehlot, C.M. of Rajasthan was the chief guest on the occasion. Shri Mofat Raj Ji Munot, Shri Suresh Dada Jain were present as Specially invited guests. The other four candidates, Km. Uma Kanthed, Usha Kanthed, Pushpa Baghmar and Neelam Jain were initiated at Jodhpur on the 7th December by revered Shri Basant Muni, Gautam Muni, Mahasati Lad Kunwar Ji, Sayar Kunwar Ji and Shanti Kunwar Ji with great enthusiasm by thousands of Jains from the town and outside. The last initiation (Badi Diksha) of both the groups were later held on the 14th December at both the places, Jaipur and Jodhpur.

TRICYCLES DISTRIBUTED-JALGAON
Under the auspices of Shri Mahavir Jain Hospital at Jalgaon, 400 Tri-cycles were distributed to the disabled persons on 3rd November, 2000 at a simple ceremony, presided over by Shri Suresh Dada Jain, in the presence of Shri D.R. Mehta, Chairman, SEBI, Shri Mofat Raj Ji Munot, and others.

EXHIBITION OF PRODUCTS- CALCUTTA
A vast exhibition depicting the artistic products, manuscripts, coins, books, postage stamps, metallic and stone statues and paintings belonging to ancient and medieval period is being organized at Calcutta from 6th to 14th January, 2001 under the auspices of 2600th birth day celebrations of Lord Mahavir.

CASH AWARD BY BHAGWAN MAHAVIR FOUNDATION-CHENNAI
hagwan Mahavir Foundation, Chennai has announced cash awards, each amounting to Rs. 5 lakhs in the following fields:

1. Publicity of Ahimsa and Vegetarianism

2. Education and Medicine

3. Service to society and community

Indian citizens and institutions, performing outstanding work in the above fields will be eligible for these awards. The format for sending proposals can be obtained from the web site, www.Jainsindia.org. Last date for sending proposals is 15th January, 2001.

1. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, President, Prime Minister - India

2. Shri Anant Kumar, Vice - President, Minister of Tourism & Culture

3. Shri Jaswant Singh, Member, Minister - Foreign Affairs

4. Shri Lal Krishna Advani, Member, Minister - Home

5. Shri Yashwant Sinha, Member, Minister of Finance

6. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Member, Minister of Telecommunications

7. Shri Sunderlal Patwa, Member, Minister for Rural Development

8. Shri Ramesh Vaish, Member, Minister for Information & Broadcasting

9. Smt. Menka Gandhi, Member, Minister for Social Affairs

10. Shri Dhananjaya Kumar, Member, Minister of State - Textiles

11. Shri Sunder Singh Bhandari, Member, Gonernor - Gujarat

12. Shri Prakash Singh Badal, Member, Chief Minister - Gujarat

13. Smt. Rabdi Devi, Member, Chief Minister - Bihar

14. Shri S.M. Krishna, Member, Chief Minister - Karnataka

15. Shri Kehsav Bhai Patel, Member, Chief Minister - Gujarat

16. Shri Digvijay Singh, Member, Chief Minister - Madhya Pradesh

17. Shri Vilas Rao Deshmukh, Member, Chief Minister - Maharashtra

18. Shri Ashok Gehlot, Member, Chief Minister - Rajasthan

19. Smt. Shiela Dixhit, Member, Chief Minister - Delhi

20. Shri Rajnath Singh, Member, Chief Minister - Uttar Pradesh

21. Dr. L.M. Singhvi, Member

22. Shri Deep Chand Gardi, Member

23. Shri M.C. Shah, Member

24. Smt. Indu Jain, Member

25. Sahu Ramesh Chand Jain, Member

26. Shri Shrenik Bhai Kastur Bhai, Member

27. Shri Rajkumar Jain, Member

28. Shri Virendra Hegde, Member

29. Shri S.P. Jain, Member

30. Dr. Saryu Doshi, Member

31. Shri Hulas Chand Golecha, Member

32. Shri Hastimal Mahnot, Member

33. Dr. Mahendra Pandya, Member

34. Shri C.K. Jain, Member

35. Shri Mangilal Sethia, Member

36. Shri K.L. Jain, Member

37. Shri Banne Chand Maloo, Member

38. Shri L.L. Aschha, Member

39. Shri Pradeep Kumar Kasliwal, Member

40. Shri Charukirti Bhattarak, Member

41. Smt. Kamla Ham Pa Nagrajaya, Member

42. Shri Laxmi Chand Kothari, Member

43. Shri Sakal Chand Baghrecha, Member

44. Shri Nirmal Chand Jain, Member

45. Shri Sampat Raj Gadiya, Member

46. Shri Gyan Raj Mehta, Member

47. Shri Manohar Chhajer, Member

48. Shri M.R. Thanga, Member

49. Shri D.R. Mehta, Member

50. Prof. Repocha, Member

51. Shri Rafik Chakariya, Member

52. Bhai Jodh Singh, Member

53. Dr. Karn Singh, Member

54. Dr. B.K. Modi, Member

55. Shri V.H. Dalmiya, Member

56. Molana Vahiyuddin Jamiya, Member

57. Arch Bishop of Delhi, Member

1. Km. Lata will be initiated to Jain order on 4th February, 2001 at Bhagwan Mahavir Aradhana Kendra, Mt. Abu in the holy presence of Acharya Dr. Shiv Muni and Mahasati Sadhwi Dr. Mukti Prabha Ji.

