Jain Society Greater Atlanta 2008 11 Pratistha

Author(s): Jain Center of Greater Atlanta
Publisher: USA Jain Center Greater Atlanta

Page 14

Kothari, Sunil & Ritu Dosi, and Anil & Minal Jain initiated like Moolnayak at the temple. The joy and enthusiasm monthly poojas in Digamber tradition as well. Since the among all participants was indeed noteworthy. opening of the Jain Center, this relatively small group following Digamber tradition is now grown to more than The Pratishtha-vidhi for the both Shwetamber and 40 families.
Digamber temples will be conducted by Shri Narendrabhai
Nandu, Pandit Mahipalji Shah and Dr. Abhay Dagade After the completion of the Jain Center, momentum from November 14 through 20. The prana-pratishtha continued to initiate building the Temple. The presence of vidhi will held in the presence of Munishri Jinchandraji Jain temple was felt to be critical in instilling religious and maharaj, Acharyashri Chandanaji, Sadhvi Shubhamji, Shri cultural values in upcoming second and third generation Param Pujya Bhattarakji. Swami Shrutpagnyaji, Shraman children in the US. In 2003 the JSGA President Raju Shah Ashvini-pragnyaji and Shramani Charitra-pragnyaji re-established the Temple Committee with membership of and Shramani Unnata-pragnyaji along with many more Mahdu Sheth - Chairperson, Deepak Shah, Dr. Kirti Shah, scholars. Anil Shah, and Kaushik Desai who started the activities for building Temple. Raju Shah supported in conceptual The small Society that started in early eighties has now design of the temple and helped in fund raising.
grown into a large number of above 400 families and still
growing in number as well in spirituality. During 2005 & 2006 Madhu Sheth as JSGA President pursued the building design activities in cooperation with architect Tony Patel, and awarded the construction contract for the temple site-work to Shirish Gandhi of Jhaveri Enterprises in late 2006, so the Khat Muhurt was performed in presence of vidhikar Shri Narendrabhai Nandu. Deepak Shah as the next JSGA President continued with the construction efforts. Marbles for the temple and for the idols were selected when Deepak Shah, Anil Shah and Shirish Gandhi visited Jaipur and Makrana couple of times in early 2008. The Shwetamber temple with Moolnayak Aadinaath Bhagwan is built on the main floor, and the Digamber temple with Moolnayak Mahavir Swami and Upashraya are built on the lower floor. The construction activities were managed by the Executive Committee members, namely Deepak Shah, Anil Shah, Rajan Doshi, Paresh Shah, Kiran Shah, Meeta Parikh and Madhu Sheth.
Once carving of the Moolnayak idol was completed, the Committee arranged for its "anjan-shalakha" ceremony in October 2008. Several of Society member families which included Deepak & Sampurna Shah, Dr. Kirti & Neela Shah, Rajan & Preeti Doshi, Dhanraj & Kalpana Sipani, Anil & Madhu Shah, Raju & Rekha Shah, Madhu Sheth, Kalaben, Dr. Taru Shah and Dr. Muktaben Shah traveled to Walkeshwar - Mumbai, India to attend the ceremony held in Shri Mahavir Swami Derasar. The "anjan-shalakha" vidhi was performed by Param Pujya Acharya Shri Vijay Nayvardhan Suriswarji Maharaj.
On the auspicious day of November 1, 2008 the pranpratishthit pratima of Moolnayak Aadinaath Bhagwan was sent from Mumbai and received in Atlanta the next day. This was such a momentous and ecstatic event that several hundred members quickly got together to receive the life