25.06.2017 ►JAINA ►Newsletter

Jai Jinendra!

Achraya Sushil Muniji Maharaj popularly known as Guruji needs no introduction to members of JAINA. He is the inspiration and under whose guidance seeds of JAINA were sown, which today has turned to be a large tree. We make a small endeavour to give his life story as below.

Mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali will be held early next year and please check for details as they have special day dedicated to NRIs.

Gunvantbhai Shah - Convener- has just announced a special ONE DAY REGISTRATION for only $129 for JAINA Convention in New Jersey. Please Register now at

Sincerely,

Ashok Domadia
JAINA President & Chairman
San Francisco

Knowing that pleasing sound, beauty, fragrance, pleasant taste and soothing touch are transitory transformations of matter, the celibate should not be enamored of them.

- Mahavira (Dasavaikalika, 8/58)

Guruji was born on June 15, 1926 in Shikopur, a small foothill village in Haryana, India. The village was later named Sushilgarh in Guruji's honor. As a seven year old he left home to live with Shri Chotelalji Maharaj, who later became his religious Guru.

When he was 15 years old, he became a Jain muni (monk) in the Swetambar Sthanakvasi sect. Guruji mastered the classical studies of Indian religious and yogic philosophies.

Guruji was a master of meditation and the science of sound. His teaching system is called Arhum Yoga. It is an encient system for the mastery of the inner self through watchfulness and direct perception.

From 1954 to 1994, Guruji had organized and presided over a significant number of World Religions Conferences, which were attended by highly esteemed individuals, including various Presidents and Prime Ministers of India. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Zakir Hussain, Fakkruddin Ali Ahmed, Zail Singh, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were amongst those who participated and Declarations advocating world peace, universal brotherhood and above all non-violence were frequently adopted at these conferences. Guruji also organized several International Jain Conferences which too adopted resolutions of non-violence, peaceful co-existence and reverence to all life forms.

In our series of types of Karma, here are the remaining 4 types of KARMA. With these we end our series on Karma.

1. Vedaniya or situation conferring Karma

By operation of this Karma, a living being is endowed with comfortable or uncomfortable situations. Previous good deeds result in this Karma being Shatavedaniya or one that can be undergone with the feelings of happiness and pleasure; evil actions result in this Karma being Ashatavedaniya or one that can be experienced with the feelings of unhappiness and miseries. Everyone tries to be happy. One however hardly gets results in proportion to his efforts. Only so called lucky ones succeed and get happiness. That apparently inexplicable phenomenon is witnessed on account of the operation of this Karma.

2. Aayu or life span determining Karma

As the name suggests, this Karma determines the life span of any particular being. It is not normally possible for any being to live longer or shorter than the period fixed by this Karma. This is irrespective of divine, human, animal or infernal life. There is however exceptional cases where persons endowed with special achievements can reduce the life span by bearing the destined consequences in a shorter period. This is known as Udirana

3. Naam or physique determining Karma

By the operation of this Karma it is decided what type of body, mind, intellect etc. a living being will have. What we call Gati or state is also decided by this Karma. Divine, human, animal or plant life and infernal life are the four states in which the worldly souls get born from time to time depending upon this Karma.

4. Gotra or status determining Karma

A living being is born in a particular type of family by the operation of this Karma. One is born in a noble or high status or religiously oriented family by virtue of good Karmas. By indulging in evil Karmas, one has to be born in a low status or not religiously oriented family.

We are all very fortunate to witness and perform the upcoming Mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali. The ceremony in 2018 will be the 88th in the series that commenced in the year 981 A.D and second Mahamastakabhisheka of the 21st Century. The Mahotsava will be graced by numerous Acharya, Munis, Aryikas, Kshullaks, Kshullikas and BhattarakSwamijis. Those attending will have the benefit of the holy audience of religious leaders and listening to their discourses on spirituality, ethics and morality. In addition, there will be the opportunity to witness many cultural programs and spiritual discourses by prominent Sadhus, Sadhvis and Scholars.

