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AHIMSA TIMES - JULY 2008 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
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Pratishtha ceremony an additional ritual known as Pancha-Kalyanak (celebrating five great events of the life of Tirthankar) is performed on an idol. An Anjan-Shaläkä ritual is a part of the Pancha Kalyanak ritual. The list of rituals which are performed during Pratishtha ceremony is defined at the end of this article in Appendix 1A and 1B. in PränaPratishtha ceremony, during Pancha-Kalyanak ritual, certain rituals such as Anjan-Shaläkä and Adhi-Väsanä (Vishistha Vidhana) are performed only by Pujya Shri Acharya (head monk of the Jain congregation) Mahäräj and thus these rituals are being performed in India on the idols of the Tirthankars and then the idols are transported to America for the final installation in the temple. This is because Jain Acharyas, who strictly follow five great vows, cannot travel to America from India on bare-feet. All other rituals of Pratishthä ceremony are performed by a pundit who is known as Vidhikar.
On any Tirthankar idol, Präna-Pratishtha (Pancha-Kalyanak ritual) ceremony occurs only once but the simple Pratishtha
installation of an idol) ceremony may occur several times if the idol is moved from one temple to another temple or from one place to another within a temple. Hence the ceremony we perform in America is generally a simple Pratishtha ceremony of either an Anjan-Shaläkä idol or non-Anjan-Shaläkä idol. Generally we define our ceremony as a PränaPratishtha ceremony if we install an idol which had Anjan-Shaläkä done in India. This is not a correct terminology because we do not perform Anjan-Shaläkä ritual here in America. We only do simple Pratishtha meaning installing an idol at its place in a temple. Courtesy: Pravin Shah, E-Mail: education@jaina.org
SAINTS
DR. SHIVMUNI TO CONDUCT CHATURMAS PROGRAMME FROM MALER KOTLA, PUNJAB - Dr. Shivmuni Acharya of Swetambar Sthanakwasi Sect is conducting Chaturmas Programmes from a small town Maler Kotla in Sangrur District of Punjab. Sect members and many others are attending his morning pravachan program in large numbers (Program Time 8.15 A.M. to 9.30 A.M.). Regular Dhyan camps are also being held and attended by hundreds of followers. Address: S.S. Jain Sabha, Moti Bazar, Maler Kotla, District Sangrur Punjab. Telephone No. 098-763-53133 & 098-158-05555. Courtesy: Shri. Ravindra Jain, Punjab.
INAUGURATION OF ACBHARYA MAHAPRAGYA'S BOOK "VICHAR AUR NIRVICHAR" - "First alphabet of religion is morality. There are three bases of practicing the religion - morality, rituals and spirituality based practice, Today morality based practice has vanished and only rituals become the primary religious practice. All these problems are because of dual personality of religious practices." These thoughts were expressed by Acharya Mahapragya on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of his book "Vichar - Nirvichar" (Thought and Beyond No Thought) at Anuvibha, Jaipur on July 6, 2008.
In context to his book "Vichar aur Nirvichar", Acharaya Mahapragya said that if this book inspires and motivates to move from thought to beyond thoughts level, it will be its best utility. The release of Acharya Mahapragya's "Vichar aur Nirvichar" was done by Ex-Vice president of India Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, editor of book & senior journalist, Shri Subhu Patwa and publisher. Shri Deepchand Sankhla presented the book to Shri Shekhawat for release. After the function, Shri Shekhawat presented a copy of the book to Prabhas Joshi, Acharya Mahapragya, Yuvacharya Mahashraman and Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha ji. Shri Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in his speech said that though book seems to be small in first sight but it is a great creation from the view of its sincere application in life. Today service to poor, development of backward areas, etc are not being taken place truely because education of treating religion as a work is not imparted. Fact is that this can't be done properly until administrative system gets purified. Famous journalist Shri Prabhas Joshi expressed his views. He said tolerance and non-absolutism are two things through which we can move from thoughts to beyond thoughts stage.
Putting reflection on the subject matter of book, Shri Shubhu Patwa said that as Acharya Mahapragya is kind and generous hence it became easy to edit his articles. But as he is blessed with the super intelligence, editing becomes a tough task. Book "Vichar se Nirvichar" is the compilation of some selected articles of Acharya Mahapragya and the successful editing guidance was received from Muni Dhananjay kumar and Muni Jayakumar. Anchoring of programme
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