Jain Digest 1996 05

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

Page 10

The audience during the lecture serices at the Houston Pratishtha The Jain Society of Houston was founded Guru Gautamswamy, Chakreshwari Devi, in 1975. Lacking any formal place to wor- Padmavati Devi, Saraswati Devi, Laxmi Devi, ship, the society began with monthly meet- Ghantakaran Veer and Manibhadra Dev was ings at members' houses. Due to the steady placed in India in January, 1995. growth of the community, a building was The Pratishtha was approved by the genpurchased in 1989 and was converted into eral body in May of 1995. It was the hard what is now the Jain Center. As membership work of all the volunteers that made the event and awareness of the Center increased, the a grand success. society was able to completely renovate the Even though there were the extraordinary facility with a temple hall and Swadhyaya challenges from a delay in the shipment of Room.
Gabharo to problems in getting visas for the A decision to finish the temple and to sculptors, these challenges were met with organize the Pratishtha Mahotsav was made help from the architect, the two Sompuras in the summer of 1994. The order for sculpt- from Detroit, our local contractors and a ing the Pratimas of Mulnayak Mahavirswamy, marathon day and night effort by the society's Parshvanath Bhagwan and Rushabhdev volunteers to complete the temple project in Bhagwan and eight carved Gokhalas for the time for Pratishtha. Pratimas of Simandhar-swamy Bhagwan, It was a miracle!
The Pratishtha Mahotsav program began on November 18, 1996 with Dwar Pooja, Deep Pooja and Kumbh Pooja. Later in the morning, Nava Grah, Das Digpal and Ashth Mangal poojas were performed. Afterwards with cheers, songs and dances, the Pratimas were carried to the temple in the procession led by our youth band and on the red carpet. The atmosphere was one of joyous excitement.
Day Two began with a Bhaktamar Pooja program conducted by Bhattarak Shri Charukirthiji with approximately 150 families participating. It was done with a great sense of spirituality.
On Day Three we celebrated Panch Kalyanak Pooja conducted by our Shankheshwar Parshvanath Mandal. The attendance was beyond our expectations.
Days Four and Five there was Padmavati Devi Pooja and activities which included Namokar Mantra Jaap and lectures by invited dignitaries - Kastursagarji Maharaj, Bhattarakji, Amrendra Muniji, and Samaniji Madhurpragna and Charitpragna.
Day Six festivities included Siddha Chakra Poojan conducted by Shri Babubhai Kadiwala and an evening Bhavna.
On Day Seven the festivities started in the morning with Adhaar Abhishek Pooja. In the afternoon, Babubhai Kadiwala directed the stage program of Bhagwan Mahavir's Janma Kalyanak followed by Bhavna in the evening.
Day Eight was a spectacular mile-long procession which included a horse driven buggy, 3 floats, a convertible and other passenger cars. Approximately 1,500 people participated in the procession which was led by a Jain Youth Band and included Raas-Garba and chanters. The procession was followed by a public meeting addressed by Kastursagarji, Bhattarakji, Amrendra Muniji, Samani Madhurpragnaji, Samani Charitpragnaji, Pandit Dharamchand, Sulekh Jain, JAINA's president, Manibhai Mehta, Prakash Parikh, President of Gujarati Samaj, Virendra Parikh, President of Vishva Hindu Parishad, the Indian Vice-Counsel in Houston and our U.S. Congresswoman, Sheila Lee Jackson. Chief Trustee, Udai Jain and President, Bharat Shah of Jain Society welcomed everyone.
The Pratishtha Committee Chairperson, Kishor Doshi introduced the dignitaries. In the evening there was a cultural pro
from left to right, Rushabhdev. Mahavir Swami Parshvanath at the Houston Jain Temple
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