Jain Digest 2001 01 Vol 17 No 01

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

Page 38

Yatra 2001 - Samet Shikharji (cont)
last 5 days and they will camp out in the open air in surrounding We arrived at Madhuban next morning, after obtaining rooms fields. The site of these bare footed pilgrims silently walking in at the Dharmsala, Yatris had a free day to visit different temples. droves was awe-inspiring. We stayed in the Dharmsala at Lachhwar in the afternoon, we went to Rujubalika River; the Keval Gnan and the next morning rode tractors to the foot of the Xatriyakund Bhoomi of Mahaveerswami and on the way back visited the Jain Mountain. There are three separate temples on the mountain mark- Museum in Madhuban. We went to bed early in preparation for ing Chyavan, Janma and Diksha Kalyanaks. This is where the the Pahad Yatra of the next day. For many, this was to be a life Bhagwan Mahaveer spent first thirty years of his life. That evening long dream turning into reality. Once we reached Gautam Swasome of us went to see a local school that was in such poor shape mis temple, some opted for Chandra Prabhus temple and others that Kirit Daftary, a fellow yatri who is chairman of the went straight to Jal Mandir. After Pooja and Aarti, we had lunch Teerthodhdhar Committee decided to adopt it as his committee's in front of the main temple and posed for group pictures. Return next project.
journey started at about 2:30 PM. via Parswanath temple on the Early next morning, we drove to Veerayatan Ashram of Acharya other hill, Every one's face had lit up and amazingly no one was Chandanaji at Rajgir. On the way, we visited Jal Mandir of Gunivaii tired. Miracles happen on this land every day. - Gautam Swami's Keval Gnan bhoomi. It was the 26th January Before leaving for Calcutta the next day, we held a closing and the trustees and Sadhwijis of the Veeraytan warmly received ceremony to thank the extremely polite and devoted staff of Patni us. First we were greeted by a local high School marching band tours of Bombay who had taken such a wonderful care of us, fed and after hearing welcome remarks from Acharyashriji, we par- us and attended to all our needs. It was also the time to recognize ticipated in the Republic day celebration and the hoisting of the our group leaders – Dr. Anil Shah and Keerti Shah of Chicago, national flag. Next we visited the hospital at Veerayan where rib- Vastupal Shah of Detroit, Harsha Patadia of Los Angeles, Kirit bon-cutting ceremony of the new Polio clinic by the hands of Drs. Daftary of Waco, Texas, Dr. Sumtilal Shah of New York, Dr. Avni Mahendra and Chandra Varia took place. It was also Shri Sheth of Edmonton, OK and Madhukar Mehta of Raleigh, NC Chandanaji's birthday and we all sang her birthday greetings in who shared most of the responsibilities during the Yatra. Their Hindi and in English. After lunch, we started to hear about the teamwork and dedication made this Yatra possible. Anil Shah of earthquake news. One of our Yatris - Prafulla Shah's husband East Brunswick, NJ took care of the registration and was the treaRameshbhai was in Mandavi - Kutchh that day and was to join ussurer for the Yatra. One of our Yatris, Jaynaben Mehra was observat Shikharji in a few days. Communications to Kutchh was nearly ing Varshi Tap and we felt that her good deeds were helping the impossible and She did not get any news from him for five days Yatra because essentially, our Yatra had sailed without any real until she finished her Samet Sikhar Pahad Yatra. But the news was trouble. A wonderful and very helpful souvenir of the Yatra with very good. Rameshbhai was all right, had decided to forgo joining description of all the places we were to visit was prepared by Dipti us in order to stay in Kutch for relief work.
Shah of Bombay and distributed to Yatris at the beginning of the The next day we saw temples of Pawapuri and Kundalpur.
Yatra. All the Yatris were given a set of 3 books - Pratikaman
Tal We also visited Nalanda Viswa Vidyalaya and some of the Yatris
Bodhika made possible in part by donation from Jit Turakhia of got a chance to see the Nalanda Museum across the street. After
NY who also donated special badges for the Yatris. visiting the Munisuwarat Swami temple, returned to Veerayatan. Calcutta was our last stop. Trustees of Veeraytan held a lunNext morning we did Yatra of the Vaibhavgiri Mountain and vis- cheon- reception at the Jain Bhavan and a delegation of Jain Soited the cave where Amar Muni meditated. Back at the Veerayatan cial Group's officers came to greet us at the hotel. We visited a that night in the assembly hall, Yatris responded to the Acharya couple of temples in the city and dispersed at Calcutta airport on Chandanajis call for help to the newly opened Polio Clinic and the night of Feb. 2nd. Next January, JAINA is planning the Pilalso for the Earthquake relief efforts by Veerayatan. Drs. Varia grimage of Kutch Panchteerthi, Girnar and Palitana. offered to match every dollar pledged by Yatris that evening and before long Yatris pledged $65,000 to Veerayatan. Undaunted,
Dilip V. Shah. Philadelphia, PA Pilgrimage Committee Drs. Varia promptly extended their offer of matching Yatri contributions from that evening to the duration of the Yatra! Everyone was now ready for the main event - Samet Sikharji.
36/JAIN DIGEST. SPRING 2001 Jain Education International 2010_02