Jain Digest 2015 06

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

Page 40

JAIN DIGEST
VITRA A G
SANDAL
Sydney Jain Mandal (SJM): It was started in 1991 by 2-3 families. Their monthly sessions on the last Sunday of the month includes bhajans, self-study and discussion on Jainism related topics. This became a platform for teaching children, meeting other Jain families and planning of the future activities. In year 2000 when the group grew to more than 100 families, Sydney Jain mandal did Pratishtha of Mahavir Swami at Hindu temple in Canberra. Later they did Pratishtha of Mahavir Swami and Shree Parshvanath in a Sri Mandir Hindu temple in Auburn, Sydney. In January 2014 they managed to acquire a property. This place is being developed as a temple and Jain education center.
Dada Bhagawan Sangh: In 2004, living Tirthankar Simandhar Swami idol was installed in Sri Siva mandir, 201, Eagle view Road, Minto. It was under the guidance of Shree Niruben Amin. In October2014, Shree Dipakbhai performed a special ceremony for 40 small idols of Simandhar swami in Sydney.
Melbourne Shwetamber Jain Sangh (MSJS) This sangh was established in 2007. It is incorporated in state of Victoria, Australia. Since 2002, Melbourne Jains were getting together for religious activities. Mr. Nitinbhai and Minaben Doshi, Alkaben Khare are the founder members, who has lived there from 1992.
Members have grown from a small number in mid-90's to approximately 600-700 Jains including children. 60-70% of them are between the ages of 25-35 years old. MSJS manages a Gruh Jinalaya at 3 Rice Street, Moorabin, Victoria, 8139. They have beautiful Shree Chintamani Parshwanath as a Mul-nayak, along with Shree Adinath and Mahavir Swami. There are also pratima of Padmavati devi and Saraswati devi.
40 I MAY-JUN 2015