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Overseas News
BASADIS/DERASARS IN PAKISTAN
Nagar Parkar, Pakistan. Since 1947, the year Pakistan was carved out of India, there is no data to show that Jains, or the Jain community exist in Pakistan. But there are numerous indications in Pakistan to prove that Jain Religion thrived once in the region from Sindh to Baluchistan Even today the presence of Jain Religion and culture can be felt with Basadis, the Jain temples also known by the term, Derasars.
was
Nagar Parkar county in Tharparkar district once a prominent cen ter of Jain Religion. Numerous remains of Basadis are scattered in the county. Umarkot Basadi, from where the idol of Lord Parshwanath was stolen in 1955, drew wide publicity at the time. Pakistani nationals went on protest at the time to condemn this act. Goraknath Basadi in Veeravaha still seems to be in fair condition.
Mr Muzaffar Hussain has sadly noted in VIKRAM, a periodical from Karnataka, that Jains in India have so far failed to pay attention to the last Jain Remains In Pakistan.
HINDU FAMILY INITIATED TO JAIN RELIGION
Humcha, KA. A Hindu family of Chhabi town in the northern district of Karnataka travelled a long way to Jain Shrine in Humcha, where Godess Padmavati reigns, to enter into Jain Shravaka fold, and follow the religion of the Tirthankaras.
Sri Devendrakirti Bhattarak performed the Agamic initiation ceremonies on August 20,1987 at the temple of Lord Parshwanath and godess Padmavati. Mr Mahadevappa Alankar and the family along with children, Ashok, Manjunath and Shanti, sat religiously, legs crossed and eyes closed with head bent, receiving the sounds and vibrations of the chantings. The ceremony ended with the new names given Shantinath Jain, Parshwanath Jain, Mahavir Jain and Shantala Jain correspondingly.
NITIN MEHTA SPEAKS
AT WORLD CONFERENCE ON RELIGION & PEACE
Knightsbridge, England. Mr Nitin Mehta of the Young India Vegetarians was recently invited to address the conference on Religion & Peace on 29 September 1987. He spoke eloquently on Ahimsa and vegetarianism and underlined their importance in Jain practices and principles.
Jain Education International 2010_02
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