Jain Digest 1993 01 Vol 20 No 01

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 6

Jain Digest JMIC celebrates Ahimsa Day
St. Louis celebrates Mahavir Nirvana Day, Parshvanath Jayanti
Lefi To Righi: Subodh, Mamaia, Selwyn, Ashik of JMIC
About the newly established Jain Society of Middle Tennessee
On April 12, 1992, in the presence of Dr. Sulekh Jain, President of JAINA, the auspicious day of Mahaveer Jayanti, the Jain Society of Middle Tennessee (JSOMT) was founded in Clarksville, TN. The attendance, including children was a modest 45-50 people. JSOMT enrolled as a member of JAINA. A youth group was also formed.
The first official get-together of the Jain society of Middle Tennessee took place in Cedar Hill Park, Nashville. A number of families attended from the Nashville/ Clarksville area.
JSOMT enthusiastically participated in the Paryushan Parv ceremonies, which were organized in Clarksville, TN.
On August 28th, there was the Fourteen Swapna ceremonies hosted by the Shah families at their Days Inn motel. Coincidentally, fourteen families were present, allowing each family to lower one Swapna.
There was the Samvatsari Pratikaman held on August 31, with about 30 people attending.
On September 6, a Swamivatsalya was hosted at the Mehta residence, the host and hostess, Mr. Pravin Mehta and Mrs. Madhu Mehta had done "Atthai," which was a fast held for eight days.
On November 22, a puja was held at Days Inn, Clarksville, hosted by the Shah family. About 40 people attended. Alumni reunion raises $34,000 for education Reported by Anop Vora, Rochester, NY
IAAMJV (International Alumni Association of Shri Mahavira Jain Vidyalaya) celebrated a Platinum Jubilee reunion at Chicago on October 31. It was attended by about 40 alumni families who donated $34,000 to the association. Rajni Shah, Devendra Shah, Kishor Shah, Mahasukh Shah,
Jain Center of Greater St. Louis celebrated Mahavir Nirvana Day on November 15 with Shri Balbhadraji. There was an informal get together on the previous day specially dedicated to the youth. Speaking on the occasion, Balbhadraji explained the five great principles that are as important as our hands. Looking to the open palm, the thumb represents ATMA, the second finger represents AHIMSA, the third finger represents ANEKANTVAD, the fourth finger represents APARIGRAHA and the fifth finger represents ACTION (Karma). Through meditation we can penetrate deeper, assimilate these principles and make them part of our lives. The main program started with Bhajans followed by talk by Balbhadraji.
The Center also celebrated the birth of Bhagwan Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankar, on December 13, 1992.
Parshvanath was born at Varanasi in 877 B.C., almost 250 years preceding Mahavira. The parents of Mahavira followed the teachings of Parshvanath. After practising severe austerities for a time, he attained the supreme knowledge (Kaivalya) in a forest outside the city of Ahichhatra (Bareilly district of UP) at a very young age. He then devoted the remaining 70 years of his life towards preaching and service of suffering humanity. He revived the teachings of earlier Tirthankars in a very forceful manner. His main contribution to Jainism are the four vows-AHIMSA (Non-violence), SATYA (Truth), ASTEYA (Non-stealing) and APARIGRAHA (Non-possessiveness). These with BRAHAMCHARYA (Purity of body and mind) introduced later by Mahavira form the five great vows (Mahavrata) of Jainism.
Bhagwan Parshvanath passed into Nirvana at Mt. Sammedachala (Parshvanath Hill in Bihar) in 777 B.C.
JMIC's Ahimsa Day booth
Jain Meditation International Center took part in the acclaimed celebration of Ahimsa Day on Sunday, October 4, by setting up a booth in New York City at Fifth Avenue and 60th Street in the Central Park entrance areas.
People were made aware of the meaing of Ahimsa and of the need of all humanity to uphold Reverence for Life of all living beings.
and Samprati Shah were some of the organizers of the reunion.
The association has raised $142,000 since its inception just over a year ago. Any one interested in supporting the cause of education through IAAMJV is urged to contact Anop R. Vora, President (716) 473-9290 or Ramesh P. Shah (216) 444-4596 for further details.
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