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AHIMSA TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
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NEW JAIN TEMPLE IN SOUTH PHOENIX (USA) Dec. 25, 2008 The Arizona Republic, The Jain community dedicated its ornate marble temple in south Phoenix, The opening ceremony was attended by Close to 1,200 faithful from around the world who observed six days of rituals and festivities, Panch Kalyanak Pratistha Mahotsav. The multistory temple, with a non-violence monument, will serve 125 to 150 Jain families. The temple is similar to Mangalayatan, a Jain temple and pilgrimage complex in Aligarh. The temple, on 4 acres at 6250 S. 23rd Ave., is open to visitors.
SAINTS
SHANKARACHARYA JI CALLS ON ACHARYA SHRI MAHAPRAGYA - Dr. J. Tirumal Prasad, Shankaracharya of Ramchandrapur Math, Karnataka called on Acharya Shri Mahapragya on the 15th January, 2009 and discussed his efforts in the direction of saving Cows and grass. The work is being initiated with a Gao-Gram Yatra commencing fom Kurukshetra and it is expected to conclude on Makar Sakranti day in the year 2010 at Nagpur, covering a total distance of 2000
km. The yatra will be led not by any politicians but by a group of revered saints. He requested the Acharya to accord his cooperation by joining the yatra programme. Acharya Shri assured Shankaracharya for considering to offer any cooperation that could be possible. A set of books written by Acharya Shri was presented to Shri Shankaracharya.
JAIN SAINTS BLESS VHP'S PREPARATIONS FOR "VISHWA MANGAL GO GRAM YATRA" The preparations for Vishwa Mangal Go Gram Yatra are in full swing. The yatra will commence on Vijaydashami in 2009 from Kurukshetra and covering different parts of the country will conclude on Makarsankranti Day in 2010. The yatra has been envisioned by Gokarna Peethadhishwar Shri Rageshwar Bharati. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has also extended support to the yatra. Besides the RSS and other Hindu organisations, Sri Sri Ravishankar of the Art of Living, Dr Pranav Pandya of Gayatri Pariwar, Yog Guru Swami Ramdev, Jain Acharya Mahaprajna, Acharya Vidyasagar, Shri Vijyaratnasunder Surishwar Maharaj, Mata Amritanandamayee and Swami Dayanand Saraswati Maharaj have also joined hands in this yatra. A meeting for the preparations of the yatra was held in Varanasi on December 23 in which a total of 69 representatives from various parts of Uttar Pradesh participated. Speaking at the meeting Swami Rageshwar Bharati said the objective of the yatra is to contact every house of the country and the people would be educated about the benefits of the cow, harms of chemical fertilizers and benefits of organic farming, panchgavya, etc. Shri Hukumchand Sanwla of VHP, Shri Sitaram Kedilaya, Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh of RSS, and senior Sangh Pracharak Shri Shankarlal also spoke on the occasion.
JITO MENTOR NAYPADMASAGARJI MAHARAJ CALLS FOR UNITING JAINS AHMEDABAD: 'Jains of the world unite', was the call given by Naypadmasagarji Maharaj, a revered Jain sadhu at the introductory meet on Friday on the eve of Jain International Trade Organisation global summit. Speaking to delegates, Naypadmasagarji, who is also JITO's mentor emphasised on the importance of unity for a better future. "JITO's aim is to work for betterment of society. We should unite to eliminate poverty in the world. For this, I would ask JITO members to even go meet terrorists and try to understand their side of the story. Why should anybody choose to become a terrorist? There must be some reason. We have to find this out for the cause of humanity".
AHIMSA AWARD RECEIVED BY SAMANI PRAGYA ON BEHALF OF ACHARYA SHRI MAHAPRAGYA AT LONDON Samani Shri Prasanna Pragya alongwith Samani Rohit Pragya received the coveted Ahimsa Award on their arrival at London on the 15th October, 2008 on behalf of Acharya Shri Mahapragya. The award, given away as a mark of respect and honour by the Institute of Jainology. Later, when the two samani returned to India and reached Beedasar, a small town near
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