TEMPLES

150 LARGE TEMPLES OF 4800 B.C. UNEARTHED IN GERMANY, AUSTRIA & SLOVAKIA COULD BE JAIN TEMPLES
News published on the 11th June, 2005 in U.K. press:  London : Europe ’s oldest civilization has been discovered by archeologists across the continent, the independent said on Saturday. More than 150 large temples, constructed between 4800 B.C. & 4600 B.C. , have been unearthed in fields & cities in Germany , Austria & Slovakia , predating the pyramids in Egypt by some 2000 years. The network of temples, made of earth & wood, were constructed by religious people whose economy may have been based on livestock farming. Excavations have taken over the past three years but discovery is so new that the civilization has not yet been named.

Shri L.M. Singhvi in his book, in relation to past archeological discoveries also corroborates the above findings. “As noted by Pandit Sukhlal Sanghvi, during an excavation in 1949 in Cyprus , a bronze statue of first jain Tirthankar Rishabh dev was found belonging to the second millennium, cca. 1250 B.C. Recent marine archeology in the bay of Cambay threw up underwater discoveries of submerged civilizations that existed before almost all other known ancient civilizations.”     Courtesy: Mr. Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh.

The wish of the anonymous donor as well as the more than 800 families who are members of the only Jain temple in New York was fulfilled with the construction of a 16,600 sq. feet temple complex in the same spot at a cost of $6 million. The pratishta mahotsav (installation of the idols) was scheduled for June 10, followed by a nine days of celebrations. The idols of the 24 tirthankaras (spiritual leaders) and other deities were taken to the temple in a procession on the May 15. The idols, carved in marble and gemstones, were brought from India. "There are about 65 Jain temples in the US, but this temple is unique," Dr. Mamta Shaha, a spokesperson for the temple said. "It is unique because it will be the only Jain temple in the world that will serve to unite all the Jain sects, under one roof."

The sects such as digamabaras and shwetambaras, believe in the same core principles, but with certain differences in practice. In the Elmhurst temple, each sect will have facilities to conduct worship, the way its members wants. The Adinath temple is in Digambar tradition. The Dhyan Mandir (meditation hall) is in Shrimad Rajchandra tradition. And the Mahavir swami temple is in swetambar tradition. The four-floor, 66-foot high temple is breath-takingly beautiful as it is constructed in white marble.

It was under the guidance of spiritual leaders, Gurudev Shri Chitrabanuji and Gurudev Shri Sushilkumarji that the Jain community in New York began to unite and come together for peace and prayer, in late 1970's. In 1981, a two-family home was purchased and converted into a temple at the lower level and upper apartment housed the caretaker and priests. With a handful of families as its members in the early years, the 'Jain Center of New York' has grown tremendously over the years.

A place of prayer that was once operated as a 'house temple' out of Ithaca Street, and held religious school, lectures, and puja in a 30 foot by 40 foot living room has now been morphed with the help of a dream, and the overwhelming support of the Jain community in New York.

The one room shrine has been transformed into an architectural marvel. Apart from the temple, the complex has a Jain Art Gallery, a children's religious school with a full computer lab located in the basement, apartments for the temple caretaker and visiting scholars, with expansion plans for the future. Several religious leaders including Gurudev Chitrabhanu will attend the ceremonies. Political leaders including congressmen are also expected be present. "We expect more than 4000 people at the event," Dr Shaha said. There are about 4.4 million Jain followers across the globe and 75,000 to 80,000 in the United States of America. The number in the US is growing rather rapidly over the past few years as more Jains have been emigrating from India on account of the new technological trends. Information Source: us.rediff.com

CELESTIAL PHENOMENON IN BHAGWAN MAHAVIR TEMPLE AT KOBA
At seven minutes past two, in the afternoon of 22nd may every year, rays from sun pass through a small hole in the roof and fall on the forehead of the idol of Bhagwan Mahavir installed in the temple at Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra, Koba in Gandhi Nagar. Like the previous 25 occasions, on the same day, this year also, the solar rays penetrated through the hole and fell on the forehead of the idol just for a few minutes, causing the forehead to glow intensely and entire room to get lit, as witnessed by hundreds of devotees, who were present there on this occasion, chanting the victory of Bhagwan Mahavir. The celestial phenomenon remained for a few minutes and thereafter the temple room again became dark as usual. This unique happening has been made possible during the design of the temple through accurate astronomical and scientific calculations by saints, Sri Arvind sagar ji and Sri Arunodaya sagar ji, who are the disciples of Jain Acharya Shri Padam Sagar ji maharaj. This temple was established in the year 1980.

