Jain Digest 2000 02 Vol 16 No 02

SR No.: 527078
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 9 MB

Page 27

BOOK REVIEW...
By Dilip V Shah, Philadelphia JAINA CURRENT FINANCIAL STATEMENT
REFLECTIONS OF AN AMBASSADOR Jainism - A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non- Violence By: Kurt Titze 267 Pages 2500 Rs. Motilal Banarsidas Publishers, Delhi
When German born Kurt Titze first visited temples of Mount Abu and Shravanbelagola in 1968, he was so impressed that he decided to become a kind of Ambassador of Jainism to the world. Over the next 3 decades he and his wife made several pilgrimages to many remote Jain temples not typically visited by tourists.. As a result we have this delightful guide to Jainism with 350 photographs in a simple but knowledgeable language.
The book is a layman's study of an undeservedly overlooked religion (to the western world). It is an exhaustive collection of maps, floor plans of temples, photographs, archeological illustrations, quotations from scriptures, descriptions of rituals like Diksha, Pooja, daily lives of monks and householders. He has drawn attention to the imprint of Jain instincts on many aspects of Indian culture. There are contributions from other scholars such as Klaus Bruhn, Jyoti Prasad Jain, Noel King and Vilas A. Sangave on art and culture of Jainism and chronology of the dawn of Jainism in the west.
The chapter on Jain art of Gwalior and Deogarh (by Klaus Bruhn) is a fascinating lesson on history, Jain temple art and the restoration programs of old Jain temples. The author joyously points to the building of numerous new temples along with the old ones as a sign of renaissance of Jainism today.
During his long travels, the author met many prominent Jain monks and nuns and these encounters along with the story of one sixty-year-old businessman preparing for Diksha are the most vividly narrated parts of the book. Another chapter dealing with "charitable and social traditions in Jainism" attempts to explain
JAINA FINANCIAL STATEMENT AS OF 5/18/00
JAINA General Fund
Various sub-committee balances: Education Committee Jiv Daya Committee
World Community Service Temple Guideline
YJA
Virchand R. Gandhi Fund
N. American Jain Family Assistance Program Tirthoddhar Committee
Pilgrimage Committee
JAINA Book Source Committee
COMMITTEES TOTAL
Money Market fund for JD Endowment CD for JAIN Digest Endowment Fund JAINA Charitable Trust as of 3/13/00 as per information supplied by Jagat Jain GRAND TOTAL
submitted by
Anop R. Vora, Treasurer
1. Dr. Kirti & Vasant Shah, Houston, Tx. 2. Mrs.Latika Jain, Houston, Tx.
$28,640.87
V. R. GANDHI FUND UPDATE
$8,392.92
740.00
11,284.21
1,401.00
786.11
8,729.00
5,484.00
1,895.55
0.00 26,629.75
$65,342.54
$16,683.80
$55,123.25
$170,361.53
$336,151.99
the utopian spirit behind Dharamsalas, Gurukul, women's ashram, Veeraytan, Jain eye hospital, Panjarapols etc. illustrating how Jain principals of Ahimsa and Anukampa are practiced everyday.
$ 500.00
$ 100.00
Towards the end of the book is a chapter on Symbols, Mantras and Parables in Jainism. In just a few pages many of the sacred symbols and concepts are accurately described. The author has also taken note of Jain devotional music and dances. The book concludes with the chapter on dawn of Jainism in the west. This scholarly work contains useful appendices on the distribution of Jain population in India, a glossary, a bibliography, addresses and a list of books and periodicals. The index is divided in three categories places, names and subjects, a novel but extremely useful resource.
Spectacular as the photographs are, what engages the reader is the choice of subjects he has touched on. His zeal is evident in the fact that he himself took most of the photographs, drew the maps and in vivid detail described art and architecture of Jain temples of almost all regions of India. He traversed the length and breadth of the country in pursuit of the remotest temples as a true pilgrim. Due to lack of funds it took him nearly three decades and numerous trips to present us a comprehensive study of Jainism's history. As a self appointed ambassador of Jainism, he has served a noble cause with devotion and deserves commendations of the entire Jain Samaj.
JAINA has obtained a number of copies of this book for distribution in North America at an attractive price of only $25.00. This is an opportunity to own a rare gem and simultaneously pay tribute to the gallant attempt of one man to make Jainism better known to the western world.
JAIN DIGEST. SUMMER 2000/25 www.jainelibrary.org