Jain Spirit 2003 12 No 17

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

Page 14

GLOBAL NEWS
Flag hoisting in
Silicon Valley
SILICON VALLEY
PARYUSHAN
TE TYPICALLY ARRANGE FOR THREE
scholars to visit us during Paryushan. This year we had
Pandit Dhirubhai Mehta from Surat, who is well known for all the Shvetambara sect followers for his lifelong teaching of new Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis. He gave his sermons twice a day in Gujarati on the Kalpa Sutra in the mornings and other topics in the evenings after the daily Pratikraman. On the first day he helped perform the Snatra Pooja, with full explanations of the significance of the rituals involved. Dr. Sekharchand Jain from Ahmed-Abad conducted pooja and discourses in Hindi for the Dash Lakshana to meet the needs of all Digambara tradition devotees. For Shrimad Rajchandra Mumukshus, we had invited Shri Paresh Maniar from the Agas Ashram in Gujarat and he conducted a parallel tract of devotional singing and seminars for all eight days of Paryushan. Lunch was provided every day for all the devotees who attended the morning discourses at the Jain Bhawan. For Mahavir Jayanti we had a
unified program with the traditional Sapana (dreams) ceremony followed by Swami Vatsalya dinner. Samvatsari day (the final day of Paryushan comprised of all the morning programmes followed by three pratikramans in the afternoon and early evening - performed both in Deravasi and Sthanakvasi traditions, as well as English pratikraman for youth and young professionals. All these pratikramans were planned to be concluded at the same time so that we all could meet in the main auditorium for conveying our Kshamapana and Michchami Dukadam to everyone at the Jain Bhawan. Next morning this was followed by the Parna ceremony (breaking of the fast) for all who had fasted during the eight days.
Bipin Shah
A BREATH OF PURITY
THE 500-STRONG JAIN COMMUNITY IN Manchester, England rejoiced as their much-anticipated
new temple was unveiled on 20 July 2003. Opening its doors to guests from Manchester and across the UK, the Manchester Jain Community Centre hosted a day-long
community, but that the temple will also serve as a base for community cohesion and help bring together the many different faith communities across the city.
The opening celebrations began with the symbolic welcoming and installation of statues of Tirthankaras into
celebration as 700 people gathered to admire and worship at the stunning white marble temple, the heart of the Centre. The temple houses seven statues of Tirthankaras. Kiran Mehta, of the Manchester Jain Samaj, was certainly appreciative of this new addition to the Centre, saying: “There really is nothing like this anywhere else in the country. The temple breathes purity and is a stunning addition to Manchester's architectural and cultural heritage."
Specialist craftsmen and engravers were flown in from India and spent ten days completing the temple prior to the opening ceremony. It is hoped that this material investment will not only enhance the spiritual journey of the Jain
the temple. The subsequent proceedings revolved around a series of auspicious acts of ritual worship, such as snatra pooja, adhar abhishek pooja, dhvaja, aarti and mangal divo, led by Shri Jayeshbhai Shah of Jain Samaj (Europe) Leicester. These were interspersed with joyous singing and dancing. Amongst the highlights of the day were the keynote addresses and blessings given by Chief Guest Sadhvi Shree Shilapiji, and by Shramani Pratibha Pragya and Shramani Jina Pragya. The day was rounded off with a delicious vegetarian meal for all guests. For more details, please call 0161 491 3552
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Jain Spirit . December 2003 - February 2004
PHOTOS: FALGUNI PATEL