GRAND PANCH-KALYANAK PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAVA AT RANCHI
A grand Panchkalyanak Pratistha Mahotsav is being organised at Ranchi (Jharkhand) from 12th to 18th June, 2005 under guidance of Muni Sri 108 Praman Sagar ji maharaj disciple of Achraya Sri 108 Vidhya Sagar ji maharaj. It is going to be a historic occasion to witness the first-ever held Panch-kalyanak mahotsava at Ranchi , the capital town of Jharkhand state. Venue: Zila school, Shahid chowk, Ranchi . Shri Dharam chand Rara, president of Digambar Jain Panchayat is looking after all the arrangements. For details, contact: Digamber Jain Mandir, Upper Bazar, Ranchi ph: 0651-2209286. Or contact Arun Gangwal; mobile: 098351-16724.

SAINTS

ARYIKA GYAN MATI JI SERIOUSLY ILL AT HASTINAPUR
The head Ganini and senior Aryika of Digambar sect, Shri Gyan Mati Ji maharaj has been seriously ill for the last one month. She has recently toured Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand states and has been occupied with the work of arranging renovation of Digambar Jain temples at Ayodhya, Prayag (Allahabad) and Kundalpur (Nalanda). Many religious ceremonies have been performed in her holy presence. She had reached Hastinapur on the 25th May, 2005 and since then, she has been seriously ill. She has almost left taking food and is surviving mainly on water. The entire Digambar Jain community is feeling highly concerned about her health and people are offering prayers for her early recovery and good health.  

CONFERENCES AND PROGRAMS

SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN JAINISM FOR AMERICAN STUDENTS IN INDIA - With a view to start the process of creating faculty and students in Universities of USA and UK, who are keen in South Asian religions, learn Jain philosophy and Jain way of life and then spread Jaina studies in their universities and other academic institutions, a group of eight University Professors and students from USA and UK have come to India for two months (from  1st June - 31st July 2005)  intensive crash course in Jainism. This program is fully integrated within the American university system, in which students will earn credits (up to nine credits) towards their degrees. This program is integrated with academic institutions in India, aimed at helping students understand Jainism within traditional Jain environments. The objective of this program is to impart advanced grounding/skills in the Jain religion (for an understanding of the many facets of Jainism including its history, culture, politics, philosophy, ethics and practice). Multiple modes of imparting knowledge will include.

The program is open to all full-time graduate students (enrolled in an American or European universities) and to all full-time professors employed in an American university, regardless of religion, race, or citizenship. The most important qualification for the professor is to be intellectually, personally, and professionally committed to the promotion of Jain studies in his or her university, through recruiting students, and seeing to it that Jainism is made a part of the department’s curriculum. 

For detailed report of Mr. Shugan Jain please click here

ALL INDIA JAIN WOMEN CONFERENCE AT SHRAVANABELAGOLA
As a prelude to the Mahamasthakabhishekha of Lord Bahubali scheduled to be held at Shravanabelagola in February 2006 the All India Jain Women Conference has been organised at Shravanabelagola on the 18th, 19th and 20th of November 2005. Smt. Shobha Vimuktha Kumar the coordinator of the conference has informed that the preparations for the conference have begun under the able guidance of Swastisri Charukeerthi Bhattarakha Swamiji of the Shravanabelagola Jain mutth. During the three day conference seminars, interactive sessions, exhibition and cultural programmes will be organised. The women who have been working towards the upliftment and propagation of the Jain religion would be felicitated on the occasion. All Jain Women organisations, Sanghs and Mandals are here by requested to register for the conference. The women organisations can register by providing the following details: Name of the organisation, address, phone numbers, year in which it was founded, names of the president and the secretary, total number of members and other details. For further details please contact Smt. Shobha Vimuktha Kumar, Coordinator, National Women Conference, 262/43, Rajagraha, Ashoka Temple Road, 2nd Block Jayanagar, Bangalore - 560011, Courtesy: Jain Heritage Centres News Service.

Leading the stealthy enforcement of the meat fatwa are businessmen -diamond merchants, traders, industrialists and clothing exporters. Many are from Gujarat, where vegetarianism is common, or are Jains, vegans who do not even eat root vegetables such as onions, garlic and potatoes. For a long stretch of Marine Drive - Bombay's Champs Elysées - there are no restaurants serving meat, fish or eggs. Even Pizza Hut has gone vegetarian. This is not enough for the more radical vegetarians, however, who insist on the right to live among their kind.

Two years ago Jati Chedda, 32, moved into Ramkrupa Flats in south Bombay with her husband and was relieved to find the occupants of the 120 flats were all vegetarians. "We detest the smell of meat being cooked," she said. "Even omelettes give off a disgusting aroma. My relatives would avoid coming to my house if my neighbors were non-vegetarian."

