Jain Digest 1995 11

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

Page 26

Dignitaries who visited the center this year were: Shri Shekhar Chandra Jain from Ahmedabad, India, Dr. Bharill, Samaniji Mangal Prajna and Charit Prajna. Shri Rajendra Kamdar, Shri Dhirajlal Mehta from Surat, India and Shri Charu Kirthi Bhattarakji from Mood Bidri Math.
About 25 young people from the Jain Youth Group attended the YJA Convention in Chicago. They came away satisfied with a better understanding of Jainism. This trip was partially financed by the Jain Society of North Texas to encourage a greater participation among the young in Jain activities.
Houston, TX
Jain Society of Houston celebrated Paryushan in the presence of Muni Jin Chandraji from Bandhu Triputi. Lectures were held in the morning and the evening. Poojas and Pratikraman were performed all 8 days of Paryushan.
This year there were 25 Tapasvis who did Athais (8 continuous Upvas) or more including 13 youth group members. Most notable were two young people, Nipa Sanghani, age 16 and Sudha Doshi, age 19 they did 16 continuous Upvas. Other young people who did Athai were Pallavi Dedhia, Seema Doshi, Neha Mehta, Parag and Shraddha Mehta, Sharmi Parekh, Neha Mehta, Zarna Sanghani, Avni Shah, Dimple Shah and Sangeeta Sutaria. Among adults who did Athai or more were Usha Doshi, Bimala and Swatantra Jain, Patu Kanani, Pravin and Snehlata Mehta, Devendra Patel, Bhavar Purohit, Vijay Sanghani, Jitu Shah, Varsha Shah and Mohit Shah. There were numerous other Tapasvis who did other Tapasya. Our heartiest congratulations to all the Tapasvis for their successful completion of their varying tapasya.
The Society raised $150,000 in pledges for the Pratishtha Mahotsav that was celebrated during the Thanksgiving holidays. The festivities ran from November 18-26, 1995 with Murti Sthapana of Mulnayak Mahavir Swami, Parshwanath Bhagwan, Rushabhdev Bhagwan, Simandhar Bhagwan, Guru Gautam Swami, Chakreshwari Devi, Padmavati Devi, Saraswati Devi, Laxmi Devi, Shree Ghantakaran Veer, and Manibhadra Dev. The JSH has begun a "Share-A-Tile" drive for the Gabharo and temple floor. For more information please call Kishor Doshi at 713/561-9887.
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Jain Education Intemational
Phoenix, AZ
Several Mumukshus from the Greater Phoenix area attended the JAINA Convention. The Center actively participated in helping to present a gallery of 75 paintings at the convention. The Phoenix Jain group took part in the Pratishtha of Bhagwan Aranath. The young adults joined in this celebration in the panel discussions, forums and youth programs.
Several scholars from India visited the Phoenix area this summer and gave discourses on various aspects of Jainism. Pandit Dhirajbhai Mehta and Vasantbhai Khokhani enlightened the group. Taralaben Doshi gave discourses on the twelve householder vows (Shravak's Vrats). She also discussed with the young adults the meaning and importance of Samayik. Shri Rajendra Kamdar helped us celebrate the Paryushan Parva by conducting Swadhyay lectures and leading in Pratikraman.
Paryushan and Dash Laxana Parvas were celebrated from August 23-September 9, 1995. The spirit for Tapasya was very high as many Mumukshus including children and young adults participated this year. The most noteworthy accomplishments were Varsi Tap by Ushma Bavishi, Mas Khaman (continuous fasting for 30 days) by Kirit Gosalia, 10 Upvas each by Rekha Shah and Ajit Shah, 9 Upvas each by Latta and Harshad Desai, 8 Upvas each by Atul Gosalia, Jayashree Parekh, Mahendra Shah, Varsha Shah and Hema Sheth and Roopali Desai, age 17. Several others did from 1 to 6 Upvas, Aayambils and Ekasanas.
Our annual Paryushan Mahavir Jayanti and the fund-raising program was successfully carried out in the presence of Shri Rajendrabhai. He also explained the importance of Mahavir Jayanti celebration and the meaning of Swapanas. On Samvatsari day we had two Pratikramans, one for the adults and one in English for the young people. The Parvas were concluded by a Swamivatsalya program honoring the Tapasvis on September 10, 1995.
Tulsa, OK
About six families from Tulsa, OK attended the Convention. In addition to the adults, the youth group prepared a SCRAP BOOK for the Young Jains of America.
Among scholars who visited us this year were Taralaben Doshi who gave dis
JAIN DIGEST
courses on the twelve householder vows (Shravak's Vrats) and how we can observe them while living in this US. Muni Shree Jinchandraji visited us in August, 1995 and blessed us with a pooja for our second anniversary of the Pratishtha.
The Sangh celebrated Paryushan Parva from August 23-31, 1995 by doing Pratikraman every evening. On a Mahavir Jayanti celebration day, we had Swapana ceremony followed by a dinner.
In 1992, the Sangh provided funds to build a small dispensary in Tithal, India. We are happy to report that almost 20,000 patients were served during 1993 and about 13,000 patients were served during 1994. These people received free health care which included doctors' services and medicine.
WEST
Chandrakant Parekh Regional Editor
Los Angeles, CA
The JAINA Convention was a memorable event for the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) and for several of its members and young people who were specially recognized for their contributions and participation in the Jain activities. For a second time, JCSC was recognized for its outstanding contribution in promoting the Jain Art Exhibition. Manibhai Mehta, past President of JCSC, was elected President of JAINA for the next two years. Girishbhai Shah was recognized for his efforts in leading the adult swadhyay activities. Dr. Pratapaditya Pal, a curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art was recognized for his outstanding contributions in organizing the exhibition entitled The Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art From India. Among the young people, Minal Doshi was recognized for her efforts in promoting youth activities as first president of Jain Association of Young Adults (JAYA). Priya Sheth won the art contest and Sumit and Samir Khandhar were placed first and third in the essay competition Peace Through Nonviolence.
Sept./Dec. 1995