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AHIMSA TIMES - AUGUST 2008 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
Page 4 of 18
Panaipadi.
The discovery confirms that the area covering present-day Villupuram district was an important centre of Jainism in Tamil Nadu. The sculpture, from the Chola period, was about 1,000 years old. The Villupuram area was a flourishing centre of Jainism. This could be seen, said Ms. Vasanthakalyani, from discoveries of a number of Jaina sculptures and beds near Ginjee, Thondur, Melsithamur, Sirukadambur, Thirunarungkondai.
JAIN RELIGIOUS CENTRE IN LEICESTER CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY - The Jain Centre, in Oxford Street, is the largest Jain temple outside of India, and first opened its door to worshippers in 1988 after eight years of development. The 25th anniversary celebrations will now allow visitors of all faiths to see for themselves the splendor of the Jain Centre, which features 44 pillars, 13 arches and a dome, as well as beautiful traditional Jain carvings. Leicester City Councils cabinet member for culture and leisure, Councilor Andy Connelly, said: The Jain Centre is a magnificent building and is something Leicester is justifiably very proud of. The open day and guided tours will give people the opportunity to learn more about this fascinating building and Jainism itself. The 20th anniversary event is part of Leicesters Castle Park Heritage and Arts Festival, which takes place at venues across the city from August 18 to 25. Full details of all festival events are available on www.leicester.gov.uk
SHRI SEVAYATAN' TRUST HONOURED BY THE CENTRAL MINISTER Shri Sevayatan', an institution, recently established in Jharakhand at Shri Sammet Shikhar ji for the development and welfare of the whole place and provide sufficient amenities and safety to the pilgrims visiting the holy place has been honoured by the central Minister, Shri Subodh Kant Sahay at a ceremony held at Sammet Shikhar ji. The honour was gracefully accepted on the behalf of Sevayatan by its President, Shri M.P.Ajmera. This institution has been established by the blessings of Sant Shiromani Acharya Shri 108 Vidhya Sagar Ji maharaj and his disciple, Muni Shri Praman Sagar Ji maharaj. The latter is presently having his chaturmas at Sammet Shikhar Ji.
SAINTS
SOME LITTLE KNOWN FACTS - ACHARYA SRI VIDYANAND MUNI Facts from a book called "Jain Dharma, Ahimsa and Mahatma Gandhi" authored by Acharya Sri Vidyanand Muni and published by Kund Kund Bharati, New Delhi.
1. Lala Lajpatrai was a Jain but felt that the principle of Ahimsa weakened our self
rule. But Gandhi Ji rebuked him and wrote him that there was no evidence to this fatalism. Gandhi Ji clarified that it was internal wrangling motivated by selfishness as the reason for downfall (page 12)
2. Gandhiji's mother guided him all through his childhood and gave him three Jain vows of abstaining from wine, woman and non-veg (page 5).
3. Gandhiji was fond of a bhajan which expresses one's aspiration to become a Digamber Muni and he used to sing this bhajan for others (page 10).
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8/11/2009
