Jain Spirit 2003 10 No 16

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

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GLOBAL NEWS
ANTHROPOLOGISTS DISSECT JAINISM - AND DISCOVER WISDOM
On 13 June 2003, speakers from around the world gathered for an inspiring conference entitled Text and Context in Jainism at the University of London's prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), which is becoming a focus for a major revival in Jain studies. Among the eminent speakers were lead organiser Dr. Peter Fluegel from SOAS, Mr. Niraj Jain from Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Josephine Reynell from Oxford University, Dr. Marie-Claude Mahias from Paris, Dr. Fujinaga Sin from Japan and Dr. & Mrs. Kanubhai Sheth from Ahmedabad. The event was opened by Terapanth Shramanis Pratibha Pragya and Jina Pragya who have opened a new centre in North London. Jains from all over London, young and old, attended this academic conference and found it a fascinating and eye-opening experience. Many of the papers comprised anthropological studies of the Jains and were
DEDICATED TEMPLE FOR LONDON:
A DREAM TAKES FLIGHT
On 10 and 11 May 2003, London's Jain community came together to share in the joy of a collective dream coming true as important steps were taken towards the building of the first ever fully consecrated Jain temple in London. The auspicious siddhachakra poojan ceremony and a lively cultural programme were held on 10 May, both of which were attended by over 700 people. The poojan was ably conducted by Mr. Jayeshbhai Shah of Jain Samaj Europe.
The following day, over 1000 people gathered to witness the weekend's main event: the ceremonial blessing of the site of the future temple (bhoomi poojan) and the laying of the foundation stone (shilanvas). The bhooomi poojan ceremony was performed by Mr. Dipak Vora and his family. In addition, British Member of Parliament (MP) Tony McNulty, in
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Scholars and participants line up for the camera
by stunning
accompanied photographs. Seeing scholars study a cultural practice in scientific detail educates the Jains about the wider relevance of ritual and ceremony. Dr. Kalpana Sheth spoke on the Jain manuscript cataloguing project at the British Library, the Wellcome Library and the Bodlean Library in Oxford.
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Jain Spirit September November 2003
whose constituency the temple site falls, participated in the ceremony too, making him the first ever British MP to do So. A serene and spiritual atmosphere pervaded throughout, and the way was paved for the construction to begin. The temple project is being taken forward under the auspices of London's Mahavir Foundation, which also organised the weekend's ceremonies and entertainment, and has received the blessing of Shri Shashande. On this occasion, the Foundation took the opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous contributions made by its President, Dr. Vinod Kapashi and his family.
It is planned that the temple will be completed by next year. For further information, please contact the Mahavir Foundation via its Vice-President, Mr. Surendra Mehta,
on smehta@ntlworld.com.
Some of the manuscript painting images were stunning. Dr. Fujinaga Sin analysed the fundamental meanings of dharma and adharma from a Jain context. He is a well known scholar from Japan who has trained under the eminent Jain Muni Jambubijayji, one of the leading scholars of Jainism today.
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ACHIEVEMENTS
Shri Nirmal Chandraji Jain, a renowned lawyer and social worker from Jabalpur, India has been appointed Governor of the Indian state of Rajasthan. He was the Member of Parliament for the Sivni constituency in the state of Madhya Pradesh from March 1977 to September 1979. He was appointed the Advocate General of Madhya Pradesh and held the prestigious post for a number of years. He was a member of the 11th Finance Commission of India from July 1998 to July 2000.
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