Jain Spirit 2005 06 No22

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

Page 9

PROCLAMATION BY US CONGRESSMAN
Queens, NY, issued a Congressional Acharya Shri Mahapragyaji for his
Proclamation to honour His Holiness
quest for peace and human welfare.
TO HONOUR The proclamation was presented to
Pujya Samani Mangal Pragyaji and
Samani Amit Pragyaji -as his holiness
representatives - in a gala ceremony held in the Royal Albert Palace in Fords, NJ. The celebration was organised by World Business Forum (WBF) at the
ACHARYA SHRI MAHAPRAGYAJI
17 NOVEMBER 2004: US Congressman Gregory Meeks from
The Shree Digambar Jain Mumukshu Mandal, Nairobi
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સમવસરણ
GURU RECEIVES AWARD FOR WORLDWIDE SPIRITUAL CONTRIBUTION
ujya Vasanth Gurudev, the spiritual teacher from Krishnagiri, India, was awarded the title of
P
'International Pravachan
Shiromani' by the
International Mahavir Jain Mission UK. The ceremony took place during the Parshva Padmavathy Mahapoojan held in London on 2 October 2004.
Guruji was invited by more than 20 Jain organisations of the UK during the Paryushan Parva festival. His lectures were organised in and around the UK
presented an amazing 45 ft by 20 ft Rangoli at the Oshwal Centre in October 2004. Rangoli is one of the most popular arts among Indian women, which is mainly painted on the ground using different coloured powders. It was traditionally used to decorate courtyards and walls of Indian houses, places of worship and sometimes eating places as well. The powder of white stone, lime, rice flour
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NEWS
The Indian Oshwal Parishad has also honoured Shri Vasanth Gurudev with the Jain Jyothi Award for the year 2005, marking his commendable contributions to Jainism and humanity at the very young age of 35. He is the life force
initiative of Mr. Kiran Mehta, C.E.O. WBF and Dr. Pukhraj Lunia. The proclamation was presented by Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Dr. Krishna Jhaveri, Sh. Kiran Mehta, Dr. P.C. Lunia and Dr. Pratap. S. Jain to the Samanijis. Other JVBNA officers and members present at the function were Jay Dugar, Mool and Shanti Singhi, Suparas and Kiran Nahata, Sanjay and Kiran Jain, Ajay Dugar, Kusum Jain and Ratna Lunia..
and other cheap paste is used to draw intricate and ritual designs.
This particular Rangoli was put together to depict aspects of Jain Darshan, showing scenes such as the Wheel of Life, Mahavir's Samavasaran and a 1000 leafed beautiful lotus. The piece was the innovation of Reshmaben Shah. As in the tradition, rangoli art was transferred down to her through the generations of her family and she has carried it on, receiving many accolades for her work. With the help of a team of 12 ladies it took 6 months of design and 30 days to complete the stunning piece which served to commemorate 25 years of the Digambar Jain Mandir in Nairobi. On the opening day the Digambar Jain Mandal hosted a brunch for the entire Oshwal and Jain Community of Nairobi where over 4500 people attended.⚫
including the major cities of Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester and Northampton. His pravachans and mangalik had an impact on the Jain community who participated in large numbers. Many of them declared that this was the first time they had been blessed in London with the presence of Pujya Gurudev will be visiting the UK
a saint.
from 13-20 June 2005 to perform the biggest Parshva Padmavathy Mahapoojan with the participation of 108 Jain couples in the poojan.
behind the construction of the Jain pilgrimage in Krishnagiri, popularly known as 'Parshva Padmavathy Shakthi Peet'. It will contain the world's highest Jain temple, at 365 feet.
Situated near Bangalore in India, this is a place of pilgrimage to the 23rd Tirthankara, Lord Shree Parshvanath and the Goddess Padmavathydevi. The Prathista Mahotsav for a group of 30 temples in the tirth is on 20 June 2005. Apart from this, plans and models have already taken shape for constructing 'The Sammet Shikhar in the south', the famous holy pilgrimage of the Jains in Northern India. The Prathista of 'Shri Bhomiyaji Maharaj' is on 20 June 2005.
For further details visit the website www.shakthipeet.org or email: poonamlalit@hotmail.com.
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