An idol of Tirthankar Bhagwan Parshvanath

Chandigarh, Punjab (CHAKRA) — Jain tourism is going to be enhanced by the new Jain idol that will be built in Panchkula. The 23rd Tirthankar Bhagwan Parshvanath idol is being installed in a new temple in Sector 18. The idol will be 7.3 feet and up by the middle of March. 1,008 cobras will be a part of the idol and water will be fountaining out of each cobra, making the idol statue very unique and attractive to tourists in the Jain community and other tourists as well.

Upadhyayshri Guptisagar, one of most revered scholars and saints of Digambar Jain’s in the world, revealed that the artisans took over six months to make the idol and have been paid more than they expected. However, the amount they were paid has not been revealed.

The statue is made out of black marble from Makrana in Rajasthan and the throne of the idol has intricate artistic work on it. However, the most attractive feature of the idol are the cobras with water fountains.

Guptisagar, who does not dress in traditional Jain sainthood attire, will walk down from Madhya Pradesh to install and consecrate the idol sometime in March at Panchkula. The saint is a pioneer of Jain school and has 30 publications credited to him in which he focuses on public welfare.
He is known for not sleeping even 3 hours a day.

He explained that Jain’s are known for being one of the highest per capita income and wealthy communities of India. Jain saints are known to live the toughest lives amongst religious leaders of other religions in the world.
Digambar Jain saints do not possess even a single piece of clothing or a single utensil of any sort. They are known to eat and drink only once in a day and use their hands to eat as well as their palms to drink water out of.

By Arun Shanghvi

 
Mohan Gowda, Hindu Jana Jagruti Vedike spokesperson stated that the government has decided to go ahead with demolishing this large number of religious structures. 

The verdict of the Supreme Court clearly states that all religious structures that are built after December 7, 2009 must be demolished and most of these religious structures are Hindu temples across Mangalore.  With regards to those places of worship built before December 7, 2009–they will be examined case by case before a decision is made for whether they will become regularized structures, relocated or demolished. 
 
A very short notice has been given with no opportunity for appeal and the state government in its affidavit to the Supreme Court has agreed to clear all illegal religious structures by the end of this month. 

Gowda further stated that although the Supreme Court has allowed for temples that are over 30 years old to be regularized, the Karnataka government is simply seeking to demolish because the process of regularizing will be time consuming and not worth their time. It’s unfortunate according to him, that temples over 300 years old are at risk of demolition. 
 

Some temples that have received demolition notices are over 100 year old including the Kateel Temple in Dwara and the Mukhya Prana temple in Mangalore. 
The same government that had promised to protect the Hindu temples is not supporting and acting towards a demolition drive.  

Three hundred temples have now been given orders to relocate but there are many problems finding a place to relocate such a high number of temples and with so many restricted areas for religious structures present.

Jainism - A Dharmic Faith

India (CHAKRA) - A 36-year old book which seeks to unite all sects of Jainism has been brought to light after a group of Jain scholars organized a national seminar to revive the book.  The importance of the message of the text is what has led them to hold a separate seminar to bring awareness.

The seminar was held for two days on a Thursday and Friday, and consisted of 15 academic presentations which highlighted the various facets of Saman-Suttam which is a book compiled from information from the Agamas.  The Agamas are religious scriptures of Jainism.  Three hundred Jain Acharyas and scholars from Digambar and Shvetambar sects of Jainism attended and took part in these presentations. Vinoba Bhave a freedom fighter and human rights advocate commissioned the book and it was completed in 1974.

Dr. Geeta Mehta, a Jainology professor at KJ Somaiya Centre for Studies in Jainism said that Bhave’s goal was to create a single text that incorporated all sects of Jainism into one to highlight the essence of the religion as a whole.  The campus that Dr. Mehta works at is where the seminar was held.

The book is written in the form of 756 verses and has been translated in English, Hindu and Gujarati. However, this book did not unite various sections successfully as initially intended. Dayanand Bhargav, a professor of Vedic religion stated that “Each sect preferred to refer to its own texts rather than one which belongs to all,”.

Parshwanath Vidyapeeth in Varanasi

Varanasi, India (CHAKRA) —The old city of Varanasi is witnessing an attraction from foreign countries, specifically to two religions—Jainism and Buddhism.  It seems the influence of the two religions is stretching outside of the borders of Varanasi.

While Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon, previously emerged into an international centre for Buddhist studies, now Parshwanath Vidyapeeth (PV) is associating with the International School of Jain Studies (ISJS).  PV is an external research centre of Jain studies that is recognized by Banaras Hindu University (BHU).  It is getting ready to promote research on various aspects of Jainism in addition to already teaching students and teachers to real-life experiences and by promoting peaceful coexistence with other religions.

Shagun C. Jain, Vice President of PV as well as Chairman of ISJS-PV Global Centre expressed his pride in establishing the ISJS-PV global centre for ahimsa (non-violence)as well as for starting Indic research in which foreign scholars get the opportunity to get first-hand experience of the traditions and rituals of the variety of religions the city offers.  He also added that since 2005 the number of students attending the international summer school have risen from seven to approximately 60 this year.

The ISJS-PV global centre for ahimsa and Indic research was created in 2009 while ISJS had been holding annual summer classes in the months of June and July at the PV centre for the last five years.

A professor and director of PV said that the whole idea was to attract foreign students and teachers so that they can learn about the rich culture and religions such as Jainism that coexist peacefully within one of the oldest cities of the world.  The same professor, Professor Jain, also added that the centre is starting to link the philosophy of Jainism to modern thinking and lifestyle so that the religious teachings become more relevant to the time and can be easily related to by the students.  Some current issues that are being addressed through religion are terrorism and environmental pollution.

