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Jain Center of Southern California Inauguration of Cultural Complex
Sunday, March 27, 2005
With the inauguration of the new cultural complex on Sunday, March 27, 2005, the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) accomplished another major milestone in its monumental efforts to build a fine Jain Tirth in North America. The 60,000 sq ft facility located in the City of Buena Park, a suburb of Los Angeles, was completed at a cost of $11 million. The overwhelming enthusiasm and unwavering dedication of the Jain community for this project can be observed from the following examples. Three families - Manibhai & Savitaben Mehta, Harshadbhai & Rakshaben Shah and an anonymous family - have each donated over $751,000 for this project. On the day of the inauguration, Jayeshbhai and Ramilaben Shah pledged $1 million as an interest-free loan, to match a similar amount to be raised from the community. Within ten minutes members in the audience rose to the challenge and committed $1,400,000 in loans for the project.
The inauguration ceremonies were attended by nearly 1,400 participants, which included Jain community members, leaders of other Indian organizations and political leaders from Buena Park and nearby cities. The inaugural ceremony began with the symbolic "Kumbh Sthapan" - a traditional ceremony performed especially before entering or moving into a new place - by Reshma Shah, daughter of Rakshaben and Harshadbhai Shah. Traditional divi lamps were lit by Buena Park Mayor Pro Tem Art Brown, JAINA Vice President Shri Kiritbhai Daftari, keynote speaker Shri Shaileshbhai Mehta, Jain Center of Northern California President Shri Hasubhai Shah and Mrs. Bindi Doshi.
Mayor Pro Tem Brown congratulated the community on its achievement and its contribution to the City of Buena Park. A plaque of appreciation for the Jain Community was presented by City of Artesia Councilman Tony Mendoza to Ramesh Doshi, president of JCSC. The keynote speaker Shaileshbhai Mehta said that by building the multi-purpose cultural complex alongside the temple, the association has achieved the dual purpose of having people visit the temple and get involved in community activities as well - something that is in tune with the changing times and should be emulated by other centers.
Jain Center was first inaugurated in July of 1988. With a phenomenal increase in the size of the community, estimated 1,000 families with 700 life member families, as well as a rapid growth in the number of religious, educational, cultural, and community outreach activities, JCSC recognized a need to expand the existing Jain Center. A vision of this expansion was conceived nearly 10 years ago, and an effort to make such a vision a reality began with the process of acquiring neighboring properties of land.
⚫ Phase I - A cultural complex with a large auditorium, Swadhyay rooms, and a museum of history, art and heritage. This complex was inaugurated on Sunday, March 27, 2005.
Phase II - A religious complex with the Derasar and an Aradhana Hall. Construction of this complex is tentatively scheduled to begin in July 2005.
⚫ Phase III - Atama Sadhana Kendra with Study/Pathshala rooms and the JAINA/JCSC National Library. With over 10,000 books, manuscripts and multi-media resources, this library is one of the largest collections outside of India. Construction of this facility will be scheduled after completion of Phase II.
The graceful features of a traditional Jain temple are reflected in the architecture of the entire complex. The exterior of the building is constructed of superbly carved Jaisalmer yellow limestone designed, manufactured and supplied from India. A consultant from India has designed and will supply various artifacts for interior decoration of the complex. Such artifacts will include paintings, murals, tapestries, sculptures, and other media to depict the Jain religion, art, history, culture, heritage, and Jain way of life. The interior of the temple will be constructed from carved marble pieces that will also be shipped from India. When completed, the Jain Center will become a prominent destination of international repute for pilgrimage, cultural and scholarly pursuits.
JCSC is honored to acknowledge that it was one of the four original organizations which founded Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) at a meeting hosted by JCSC in Los Angeles 25 years ago.
Jain Education International
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6/ JAIN DIGEST⚫ Spring 2005
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