Bhavesh Shah, a shopkeeper and a Jain, has thrown a cordon sanitaire around his housing complex in Breach Candy. "Our housing society asks new tenants to sign a declaration," he said. "If they're found cooking meat, they're thrown out." The Supreme Court has ruled that people who want to live in a community of "like-minded" people can prevent outsiders moving in. Sanjay Narang, a hotelier, was forced to close his restaurant after residents of the nearby vegetarian building spat at customers from balconies, threw nails at them and scratched their cars. They were particularly affronted that it was close to a Jain temple. "What they did was completely against Bombay's live and let live ethos," said Narang.

The only support for meat eaters comes from the regional Hindu nationalist party, the Shiv Sena. Hostile to Indians moving from other regions, it is indignant that "Bombay wallahs" who eat meat are being excluded from buildings by the Gujarati vegetarians. Last year a Shiv Sena group stormed vegetarian buildings demanding admission for meat eaters armed with Bombay duck, a strong-smelling dried fish. "People are free to choose their own lifestyle but imposing it on your neighbours is wrong," said Subhash Desai, a party spokesman.

CHATURMAS PROGRAMME OF SAINTS

MISCELLANEOUS
CANNED MILK MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR BABIES DECLARES W. H. O.
At a conference of Health Ministers of 192 member countries of the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), it was unanimously accepted that the milk sold in packed containers in the market for babies was not always of good quality and it may not be suitable for their health. At times, it may even be risky for the health of the baby. There could be chances of the milk not being free from harmful bacteria and other germicides. Recently, two cases of death of babies by the use of canned milk have been reported from Newzealand. A resolution was therefore passed in the conference to the effect that it may be made mandatory for all tinned milk manufacturers to clearly indicate on the packing, the possible harmful effects of this milk, specially for weak and ill babies, for the information and guidance of their parents.

JAINWORLD.COM LAUNCHES NET BASED E-LEARNING PROGRAMMES IN JAINISM.
 Jainworld is bringing the opportunity to create e-training for teachers as well as e-learning for students over the web. It will start by July 2005. Jainworld will be using a world-class Learning Management Server designed to provide maximum comfort to any user (teachers, education coordinators, and students) with simple and basic orientation to computers.  Jainworld will provide the opportunities to educational institutions like Jain centers/societies or Jain Pathshalas all over the world to unify Web-based learning platform. For more details contact Mr. Premchand Gada, Tel: 806-794-4777, E-Mail: prem@jainworld.com

MAHAVEERA GOSHALA NURTURES AGED CATTLE
SHIMOGA: Sun dawns the world with his light and man begins his day with delicious bed coffee. From dawn to dusk the rich products of milk serve people. Mostly milk is the most sought liquid by man after water.

JAIN FEDERATION TO ADOPT 100 GIRL STUDENTS TO SUPPLY MIDDAY MEALS
HUBLI: The All India Jain Youth Federation will adopt 100 girl students studying in Government Ghantikeri Girls’ School for supply of food under Akshaya free midday meals scheme. The federation will hand over a cheque for Rs 1.20 lakh to ISKCON on Saturday. ISKCON has taken the responsibility of midday meals in this school. A programme will be organised on Saturday at Ghantikeri Shantinath Hindi High School, which will be attended by Minister R V Deshpande. Former ministers Harnahalli Ramaswamy and A M Hindasageri and Rajiv Lochana Das of ISKCON will attend the function, according to Mahendra Singhi, Federation president.

JAIN PRATHISTA FESTIVAL AT KRISHNAGIRI
Chennai, June 11: The Parshwa Padmavathi Shakthi Peet Seva Trust organised a Jain Prathista Festival at Parshwa Padmavathi Shakthi Peet Jain Temple and Pilgrimage Centre, Krishnagiri, on 12, 17, 18, 19 and 20 June. The devotees witnessed the consecration of the biggest and the largest idol of Lord Parshwanath measuring 12 feet on 20 June. Central and State Ministers, artists, musicians and bands would participated in this festival. The arrangements including boarding, lodging, food and travel for the devotees had been made on the temple premises, a press release said. The vital force behind this construction is Vasanth Guru. He has published an invitation book (weighing 12.5 kg) which contains documentation of ancient Jain temples. Chief Minister of Karnataka Dharam Singh will launch the book on 12 June. For more information, contact at: 9884047848 or 9444370600.

JAIN POPULATION IN INDIA 2001 CENSUS RECORDS

The above-mentioned figures are published in” The first Report on Religion”: Census of India—2001.

1. Maximum Jains are in Maharashtra State and followed by Rajasthan, M.P, Gujarat, Karnatak, U.P; and Delhi these are the seven states where Jain population is more than One Lac.

