Jain Center Minnesota MN 2007 07 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center Minnesota USA
Publisher: USA Jain Center Minnesota

Page 66

History of Jains /Jain Center of Minnesota*
by Ram Gada
The Early Days In early 1960s and 1970s, there were few Jain families in Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota), busy in pursuing their professional career or engrossed in higher degrees at the Universities.
Most of Jains observed the religious practice privately in their homes with absence of any religious facilities. Social/cultural/religious needs were satisfied with birth of Gujarati Samaj, India Club, SILC, Hindu Man(Dir), Geeta Ashram, and other regional organizations in 1970s.
History was made in 1974 when 10 Jain people performed first Samvantsari Pratikramman at Mahendra/Nipurna Parekh's home. This practice continued few years with help of Ila Kamdar and others. However Narendrabhai Shah from Ahmedabad delivered discourses everday during 8 days of Paryushan in 1982.
1980s was a decade of awakening for Jains in North America. Gurudev Chitrabhanuji and Maharaj Sushil Kumarji were inspiring Jains all over USA/Canada to keep Jain philosophy/religion alive and spread the message of Bhagwan Mahavir of Ahimsa, Anekantvad and Aparigrah, not only to Jains but to community at large. Jains across USA responded positively, by forming an umbrella organization JAINA, starting local Jain Centers with Pathshalas, acquiring worship places and planning for new temples. Dr. Dulichand of NYC started “Jain Study Circular" periodical containing excerpts from Jain Scriptures, Jain philosophies, commentaries etc. Jain scholars, pandits and munis, started visiting major metropolis, delivering discourses and inspiring devotees to practice religion to best of ones ability in this far away land from India.
In Twin Cities Hindu Mandir at Polk Street opened its door for worship and prayers in 1979. History was made in 1986 when Bhagwan Mahavir's murti donated by Drs. Renu and Ranjit Jain (now in Las Vegas) was installed, preceded by murti of Lord Ganesh installed in 1985. Our thanks go to Dr. Shashikant Sane who was instrumental through his brother commissioning a marble murti from Jaipur, India. In 1986 Jain community celebrated first Mahavir Jayanti at the Mandir with Hindu congregation. This annual celebration continues to date. Hindu Society founders Drs Sane, Drs. Saxena, and PC Mangalick encouraged us to use Hindu Mandir for Jain Community activities. In 1987 Ram Gada started delivering discourses on Jain philosophy and religious traditions on one Sunday of each month at the mandir. In 1988 we started Jain Satsangh monthly meeting on second Sunday of each month at the mandir with bhajans, discourses/discussions and youth Pathshala. 1989 - Formation of Jain Center of Minnesota (JCM): First visit by Bandhu Triputi Maharaj, Munichandraji, Kirtichandraji, and Jinchandraji from Tithal, Gujrat inspired the Jain community with the message "Keep doing it regularly. If not for yourselves, than for your children". Their message and discourses encouraged Ram Gada, Kusum Shah, and Vinod Shah, the first incorporators to form the Jain Center of Minnesota, a non-profit organization which was registered on
* Author's Note: This article was prepared based on JCM old newsletters, meeting notes and reports and recollection of events over the past 40 years. I beg sincere apology (Michhami Dukkadam) for any errors and omissions of names, events and many accomplishments by the members of JCM community. Refer to other JCM articles compiled by the author on JCM History:
JGM Time Log (Major Events). ICM Trustee Board 1989 - 2007.