Jain Center of America NY 2005 06 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center of America NY
Publisher: USA Jain Center America NY

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JAIN CENTER OF AMERICA-NY HISTORY
"JAIN CENTER OF AMERICA - NEW YORK" is the first Jain organization established and registered in North America - USA. Presently flourishing center had a modest beginning under the leadership of Dr. Narendra Shethi and few others in year 1965. Few Jain families used to meet at residence of different families for Bhakti Bhavna, Samayik, and Pratikraman and for special events/functions at Columbia University, Indian Consulate or at other Secular Halls. In year 1973 Dr. Narendra Shethi - President of Jain Center of New York, announced to build a temple during the Diwali celebration function and Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanu envisioned the temple as something more than a place of worship but also a center of communication, with other faiths. This news was published in New York Times, the renowned newspaper of New York & USA. (See Appendix-A)
Soon the wheels started rolling. Shri Dinesh Chheda and Shri Bhavanji Lodaya made an arrangement to bring Pratimaji (Idol) of Shri Mahavirswami from Plaitana through their father-in-law Shri Nayak Jethabhai, a trustee of Sheth Keshavji Nayak Palitana Charities Trust. The Pratimaji of Shri Mahavirswami was shipped from Bombay by ship 'Hoegh Dyke' in November 1974 and was installed at Jain Meditation Center, New York in December 1974. (See Appendix -B). In seventies New York Jain Sangh benefited in learning Jain Philosophy and Teachings under the spiritual guidances of Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanu and Guruji Shri Sushilkumarji.
Jain Center of New York was re-named as Jain Center of America - New York and registered as Religious Non-profit Membership Corporation in New York in April 1976. The principal goal of the organization was to fulfill religious needs of Jain community of New York -Tri-state area. The motto of the organization is:
"We believe in Truth & Non-Violence" and " Live and Let Live."
However a temple remained a dream up to 1980. Finally the community leaders and officers of Jain Center of America, Dr. Mahendra K. Pandya, Shri Anand Nahar and Shri Kamal Surana decided to purchase a building at 43-11 Ithaca Street, Elmhurst, NY on February 10, 1981. The Pratimaji of Shri Mahavirswami (our Mulnayak) was installed in the temple building in spring of 1982 after necessary renovation.
A small group of people under the leadership of Shri Kanubhai Lakhani, Shri Vinay Vakani and Shri Jayendra Shah started Bhakti-Bhavna every Friday night at this location. The Bhakti-Bhavna program became very popular in eighties due to devotional Bhakti by Shri Vinodbhai Shah, Shri Harshad Doshi and Shri Nareshbhai S. Shah. People eagerly awaited Bhakti-Bhavna of Fridays. More religious activities like Bhavna, Snatra Puja, Samayik, Pratikraman etc. were performed at the temple. The temple became a focal point for all Jains - young, Adults and seniors; Swetambars, Digambars, Sthanakvasis etc.
The center started regularly observing Paryushana Parva, Das Lakshna Parva, Samvatsari Pratikraman (Kshamapana), Janma Kalyanak of Mahavirswami, Mahavir Nirvan Din (Diwali), Aaymbil Oli, Chaitya Paripati, Akhand Jaaps, Samayik, monthly recitation of Bhaktamar Stotra with five smarans etc. at the temple as well as Auditoriums of Schools or Colleges, to accommodate ever growing crowd.
The center set a trend by inviting spiritual Leaders and Scholars like Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanu, Guruji Sushilkumarji, Shri Triputi Bandhu, Acharyshri Chandnaji, Shri Roopchandji, Shri Manakmuni, Shri Jinchandrasuriji, Shri Atamanandji, Shri Bhattaraakji, Pandit Shri Dhirajbhai Mehta, Dr. Kumarpal
Desai, Shri Kiranbhai Parekh, Rajendrabhai Shah, Smt. Sunandaben Vora, Dr. Rajnikant Shah (of New Jersey), Shri Chandrakant Mehta etc. for Paryushna Parva and for summer lectures.
Over and above regular events several Poojans such as Shri Bhaktamar Poojan, Shri Gautamswami Poojan, Shri Parshwa - Padmavatidevi Poojan, Shri Siddhachakra Poojan, and Shri Rushimandal Poojan etc. were performed at the temple. These poojans were performed by renowned vidhikars such as Shri Babubhai Kadiwala, Shri Shashikant Mehta, Shri Rajendrabhai Dalal, Shri Narendrabhai Nandu, Shri Daga and many others including our own Shri Nareshbhai S. Shah. We also had Bhav Yatras of Shetrunjay by Smt. Bhartiben Shah and one lakh (100,000) Navkar Mantra Jaap at our temple.
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