Jain Spirit 2004 06 No 19

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

Page 7

Stamp of Approval for Jainism 6th Biannual Conference
of YJA at San Francisco
T
topics were exhibited at this unique event. Mrs. Sudhamadi Raghunathan, the Chancellor of Jain Vishva Bharti University and Mr. A.K.A. Joshi, Post Master General of Indore, were among the honoured guests.
To mark the bicentenary of Terapanthi Acharya Shri Bhikshu, the first All-India Level stamp exhibition on a Jain theme, MAHAPRAGYAPEX-2004, was held at Indore on 29-30 March with Pujya Acharya Mahapragyaji in attendance. Stamp collections on exclusively Jain
A special cover was issued on 29 March 2004 and Indian Postal Department provided a special postmark for it. Pragya Pustakalaya and Vachnalaya owned by Terapanthi Sabha Indore organised this exhibition with the help of Indore Philatelic Society.
Foundations Laid for New Temple in London
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Temple plan
A two million pound new temple is being built at the Oshwal Centre in Potters Bar, North London. London is home to 30,000 Jains, but to date, there is not a single authentic Jain temple. This project will change that, and the new temple will add to the temple in Leicester and help worshippers to conduct their poojas. Children, who seem to have a natural affinity to sacred spaces and artistic temples, will also benefit hugely from this.
Mr. Rajesh Sompura, an Indian temple architect, will spearhead the building effort. The bulk of the carvings and sculpture will be done in India and assembly and installation work done here. Pujya Chitrabhanu conducted the ceremony for the laying of the first carved stone of Kanpith and Mr. Kantilal Haria and family of InHouse Kitchens patronised this ceremony by making a large donation. 4,000 people from all over London and some from as far away as Leicester, Northampton and Manchester attended the event on Easter Sunday. The
GLOBAL NEWS 05
The Young Jains of America (YJA) 6th bi-annual conference will be held in San Francisco from 1-4 July 2004. The aim of the convention is to teach young people how to apply the principles of Jainism in their daily lives. It is expected that nearly 1,000 young Jain delegates will attend this conference. For further information about the event visit the YJA's website at www.yja.org
Photo: Atul K. Shah
Champa and Kanti Jeshang Haria laying the first stone
Karania family sponsored the lunch for everyone, and the fund-raising campaign was also launched, with a variety of schemes enabling all people to participate whatever their financial capacity. As the President of Oshwal Association, Mr. Ashwin Shah explained, the team had worked very hard to make this project a success and requested the community to participate fully. Also present were the local Mayor and Mr. Haldar from the Indian High Commission who spoke eloquently about the importance of unity.
The temple will be sited at the Oshwal Centre on a Greenfield site of approximately ten acres. It will be in the middle of landscaped gardens and walkways, which when viewed from the air represent the Jain symbol of Triloka (the Cosmos). The walkways are in the shape of a Sathio. At the base of the Triloka, the symbol of Ahimsa will be represented by a magnificent mosaic pond.