2. It is significant to note that there is an increase of 26% in Jain population compared to that of 1991 Census.

3. It is also to be noted that this figure could be less than estimation of Jain organisations, according to them it should be more that 1.25 crores.

4. Further it may be noted that Jains restricted their birth rates.

5. There are 974 women per 1000 men ratio in jain community.

6. It is matter of worth noting and pleasure that though educational rate is 64% in the country the Jains are 94.1% and women education level stands at 90.6%.

7. Following are the figures of Jain Population in U.P. compared to total population of 16crores plus: Year 1921 : 68,111, Year 1971: 124,728, Year 2001: 207, 111

Information Courtesy: Mr. Manish Modi, E-Mail: manish.modi@mtnl.net.in

NATIONAL MINORITIES COMMISSION FAVOURS KASHMIRI PANDITS WITH MINORITY STATUS - National Minorities Commission today favoured giving "minority status" to the Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to leave their homes in the Valley following the onset of militancy. Talking to mediapersons here, Commission Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh said though the Commission had referred the matter to the Centre, the latter has yet to respond.  He said he had also advocated to include the Jains into minority community list, but the centre has left the matter with the concerned state governments. Singh said Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh had already agreed to include the Jains into the list of minority community and added that other states should follow it. He said the Commission had recently conducted a survey on minority  communities like Muslims, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and Buddhists. News Courtesy: Mr. Mahavir Sanglikar, E-Mail: msanglikar@yahoo.com

JAIN GROUP HEADED BY SHRI CHENRAJ JAIN STARTS ENGINEERING COLLEGE
Bangalore: The Jain Group of Institutions is starting  an engineering college near Kanakapura Road shortly. Built on 36 acres of land, the college will offer engineering courses in Computer Science, Information Science, Electronics and Communication and Mechanics. According to Shri Chenraj Jain, Chairman of  Jain Group of Institutions,   the college will have the best infrastructure facilities.

MUMBAI UNIVERSITY CONDUCTS COURSE ON JAINISM
Mumbai University's Philosophy Department Conducts Jainology certificate Course at it' s Kalina Campus Santacruz Mumbai. Course is conducted On every Saturday from 1.00 P.M. to 5.00 P.M. & there is also another batch conducted on Every Sunday from 9.30 A.M. to 1.30 A.M. Course Period: June 2005 to April 2006. Qualifcations required: H.S.C. Passed. (No Age Bar), Course fees : Rs. 1500/-, Requirements: Two Photos of small size, Latest Result copy Original and also xerox copy. Subjects covered are Basics, its origin & basic theroy, Lokalok, shaddravya, Karma siddhant, Navtatva, Sadhu Sadhvis achar, Gruhsth Dharma, Panch Parmeshti, chaturvidh sangh, Ahinsa & vegetarism, Jain Sampradaya's paanch Gyan, Jain Shaitya, Sanlekhna, Jain Yog and Dhyan, Lashya, Anekantvad, tap & Utsavs, Varnashram, Mokshmarg, etc. etc.

Medium: English, But answer papers can be written in English, Gujarati, Marathi and Hindi. One can do Diploma Course after 1 yr. certificate course. Contacts: Mumbai University Philosophy Department,1st Floor, Vidhya nagri, Kalina Campus, Mumbai. Telephone Nos. 2652 7337 (between 11.00 a.m. & 1.00 P.M.) BEST Buses available from Santacruz and Kurla Route No.313 &318. Admissions availble For course for the year 2005 -2006 from 20th June to 30th June 2005. Information Courtesy: Mr. Anand Dedhia, E-Mail: anandjidedhia@yahoo.com

DEVLOK GAMAN
Mahasadhwi Sayar Kanwar ji, disciple of late Acharya Hastimal Ji maharaj breathed her last and left for her heavenly abode on the 29th May, 2005 at Jodhpur, having accepted 'santhara' on the previous day. The body was taken for cremation in a large procession, passing through various parts of the city. A condolence meeting was held on the 2nd June, which was heavily attended by Jain community, particularly those belonging to Shri Jain Ratna Hiteshi Shrawak Sangh.

Two Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain sadhwi, one, up-pravartini mahasati Sri Kusum lata ji and other, sadhwi Gitanjali ji are reported to have been knocked down by a fast-moving truck, while they were having vihar (walking on foot) somewhere near Karnal in Haryana. The accident was so serious that they lost their lives soon after the accident. Both of them were disciples of senior saint, Upadhyay Shri Manohar Muni ji. Jain community on hearing the sad news was very much agitated. Condolence meetings were later held at various places in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. May their soul attain moksha.