2. Shri Pradip Kumar Chordia was initiated to saint-hood on 7th December, 2000 at Parola (Maharashtra) in the holy presence of Shri Kan Muni Ji, disciple of Shri Umesh Muni ji Maharaj. After the Diksha, he was re-christened as Shri Pradip Muni.

3. Miss. Darshana Chaplot was initiated to Jain order on 10th December, 2000 at Amet, Rajasthan under Shri Indra Muni Ji Maharaj, disciple of Saint Shri Roop Muni Ji Maharaj.

4. Miss Kamla Ji Badaula adopted sainthood and was initiated on 11th December, 2000 at Bhilwara in the august presence of Shri Uttam Muni Ji Maharaj and Mahasati Shri Arun Prabha Ji Maharaj.

5. Four mumukshu's, Shri Piyush Jain, Shri Paras Jain, Shri Saurabh Jain and Shri Vaibhav Jain will be initiated on 29th January, 2001 in the holy presence of Shri Prakash Chand Ji Maharaj, Shastri Shri Padam Chand Ji Maharaj etc., disciples of Shri Sudarshan Lal Ji Maharaj.

POSTAL STAMP ON BHAMASHAH
In the memory of Late Shri Bhamashah, great philanthropist of Mewar, Rajasthan, a postage stamp has been issued by the Government of India.Bhamashah was born on 25th June, 1547 in a respectable Oswal Jain family of Chittore-Garh. He was the Commander, Chief Minister, colleague and supporter of Maharana Pratap and had given him generous and bountiful financial support to the Maharana to enable him to regain his lost empire from Akbar.

BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS- RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan Government has prohibited the use plastic bags made by recycling process and having sheet thickness not less than 22 microns, by promulgating a Government order on 1st January, 2001. This action has been highly appreciated by all.

PROGRAM ON 2600TH BHAGWAN MAHAVIR BIRTH CENETARY YEAR
Shri Anant Kumar, Minister of Tourism and Culture announced various programmes to be taken up during Bhagwan Mahavir Birth Centenary year, commencing from 6th April, 2001. These programmes will include:

1. Developing 2600 villages in the form of ideal villages. Adequate facilities for education, medicine, drinking water, roads etc. will be developed at this villages.

2. Bhagwan Mahavir I.T. Foundation will be established to give and spread authentic and detailed information about the principles of religion enunciated by Bhagwan Mahavir. 600 centres of I.T. will also be established for the same purpose all over the country.

3. Postage stamps and coins will be issued to mark the occasion.

4. The day of commencement of celebrations, e.g. 6th April will be observed as meat-less (vegetarian) day all over the country.

5. A central monitoring agency will be constituted to control and monitor the programmes to be carried out in different parts of the country and give necessary directions to make the programmes fully successful.

6. Out of Rs. 100 Crores sanctioned by the Government for the meeting the expenditure on the centenary celebrations, rs. 30 Crores will be ear-marked for undertaking the various programmes at centre and state levels. Remaining amount of Rs. 70 Crores will be used on the projects of permanent nature.

7. The Department of Culture will act as a central nodal agency of the Ministry

8. A Nature Study Centre will be established at Vaishali, the birth place of Lord Mahavir.

9. All projects and schemes started in the year 1974 during Bhagwan Mahavir Nirvana Mahotsava, will be completed, specially those at Vaishali and Pavapuri.

10. Important work of collecting and preserving ancient manuscripts will be taken up. Exhibitions will be arranged at different places in the country, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and Banglore to display the ancient manuscripts and items of artistic value.

11. Necessary steps will be taken to preserve the glory and maintain the ancient Jain memorials. Environment surrounding these memorials will be properly developed into beautiful places.

12. A pictorial guide book of all Jain religious places, temples and memorials will be produced giving full information about them. International Conferences and Seminars will be organized on Anekantvad and non-violence during the course of the year.

AHIMSA TIMES INVITES NEWS CORRESPONDENTS FOR HELPING IN NEWS COLLECTION We invite Jain volunteers from different geographical area to join the team of Ahimsa Times Correspondents. The interested readers may send their profile and a photograph to The Editor at E-Mail: ahimsa@jainsamaj.org.

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