Jain Journal 1996 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 25

67
NEWS ON JAINISM AROUND THE WORLD
The idols, prepared in Jaipur and to be installed in the temple, are thsoe of Jinadatta Surishwarji, Manidhar Chandra Suri, Kushal Surishwarji, Chandra Surishwarji, Seemandhar Swami, Pundarik Swami, Gautam Swami and Mātā Padmāvati.
In an event of social importance to the community, Reshma Surendra Saha of Bharaundha (Gujarat) became a “sādhvi" on Jan. 25.
The Andhra Pradesh Home Minister, Mr. A. Madhava Reddy, received the Acharya when he reached the village. The“ pratipada" of
ains - who stayed in the village until Jan. 26 giving daily "pravacana" -was taken round in a "shobhā yātrā" along with the Minister, a large number of school children and community people from different parts of the country. The Acharya returned to the temple bringing back with him eight idols from the nearby Shiv Mandir which was also installed in the temple.
Shri Kulpak Tirtha Pratishthā Mahotsava Samiti, the organisers of the installation function, held a community lunch ("anna prasād") for thousands of people of five adjoining villages. The samiti officebearers are distributing a kg of jaggery, a steel plate and a tumbler, besides notebooks and ballpen in each house in Kolanpak to mark the occasion.
In his address to the gathering, the Ācārya called upon the people to offer sacrifices for the benefit of others ("tyāga"), to help others ("poropakāra") and try not to harm fellow humans. This should be the motto of people, as was enshrined in the Vedas and propagated in the country's cultural ethics.
Mr Madhava Reddy hailed the Jain community for its contribution in providing health, medicare and education facilities to the needy in interior areas of the State, complementing the efforts of the Government.
The Jiva Raksā Pracāraka Mandali put up an exhibition near the temple to impress upon the people the need to eschew cruelty against animals and saving them for the welfare of community. Ms. Amala, wife of the Telugu film star Nagarjuna, who heads Blue Cross, an animal welfare organisation, was slated to visit Kolanpak during the consecration ceremonies.
The Samiti leaders announced that an eye hospital would be set up at Kolanpak to be run by either the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute or