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90th Birthday Celebration of Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji
July 2012 marked 90th birthday of Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji and his home turf in America was ready with celebration for the occasion. In three different Jain centers - in Queens, Long Island and in Franklin Town NJ, hundreds of well wishers gathered in joy and gratitude to get his blessings.
of how early Jain migrants established one of the first Jain Centers in America and how Gurudev has been involved with not only the JCA in New York but also with many of the Jain centers across the United States along with JAINA and YJA. A tenminute play by the members of the youth group on veganism was very much appreciated by everyone.
Gurudev had expressed a wish that the celebration should be called a day to collect blessings and because his mission in life is to receive and share blessings from whoever he meets. And the blessings came from all over the world in hundreds of messages by phone calls, emails and greeting cards recalling memories of decades of personal associations, blessings and lectures still fresh in their minds. All the messages received were compiled in an album and presented to Gurudev in appreciation of his years of service to the Jain community all over the world.
At each of the center, celebration began with beautiful rendering of Navkar Mantra and Chattari Mangalam by American students of Gurudev from Jain Mediation center in NY and Lighthouse Center in Michigan. Also at all three centers, there was a musical treat for every one - inspiring musical performance by Kummar Chaterjee, a devotee of Gurudev who flew in especially from Mumbai for this occasion. He gave a melodious recitation of Anand Ghan Ji's stavans like Gurudev's favorite AB HUM AMAR BHAYE NA MARENGE and BAHER BAHER NAHI AAWE. He followed these by a classical rendering of Namoththunam and Loggus Sutras that so moved the audience that many eyes had tears down their faces.
The first of the celebration was on July 27th, actual birthday of Gurudev at Jain Center of America (JCA). Bhattarak Swami Shri Charukeerti Ji spoke of the admirable life Gurudev has lived and the message of Ahimsa he has spread across the globe. Jay Shetty, the Chairman of JCA gave the history
Next day at the Jain Temple of NY, Anop Vora, past President of JAINA was the main speaker. He spoke of thousands of lives Gurudev had touched and changed for better in all corners of the world. Jainism has thrived and flourished in North America because of the solid foundation built by Gurudev's vision, efforts and persistence. He told everyone that Gurudev's coming to America and contribution in creating JAINA has earned him the title of "Most influential spiritual leader to change Jain History in the west". As a gesture of their appreciation of Gurudev's tireless nourishing of the Jains in the NY area, The Jain Temple of NY announced that they would support Gurudev's initiative for academic education of Jainism by raising funds for the next year's International Scholars Conference at Claremont Lincoln University in California.
Sunday, the third day of the celebration was at the brand new Temple of the Jain Center of New Jersey in Somerset. This Temple was inaugurated only three weeks earlier. Over 600 members came to be part of the historic event - 90th Birthday of their beloved Gurudev. Prof. Gary Francione, 2009 Keynote speaker at JAINA Convention in Los Angeles, delivered the main address. He mentioned the three things Gurudev did that have changed the landscape for Jainism in the US. First was a spark of Jainism that he ignited by starting Jain Meditation International Center in New York as the very first place where Jains could come and pray together - without any sectarian differences. Next he brought Yoga and meditation as heart of Jainism. Third and most important, the emphasis on Ahimsa
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