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PROJECT PAWAPURI
"Pawapuri is pivotal to Jainism We can not rest until its glory is restored"
-Acharya Shri Chandanaji
Pawapuri - Bhagwan Mahaavir's Nirvan Bhoomi - the place where he attained Moksha 2500 years ago is one of the most revered places of pilgrimage for all Jains. In the middle of the lake there is a beautiful Temple with Bhagwan's Paduka. The lake is like a vast bed of lotus flowers and visitors are instantly taken by the tranquility and the beauty of the surroundings propelling them to an emotional and religious height they have never before experienced.
That was the way it was until a few years ago. Today, the town, the lake and the Temple are a sorry sight indeed. The town is, like most other towns in Bihar, in the grips of poverty and scant educational facilities. Pilgrims encounter scores of aggressively begging kids. Town people blame Jains for having turned their town into a heaven for beggars. The lake is heavily polluted. No lotus flowers are in sight. Villagers are fishing in the lake, washing their laundry on the banks of the lake and using it as open sewer. Pilgrims fear being robbed. The Temple is in disrepair. Not a single Jain family lives in town. The Government of India has recently awarded a grant to cleanup the lake and the work is indeed progressing well. Nevertheless, the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and benign neglect of the town will continue without private help from outside.
The World Community Service of JAINA has decided to help Veerayatan to adopt the village of Pawapuri, break the downward cycle of illiteracy, poverty and apathy. You may be aware that JAINA and Veerayatan successfully built a school in Lachwar and that school is flourishing. Now our plan is to help build a school, "Teerthankar Mahavir Vidyamandir”, primary health center and a vocational training center for 1,000 children in Pawapuri. The project is the long held dream of Acharya Shri Chandanaji to make Pawapuri an "Adarsh Teerth”. The total funds needed just for the construction is Rs. 50 million ($1,000,000). Half the needed money has already been raised in India by Veerayatan. JAINA will try to raise as much money as possible. Construction is expected to commence by next Mahaveer Nirvan i.e., Deepavali 2004. Classes up to middle school will begin from April 2006 academic session. Upper school classes will be added every year so that by 2010 the school will be a higher secondary school. Please consider making a generous donation to this project. Your entire tax deductible donation will go to Pawapuri.
REMEMBER: VIDYADAAN LASTS A LIFE TIME.
Yes! I want to support the school project in Pawapuri: Enclosed is my check for: $_
[$5,000 for a class room
$2,500 for Patron of the School
$1,000 for Sponsoring a Teacher
$500 for sponsoring a child to graduation
$100 for Sponsoring a child for one year
Name:
Address
Phone
Email
Please make your check Payable to: JAINA and mail to: Dilip V Shah 1902 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19103 Donations to JAINA may be Tax Deductible. El # 54-1280028
JAIN DIGEST. Summer 2004/9
Jain Education International 2010_03
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