04.10.2014 ►JCSC ►News

Ongoing Programs - October 2014

Upcoming Events Including Shibirs

1. Navpadji Ayambil Oli: Tuesday, 9/30 - Wednesday, 10/8
2. Navpadji Ayambil Oli will be from Aso Sud 6 to Aso Sud 15 from 9/30-10/8
   Nakro-Snatrapuja $101; each puja $51, rest-boli
3. Ahimsa Award: Friday, 10/3 - "Ahimsa Award Ceremony” at Jain Center hosted by CLU.
4. Navpadji Puja: Saturday, 10/4 at 9:30 am
5. VRG & Award: Sunday, 10/5 - Virchand Raghvaji Gandhi's (VRG) 150 years of recognition and 2014 Ahimsa Awardee Dr. D. R. Mehta of Jaipur Foot Hospital
6. Shrimad Rajchandra Bhakti: Thursday,10/9 - 8:30pm to 10 pm.
7. Bhakti thi Mukti Shibir: Friday-Sunday, 10/10-10/12
8. Diwali Program: Tuesday - Thursday, 10/21 - 10/23
9. New Year Program:Friday, 10/24
10. Gyan Panchmi:  Tuesday, 10/28
11. World Compassion and Vegan Day: Saturday, 11/1
12. Pat Darshan and General Body Meeting: Sunday, 11/9
13. Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, 11/27 (observed with Bhaktamar Recital)

Lifetime Tithis

We have received a very good response to the Tithi Program. It allows all members to select a day(s) in a year (or Lifetime) when they can perform all religious rituals that occur in our temple for the entire day. The rituals include Pakshalji, Ashtprakari Puja, Aarti and Mangal Divo. Multiple families can also participate and ask for a tithi. There are approximately 340 tithis during the year excluding certain tithis when we have Jain Center functions.

Each tithi is available for $101 per member family for one year or for $2,501 for Lifetime.

For Lifetime Tithi, your name will be posted on the board and newsletter. You can keep a photograph of your loved one for that day for paying tribute, well wishes or recognition.

For people who have already submitted their names for this program and also for people who want to sign-up, please email the completed form to Dr. Mahendra Shah at .

Derasar Tithi Program Form

Your name:
Contact Phone Number:
Email Address:
Dates requested for Tithi:
Occasion and Name of the person for whom Tithi is requested:
Please indicate whether it will be Lifetime ($2,501) or One Year ($101):

3rd International Jain Conference at Claremont Lincoln University – 10/3 - 10/4

The Third International Jain Conference will take place on October 3rd and 4th at Claremont Lincoln University. The theme of this year's conference is Business Ethics. We will have Vallabh Bhanshali (Enam Financial Consultants), Manu Shah (MS International), Atul Shah (Diverse Ethics), Prem Jain (JAINA), and Ingrid Newkirk (PETA) as keynote speakers.

We have negotiated a nominal charge of $20 for Jain Community members and their special guests. If anyone has questions, please call Nitin Shah at 562-244-9035.

Register here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/jain-conference-business-ethics-tickets-12923160521

Shashvati Navpadji Ayambil Oli - Tuesday, 9/30 -Wednesday, 10/8

Jains observe the festival of Shashvati Navpadji Ayambil Oli that lasts for nine days, twice a year. Jains perform Ayambil Tap for Nine days to salute Nine Supreme Posts (Navpads) in the universe.These are Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu, Samyak-Darshan, Samyak-Gyan, Samyak-Charitra and Tap. The puja and vidhi for each pad will be observed at Jain center on each day. Ayambil is a special type of tap where one eats only boiled grains that are cooked without oil, sugar or spices as well as no vegetables, no fruits and no milk products.

Ayambil during Navpadji Ayambil Oli is sponsored by Sachin-Sejal and Alpesh-Rinku Shah. Donation in any amount are welcome.

Pledge Opportunity for Navpadji Puja on Saturday, 10/4

Snatra Puja - $ 101, Puja (total 9) - $ 51 each, Aarti / Mangal Divo & Shanti Kalash - Gheeboli. Please contact Padmaben Shah at 714-670-7854 or .

Param Krupalu Dev Shrimad Rajchandra Bhakti - Thursday, 10/9

On the occasion of Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra Rachna Din (Aaso Vad Ekam), we will have Param Krupalu Dev Shrimad Rajchandra Bhakti in JCSC Aradhana Hall on Thursday October 9, 2014, from 8:30PM -10:00 PM.

Please come on time as the Bhakti program will start promptly at 8:30 PM.

Bhakti thi Mukti: Reverence to Liberation

Diwali/New Year Program at Jain Center (Tuesday, 10/21 - Friday, 10/24)

Diwali is one single festival in the world which is celebrated on exactly the same day by different religions and faiths for various reasons specific to that religion. Jains celebrate Diwali to celebrate the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavir.

Diwali Celebration Program

10/21 - Tuesday - Dhan Teras-Dhan-ni-murchha utarvi

10/22 - Wednesday - Kali-Chaudas-mantra sadhana din, pratikraman, 6:30 pm in Aradhana Hall.

