________________
AHIMSA TIMES - JANUARY 2008 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
Page 3 of 12
years. It is said that the last Shrutakevali Sri Bhadrabahu Muni along with his 8,000 disciples had visited this place. a bhattarakhapeta has been established here since 8-2-1998 with Swasti Sri Dhavalakeerthi Bhattarakha Maharaj as its chief pontiff. Various schemes have been undertaken here with an intension of propagating Jainism. The most important among them is the Acharya Akalanka Vidyapeetha Gurukula. You are here by requested to donate generously to the projects and be a part of it. The donations can be sent either by money order, cheque or demand draft to: Acharya Akalanka Vidyapeetha Gurukula Srikshetra Arihanthagiri Digambara Jain Muth, Tirumaial 606907 Polur Taluk, Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu, India.
JAINS HURT BY APATHETIC CONDUCT OF RAJASTHAN GOVT. ON KESARIA JI TEMPLE ISSUE - Shri Kesaria ji, near Udaipur in Rajasthanhas been a holy pilgrimage center for the entire Jain community and it has been in the sole custody of Jains. Its ownership of late has fallen into controversy amongst local Hindu pandas, nearby adivasi community and the Jain community. As a result of this controversy, the number of Jains has got reduced to less than 10% and the matter had been moving in the courts of law. In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, the custodianship of the temple and its premises was to be handed over to the Jain community by the State Government, which had earlier been held with the Devasthan Department. The State Government has however, little interest in transferring the ownership from Devasthan Department to Jain community and the matter has been lying in the cold storage for long. It is now for the Jain community at large, to muster strength and show unity to take up the matter seriously with the State Government so that the holy teerth can regain its glory and popularity and maintain its heritage value.
CONFERENCES & CEREMONIES
JAIN TRADERS (JITO) RAISE RS. 540 MILLION TO TRAIN IAS ASPIRANTS Mumbai: In an unexpected move, 36 leading Jain businessmen from India and abroad donated Rs 540 million to set up five academies to train students for the civil services examinations. The donations - each amounting to Rs 15 million were made following an appeal by Jain spiritual leader Munishri Navapadam Sagarji Maharaj at the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) fair at Mumbai. One of the JITO organisers, Girish Shah, said the money collected would be utilised to set up
five training academies to prepare students for the prestigious Indian Administrative Services. Admissions will not be restricted only to Jains but deserving students from all sections of society shall be admitted. He added that the first such institute is already functional in New Delhi. The new academies shall be set up by July this year in Mumbai,| Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore and Chennai.
The JITO Triple Grand Event, comprising Multi-Product Trade Fair, International Business and Industry Conference and Jain Pavilion, is being held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon. Speaking at the inauguration of a four-day trade fair organised by Jain International Trade Organisation, its President Hemant Shah expressed the desire that every young Jain should be economically empowered so as to employ 1000 individuals each. Stressing on Jain unity, he appealed that the Jains should overcome obstacles that may come in the way of their unity, under the banner of JITO.
Munishri Navapadam Sagarji Maharaj, who was instrumental in inspiring devotees for the formation of JITO, gave an example of a Jain collector of Vadodra, who saved the lives of thousands of animals, preventing their slaughter, by making a statement that they are diseased. He said that JITO is the amalgamation of philanthropy, universal brotherhood and the welfare of all living beings. Munishree, who does not like his name or photograph to be carried by the media, said that Ratan Tata has expressed pleasure that Jains are coming together under one banner and described the unity as the ocean of philanthropy.
JAIN DOCTORS' INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE (JDICON 2008)
National Jain Doctors' Federation is organising the fourth Jain Doctors' International Conference (JDICON 2008) on Saturday-Sunday, 16 & 17 February 2008 at Shanmukhanand Auditorium, Sion, Mumbai. JDICON 2008 will be hosted by Jain Doctors Federation, Mumbai. The Theme of the conference is "BETTER IDEAS FOR BETTER TOMORROW". Eminent national and international faculty will address various subjects related to better health, environment, jain
http://jainsamaj.org/magazines/january-2008.htm
8/11/2009