So far the centre has attracted about 60 foreign students from 11 different countries around the world.  About 50 percent of those students come from North America (Canada and the US) but lately students from other Asian and European countries such as Thailand, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Norway, and Denmark have also shown interest towards the programs offered by the ISJS-PV school.

Auckland, New Zealand (CHAKRA) – With the visit of Jain leader, Munishri Jinchandraji to Auckland, the Jain community is one step closer to building a place of worship of their own there.  As the community, with the help of Jinchandraji are making progress towards their goal, they are looking forward to a new place where they can feel a sense of community and togetherness.

Wearing simple a clean white cloth, symbolizing purity, wrapped around his body, Jinchandraji has been leading a life apart from all material things since the early age of just eight.  He has been leading such a virtuous life for the last 57 years.  When listening to his discourses or having a personal conversation with him one will immediately notice that he is a believer in clarity of thought and expression, has a sincere concern for today’s youth and is a purely charitable individual with thoughts of compassion for his fellow beings.

When asked for his views on the youth of current society, Jinchandraji answered, “Young minds are vulnerable to temptations in life and easily fall a prey to such evil habits as smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and consuming narcotic drugs. Children born in Western countries are even more exposed to these dangers than their counterparts in India. It is therefore our duty to guide today’s youth to good things in life. Perhaps there is a need to reinstate the faith of Jainism.”

The Jain leader believes that the Hindu philosophy of “Ahimsa” meaning non-violence or the concept of Satya (truth) should be at the core of each individual’s principles and way of life.  Furthermore, honesty, sincerity and helping others in a form of social service are what should be on every person’s mind he states.

He believes the proposed Jain temple is a good starting point for the Jain community in New Zealand and said that considering the Jain community is only 200 families strong in New Zealand they are off to a very good start towards engaging themselves and the youth into the rich culture Jainism has to offer.

Dimple Shah, Jain Sangh president in New Zealand said that they are looking for a plot to accommodate a temple that can be a place of worship as well as facilitate a meeting place such as a community center for Jains or non-Jains.  In addition, they have planned to build a learning center for the youth especially and adults. 

Jinchandraji said, “We hope to construct a community hall which will be useful for religious, social and community events of our Sangh and perhaps all other groups subject to our norms. “

He further stated, “The construction project will also incorporate classrooms for learning,”

Overall, the community center should function as a place to bring together Jains and non-Jains.

“Jainism can be practiced by anyone who believes in our simple, easy-to-follow principles. We believe in universal brotherhood and achieving high levels of education,” Jinchandraji said.

Jains participate in all religious and cultural observances but follow a strict vegetarian diet keeping away from any root-vegetables as well.  Not all Jains follow the non-consumption of root-vegetables.  Some festivals in which Jains are seen to participate in New Zealand are, Ram Navami, Diwali, Baisakhi, and Saraswathi Pooja.  They are also known to take part in other cultural and ethnic festivals because their philosophies encourage multiculturalism.  

“Jainism is an ancient religion of India, also now found in other countries around the world. Its philosophy and practice rely mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness,” Jinchandraji said.

The Jain community is a small but strong community in New Zealand, with over 10 million followers in India.  In addition it is growing in North America, the Far East, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Jains account for the highest literacy rate out of any religious group in India because of their focus on education as an importance.  In India, Jains are found in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and are known respectively as “Tamil Jains” and “Tulu Jains”.

By Karishma Patel

A Small Jain temple

 Ahmedabad, Gujarat (CHAKRA) – Jain Doctor Association (JDA) and Sabarmati Jain Shvetambar Murtipujak Sangh, DRDO, Sristi, IIM-A and Gujarat Vidhyapith and a team of scientists from Defene Institute of Physiology and Applied Sciences (DIPAS), have undertaken a scientific study to see the effects of voluntary and complete fasting on metabolic homeostasis’.  A link has been made between science and religion because of the coming together of spirituality and science.

50 Jain female and male volunteers have take part in the study which has been scheduled during ‘Paryushan Parva’ — a religious week of Jainism during which Jain’s undertake fasting.  Those actively involved in the study are, Professor Anil Gupta from IIM-A, Dr Sudhir Shah from JDA, and Professor Purnima Mehta from Center for Jain Philosophy of Gujarat Vidhyapith.

A group of 50 volunteers aged between 5 and 68 are being closely studied.  They have either accepted fasting for one day, three days (known as Aththam), eight days (known as Aththai), 16 days and for 30 days (known as Maskshaman).

Jain sadhus Acharya Gunratna Maharaj Saheb and Acharya Rashmiratna Maharaj Saheb have prompted and organized such a study.  Acharya Rashmiratna Maharaj Saheb said, “Every religion has talked about the importance of fasting. It works as a process to clean and purify the soul, which is related to karma. In Jainism, a one day fast lasts for 36 hours and one cannot take food or water after sunset.”

Comprehensive benchmarks have been done for the research.  Dr G Ilavazhagan, director of DIPAS, said: “We have been conducting medical test on volunteers who had taken three days, six days, eight days, sixteen days and thirty days fasts, every two to three days. We will continue doing so till they are back to the normal diet. The outcome of the study will take some time.”

He said, “We are doing comprehensive testing of functioning of various organs of body like brain, heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. The study includes physiology and biochemical parameters that include studying cerebral blood flow, neuro-psychological analysis, lung functioning, blood pressure, heart rate through ECG, EEG tests and test on liver and kidney.”

“As this is the first-of-its-kind study, we want to reach a meaningful conclusion. The results of the study can be applicable to astronauts and defence forces who fast for a longer time in specific situations,” said Ilavazhagan.

By: Arun Shanghvi