Jain Digest 2006 07 Vol 24 No 3

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

Page 18

REGIONAL NEWS
TAMPA, FL
Jain Center of Tampa Bay is very proud to inform one and all that even though we are very small Jain Community in Tampa Bay Area, our unity in diversity is finally showing good results. A seed, that was planted in the year 1988 and we shall enjoy its fruits in 2006..
We started this organization with five to six Jain families, getting together once a month for Swadhyay, Satsang, and Prayers. Gradually the community grew and so did our activities. We are now community of about 100 plus families. We have Samanji's religious lectures every month. Besides this, we have Bhavnas, Picnic, Yoga and meditation camps, shibir, celebration of Mahavir Jayanti, Paryusan
We will be completing our very important goal in year 2006, when we will finally have our own "Shikhabandhi" Jain Temple in Tampa, a dream that our community had seen will be a reality. For this we are grateful to Munishree Jinchandraji (Triputi Bandhu) for valuable guidance. We have already received all 36 pratimajis and are able to do Dev Darshan everyday. We have Parshwanath as our Mool-Nayak, and Mahavir Swami and Aadinath all together on the main pedestal, and 24 Tirthankars, Navkar Mantra, 2 devs, 3 devis on all sides.
MIAMI, FL
Paryushana: JCSF celebrated Payurshana in Aug 2005. Shamanijis were invited to grace the Paryushana Purva. There were daily activities like Jaap, Prayer, lecture in the morning and Pratikaman-lectures in the evenings. We were lucky to secure few
celebration, inviting different scholars days of activities at our new Jain
for spiritual lecture series etc.,
center.
President and Executive Committee of Jain Society of Tampa Bay.
THE JAIN CENTER reached an
important milestone this year. Jain Center of South Florida has closed on the property at 1960 N. Commerce Parkway, Weston, FL 33326. This property is ideal for South florida locale. We whole heartedly thank our Jain Community, who rose up to the occasion in supporting this historic purchase for the Jain Center of South Florida
Also JSCF observed Paryushan Parva, Das Laxna in its Temple/ Upashray in September. Mr. Chandrakantbhai Mehta, a well known scholar from N.J. attended the Parva. Every morning we conducted Asthaprakari Puja and mini Siddhchakra Poojan. Every evening
the pratikraman was done and a lec
ture by Mr. Mehta. On September 4th,
Mahavir Jayanti was observed. 14 Supan Ceremony was held and the lectures by Mr. Mehta and Samnijis
were held. More than 220 people from all over Florida participated in it.
Mrs. Darshana Shah of Tallahassee did 30 upvas and 16 upvas were done by our youngest member Bhavya Sheth, age 11, from South Daytona Beach. This is the first time Bhavya did 16 upvas. Last year he did 8 upvas. To encourage him, his mother Mrs. Urvy Sheth also did 16 upvas. This is the first youngster in Florida who has done 16 Upvas. Also there were twoWith good-wishes, blessings, 9 upvas, seven or more - 8 upvas, one support from all our entire Temple English pratikraman during paryushan. Sharmilaben Mehta from Daytona four upvas and one Varshitap by Mrs. project should be accomplished by summer of 2006, when we shall have Pratistha. We invite all in advance to participate in this auspicious event and help us make it a big success. When coming closer to the event, we will announce the dates of celebration.
Pathshala: 15-25 children attended
Beach and other. Parnas were held in on Sept. 9th at South Daytona Beach. 30 Upvas Parna was held at the JSOCF temple property on Sept. 18th. About 150 members attended the event. Dr. Tarlaben Doshi recited 30 upvas alochana to Mrs. Darshana Shah.
During the year we had scholars like Shri Dhirajbhai Pandit, Dr. Hukamchand Bharil, and Dr. Tarlaben Doshi.
JCSF had Pooja, Swapan Dahrshan and Vatsalya Bhojan celebration on Sept 11 in the presence of
Shree Dhirajbhai Pandit.
Scholars: JCSF received many Jain Scholars during 2005, Pdt. Hukamchandra Bharill, Abhaykumar Shashtri, Narottam Vakil, Dhirajbhai Pandit, Shamanijis, Ujjawalaben & Dinesh Shah.
Diwali: During hurricane Wilma depression, Dhanateras and Diwali was celebrated with puja and a lecture on why we celebrate Diwali.?
Other small centers in Florida like Ponte vedra, Frt. Myers, Panama city performed pratikraman during paryushan.
ORLANDO, FL
On the eve of the first anniversary of the Temple/Upashray, Jain Society
of Central Florida celebrated the event
by performing 108 Parshvanath Bhagvan Poojan. The poojan was conducted by the renowned Mr. Narendrabhai Nandu and Company from Bombay, India on August 6th, 2005. About 54 families took part in the poojan and about 175 attended the event.
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