New Year Celebration Program on 10/24

• 4:00 am onwards: Gautamswami Keval gyan jaap in Aradhana Hall
• 6:30 am: Derasar Dwar opening-boli
• 7:00 am-8:00 am: Manglik in cultural hall
• 8:00 am - 9:30 am: Asthprakari Puja - 1 puja for each Idol - Total 5 + All Panch Dhatu Pratimaji Puja-boli
• 9:30 am - Snatra Puja (nakro $201), Aarti, Mangal Divo, Shanti Kalash-boli
• 8:00 am - 10:00 am: Sadharmik Bhakti (Navkarsi) - full and multiple sponsorship

World Compassion and Vegan Day on Saturday, 11/1

Kartiki Poonam, Pat Darshan & General Body Meeting (11/6 and 11/9)

Kartiki Poonam night is considered the brightest full moon night in the whole year as the rainy season is supposed to end and the night sky is all clear. This is a day to resolve to free oneself of basic instincts.

In the rainy/monsoon seasons, all Acharya Bhagvants, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Munis etc. stay at one place and do not travel for four months. This starts from Ashadh Sud Chaturdashi and ends on Kartik Sud Poonam. After Kartik Poonam, their vihar starts again to spread the knowledge of Principles of Jainism such as Truth, Ahimsa, compassion etc. Thus, Kartiki Poonam has a big significance for all Jains.

We are going to have Kartiki Poonam Celebration on two days as below:

Thursday, November 6, 2014 (Kartiki Poonam actual day)

Sunday, November 9, 2014 (Kartiki Poonam observed)

JAYA Bowling Event - 11/9 at 1:30 PM

It’s now time to block off your calendars for our next event, Bowling TO SUPPORT ANIMAL RIGHTS!

Please plan to come to Irvine Lanes on Sunday, November 9th at 1:30 PM for an afternoon of fun. For just $10 per person, you and your family will rent bowling shoes and get to play several games until 5:30 PM. Come at your convenience. Light snacks will be provided.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, based in Mumbai, which was launched in January 2000. It is affiliated with U.S. based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal rights organizations in the world.

This event addresses two pillars of JAYA’s mission of fostering relationships in our community and supporting causes aligned with our beliefs. We hope you will support the event and we look forward to seeing you there!

Irvine Lanes is located at 3415 Michelson Drive in Irvine.  We will be registering people on OCTOBER 5th, OCTOBER 26th and NOVEMBER 2nd at the Jain Temple so don't miss this opportunity to help animals in need.  You can pay on the day of the event, but please send an RSVP email to  indicating the number of people that will be attending.  If you are not able to make it to the event, you can still make a DONATION for this worthy cause!  Please note that there will be shoes, balls, and bowling lanes appropriate for younger children.

Jain Study Group Registration

The Jain Study Group (JSG), which is an integral part of Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC), was formed in 1997 with a goal to study principles of Jainism and practice them in daily lives.

The JSG is for young adults who are striving to progress spiritually on the path shown by Lord Mahavir. Members learn the absolute and practical aspect of Jain religion as applicable to current lifestyle through the interactive discourses and story sessions. These sessions help members to immerse into self reflection and introspection necessary to develop inner virtues and spiritual worthiness.

Each year about 50 members commit themselves to meet on Sunday mornings to learn the essence of Jain philosophy with a common goal of self improvement. We discuss a wide variety of topics such as basic tenets of Jainism, importance of human life, karma theory, vows of householders and monks, nine fundamentals, and stories of great souls.

Group A: this is an English group which meets on Sundays from 10:00am - 12:30pm during regular pathshala days. Check Jain Center's website for pathshala schedule.

Group B:this is a Gujarati group which meets on non-pathshala Sundays.

If you would like to be a part of fun, interactive group which has serious desire to pursue path of enlightened ones, you have come to the right place. To enroll in the JSG sessions, the minimum qualification is to show up with curiosity. We welcome individuals from all ethnic backgrounds who have aptitude to learn. If you are interested in joining JSG, please fill out this registration form.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions enrolling in Jain Study Group.

Prashant Shah ()
Rapir Dehdia ()

Kashmir Disaster Relief Fund - Donate Today!

Most of you have either heard news on TV/Radio or read in the newspaper about the calamity caused by heavy monsoon rains in the Kashmir. People have died, been injured and over half a million have become displaced and homeless. Attached are a few photos that give a small peek into the intensity of devastation caused by flooding. We all feel blessed that we have not been affected by a disaster of such intensity; to share in the pain of fellow human beings we can give monetary contribution (Anukampa daan).

JCSC has always been at the forefront to help the people stricken by disaster around the world. Our community members have consistently risen to the call of help those who have been affected by calamities regardless of the race, religion, creed, and nationality.

You all are requested to donate generously to help the people of Kashmir. Please send your donations, large or small, to JCSC.

Please make the check payable to Jain Center of Southern California and write ‘Kashmir Disaster Relief Fund’ in the memo line area or you can make your donations on line by using donation link on Jain Center website.

Click here to read the full Fundraising Appeal for Kashmir Calamity letter.

JCSC Wellness Challenge - Week 19

For the upcoming weekly challenge we are challenging the participants to "Meditate for 15 Minutes Every Day.” If stress has you anxious, tense and worried, consider trying meditation. It’s simple and inexpensive, and it doesn’t require any special equipment. And you can practice meditation wherever you are - whether you are out for a walk, riding the bus, waiting at the doctor’s office or even in the middle of a difficult business meeting. Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and may improve certain medical conditions. To participate in the challenge or to learn more about it, click here.

Save the Date: World Compassion and Vegan Day on Saturday, November 1. The week of October 27 - November 2, JCSC Wellness Program will be challenging participants to stay vegan for one full week!