Jain Society Lansing MI 2000 05 Pratistha

SR No.: 528511
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Center Lansing MI
Publisher: USA Jain Center Lansing MI
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 108
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center MI Lansing, & USA
File Size: 4 MB

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Message from the Chair, Jain Pratishtha Mahotsava
A Dream Come True Mahendra K. Jain
Jai Jinendra!
On behalf of myself, the Board of Trustees of the Bharatiya Temple of Lansing, the Jain Society of Greater Lansing, the Pratishtha Coordinating Committee, and the various Pratishtha Committees, I welcome you all to the Jain Pratishtha Mahotsava. It is indeed a great honor to chair the second Pratishtha Mahotsava that our community has been fortunate to celebrate at the Temple within a period of two years. We are blessed with the presence of Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji and Bhattaraka Shri Devendrakeertyji who kindly agreed to direct the Pratishtha ceremony and to enlighten us with spiritual discourses.
It was a dream to have a Jain Mandir in Lansing, given the small size of the Jain community. Several of the Jain community members continued with this dream and waited for the right opportunity. Occasionally, the Jain families gathered for a Namokar Mantra recitation at a devotee's home. When the Prana Pratishtha for the existing murtis at the Temple was announced, the idea of having a Jain Murti was finally discussed in early 1998 at Ramesh and Maya Dedhia's home with a general consensus in favor to make a proposal to the Temple Board. On May 3, 1998 the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the request and provided a room for Jain Mandir. This was a major step towards achieving the realization of the dream.
Shilpkalamani Muthiah Sthapathi, who designed the beautiful Garbha-Griha (sanctum) of the Temple, provided a conceptual design for the Jain Sanctum. This wast turned into reality by the six shilpis who had also built the Temple Sanctum. Madan Lalwani, during his trip to India in April 1999, found the right contacts in Jaipur (Shri Man Mohan Bohra, Jewel Emporium and Mrs. Sushila Kumbhat) to request Shri Madhu Sudan Sharma of Madhu Murti and Painting Art, Khajane Walon Ka Rasta, Jaipur to carve a beautiful murti for our Jain Mandir. The murti arrived safely in December 1999. The dhatu murti of Bhagavan Shri Parsvanath was also obtained from Jaipur through my brother, Surendra Jain.
A Jain Mandir is not ready until the Pratishtha ceremony is held for the idols. Ramesh and Maya Dedhia contacted Shri Narendra Nandu in Mumbai, who agreed to come with his group to help us perform various pratishtha-related puja and activities. We were delighted when both Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji and Bhattaraka Devendrakeertyji consented to come and bless the occasion. We contacted our friends in Detroit (Arvind
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