Jain Digest 1994 06 Vol 10 No 02

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

Page 11

Mantra Dhun at his home. Many families participated. A delicious dinner followed,
Clarksville, TN
The Jain Center of Middle Tennessee Clarksville celebrated Mahavir Jayanti. The youth presented a program of stavans accompanied by music. Sameer Shah and Pankaj Sheth composed and sang the stavans. Ten young adults are going to Chicago for YJA Convention. Pravin Mehta was elected president.
Ghanshyam Joshi performed the sangeet with Yogesh Sant of New York on tabla.
A Shraddhanjali resolution in memory of Acharya Shree Sushil Kumar Ji was passed and signed by the Jain Centers of South Florida region on April 30, 1994. The center was fortunate to have been able to receive Guruji six times in past two years.
SOUTHWEST
Jadavji Kenia Regional Editor
Miami, FI
The dream of bringing all the Jain Centers of South Florida together became a reality on Saturday, April 30, 1994 when participants from Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Tri-county celebrated Mahavir Jayanti. A joint effort like this is very important because it fosters a sense of unity.
The Mahotsav took place at Ramblewood Middle School, in Coral Spring began in a very inspiring way with Manglacharan and stavans.
Dr. Shekherchandra Jain, a scholar from India, gave a very exuberant speech in which he reminded everyone of the importance of the celebration of the 24th Tirthankar, Bhagwan Mahavir. He noted that this was most important at a time when "war and conflict are very much in our minds. The Jain message of peace and non-violence, typified in the life of Bhagwan Mahavir, finds a symbolic expression in the celebration of Mahavir Jayanti.
The auspicious Swapna Vidhi started with explanation of the fourteen dreams of mother Trishla by a group of fourteen participants. The Swapna Vidhi and "Ghee Boli" were very well received and enjoyed. The climax of the program came at Arti and Mangal Divo, which were bid at $10,000 each.
A cultural program included: the birth of Bhagwan Mahavir, a skit on vegetarianism, Divo Nratya and solo dances by girls ages 7 and 9. A Swamivatsalya dinner followed.
Bharat and Usha Shah from New York were invited to perform a drama. Their professional performance explained the duties of Jains who live in western countries, keeping in torch with their heritage and accommodating our senior citizens. The most relaxing moment came when
June 1994 Jain Education Interational 2010_02
Dallas, TX
Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated on April 24, 1994 with a great deal of enthusiasm at the Jain Center in Richardson, TX. Pooja was followed with a lecture by Shri Shekhar Chandra Jain, a visiting scholar from Ahmedabad. The children performed a drama interpreting the dreams of Queen Trishla. A game, in a talk show format, was presented in which contemporaries of Mahavir such as: Chandanbala, Mahavir's parents, Gautam Swami, and even Bhagavan Mahavir were interviewed by the talk show host. A classical dance was performed by a talented group of young ladies.
The evening sessions with Shri Shekhar Chandra Jain continued for four days after Mahavir Jayanti. He spoke about “Dash Laxan," virtues and other Jain topics. He taught a technique of meditation based upon reciting of Namokar Mantra which can be done for 48 minutes, long enough for a Samayak.
The society received the news about Acharya Shree Sushil Muni Ji's with sorrow. A few moments of silence were observed during the meeting in his honor and to pray for the peace of his soul's journey towards salvation.
The Jain Society of North Texas and the Jain Youth Group is planning to send about 25 delegates to the YJA Convention in Chicago. Attendance at this conference is being considered an investment in the future. In order to encourage participation among our youth, the society has contibuted over $4,000 towards air fares and other expenses.
Houston, TX
The Jain Society of Houston celebrated Mahavir Jayanti on April 17, 1994. The program included a children's performances, stavans and lectures by Manoharbhai Kucheria and Navinbhai Mehta. This was followed by a general body meeting where the activities of the past year were reviewed.
The Society elected a new Board of Trustees and an Executive Committee headed by Parimal Desai as president.
A Bhoomi Poojan was performed on Sunday, April 24, 1994 with great jubilation, for the expansion and renovation of the present facility. The pooja was performed under the guidance of A. L. Mehta. Shirish and Leena Kothari sponsored the Jain Center's Bhoomi Poojan(ground breaking ceremony) and Nitin and Varsha Shah and Anil and Sangita Shah of Lafayette, LA sponsored the temple's Bhoomi Poojam.
On Sunday, May 15, 1994, there was a Varsitap Parna celebration at the center for four members: - Ranjanben Sanghani finished her Tapasya of fasting on alternate days for 400 days. - Mrudulaben Sutaria finished her Tapasya of daily Ekasana for 400 days. -Sangeeta Sutaria, the daughter of Sureshbhai and Mrudulaben, finished her Tapasya of alternate Ekasana and Beasana for 400 days. -Preetam Shinghavi, son of Ashokbhai and Ujwalaben, finished his Tapasya of daily Beasana for 400 days. Our heartiest congratulations to all four of the Tapasvis for successfully completing the Varsitap. The parnas were celebrated with the traditional sugarcane juice followed by Snatra Pooja, stavans and Swamivatsalya lunch.
Tulsa, OK
The members of Tulsa Jain Sangh celebrated Mahavir Jayanti on April 24, 1994. All the children help perform the Snatra Puja, which was led by Harsha Mehta. To refresh our minds about the principles of Jainism a video was shown on Tirthankar Bhagavan Mahavir, that was produced by the Institute of Jainology.
The Sangh has raised over $5,300 for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Maharashtra, India. The funds will be used to build three houses as part of Jaina Nagar in cooporation with Lions Club of Dhobi Talao, Bombay.
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