Jain Journal 2001 01

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

Page 46

NEWS ON JAINISM AROUND THE WORLD
feared that unless certain restrictions are placed on the use of high explosives, the cavern faces risk of collapsing in the near future.
However, there is some ray of hope. Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, District Collector, who has assumed office recently, and has launched a plan to revive the DWACRA women groups for quarrying, has assured that licences for new quarrying will be issued only after ascertaining whether they would be at a safe distance from the archaeological
monuments.
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The lease period of the quarry at the foot of the hill would be expiring very soon, and it would not be renewed he assured.
A decision has been taken to stop quarrying near Kudumiyanmalai, Sittannavasal, and Ammachatram, since they were close to protect monuments of the ASI.
HC settles row over Jain rituals
The Mumbai High Court has held that observing be tithi calender and performing navangi guru worship by devotees was not illegal or contrary to the principles or tenets of Jain religion.
The Hindu 7July 2000
The ruling will have a bearing on the two crore Jain community spread all over the country, because it puts at rest the controversy over the manner of gurupoojan (worshipping guru) and observance of tithis in the absence of any such mention in Jain religious scriptures since time immemorial.
While one section believed in ekang (in reverence to one point of guru's body) and ek tithi, the other followed navang (in reverence to nine points of the body) and be tithi. However, there was no dispute over the manner in which idol should be worshipped.
The judgement was delivered by Justice Rajan Kochar who recently upheld a lower court's order which restrained Matunga Jain Shwetamber Murti Pujak Tapagachha Sangh, a trust, from putting up signboards at Upashraya (temple banning Navangi worship and the practice of following be tithi calender.
A few devotees had challenged in a civil court resolutions passed by the trust in its general body meeting on July 1, 1998 banning