Mahamastakabhisheka, the head anointing ceremony of the BhagwanBahubali, is observed once every 12 years in the Digamber Jain tradition. The next Mahamastakabhisheka of this ancient, over one thousand thirty-five years old Statue will be performed in 2018 during the period of February 17th to February 25th, 2018 in Shravanabelagola (Karnataka), India. The day of February 21st, 2018 has been set aside as a special day for the NRI's to perform Abhishek of BhagwanBahubali. NRI's will be provided special facilities and arrangements being made for Lodging and Abhishek etc. We are expecting over 500 - 1,000 NRI's across the world to join us.

• Last day of registration is December 31st, 2017.
• For those who wish to take their parents or close relatives that live in India can also register for them through this website, as long as the registered NRI accompanies them.

To the right of this water station named KarunaParab, is a shrine dedicated to the footprints of "KalikundParshwanath".

It is said that Parshwanath once stood in deep meditation in the Kadambari forest. The air was warm and still. Suddenly, a magnificent bull elephant emerged from the thorn bush and saw Lord Parshwanath standing still, framed by the emerald foliage and the morning sun’s soft and golden light. The elephant was filled with devotion.

He went and brought water in his trunk and poured it on Parshwanath as if doing Abhishek (a ritual of washing a tirthankar with water). He then placed flowers at His reverend feet. The elephant eventually died and went to heaven. In his memory, the footprints were placed here in 1780.

Read the story & listen to an amazing audio clip in English or

You probably noticed the Shatrunjay River flowing on your left during your climb. By now, the view of the river and the surrounding area should be breathtaking. The river starts in the hills of Gir and empties into the Gulf of Cambay. A dam was constructed on the river in 1965 to irrigate the surrounding areas. The catchment provides drinking water to the nearby villages, the town of Palitana, and the city of Bhavnagar

If you are lucky, you will see peacocks perched on the branches behind the bushes that line the walkway. They are often found in this stretch of the walk.

Read the story & listen to an amazing audio clip in English or

Silver Spring, MD, USA (Jun 17, 2017) - At their recent Khanan Vidhi program, the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington (JSMW) broke ground for its new Jain Center, envisioned to be an all-inclusive 24,000 sq. ft. facility connected to a 6,000 sq. ft. temple complex. The great Jain vidhikarak, Shri Narendrabhai Nandu, enthusiastically conducted the auspicious 3-day program. The "Khanan Vidhi" program was a Jain process where participants broke the ground at each spots where deities and other key temple flagstones will be situated when it is fully built. Almost 400 people participated in the program who broke the ground using unique silver-plated pickaxes (trikams). Among the present were more than 70 school going children, who broke the ground where the Sunday School (Pathshala) rooms and the Jain Library will be.

The program was graced by Jain Samaniji Dr. Suyashnidhiji, and Samaniji Sudhannidhiji. Shri Piyushji Jain, Managing Director of PK Groups of Companies, Ahmedabad, India, was the chief guest of the program. The program was also graced by Padma Shree Dr. K. H. Sancheti,

JSMW Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Sushil Jain said, “We had dignitaries, businessmen, and philanthropists who graced the program but it was the enthusiasm and participation of the JSMW members and the guests that made the event extremely successful. It was a historic event and an extremely emotional one for me to see us take the next step toward bringing our dreams to reality.”

Say hello to YJA at JAINA! Have you always wondered what YJA does? Do you have questions about getting your children involved? Want to learn more about YJA Convention, our local and regional activities, YJA Pathshala, or how to get involved in a leadership position? You can find us in a few different ways during the JAINA Convention:

• YJA Q&A Townhall Session - ask us anything!
  • 2 PM Saturday @ E Hotel - Cook Room
  • 11 AM Sunday @ E Hotel - Cook Room
• Convention Center Booth - all weekend!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup toovar (arhar) dal, washed and drained
• 1 cup rice (chawal), washed and drained
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
• 1/2 tspasafoetida (hing)
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp ghee (vegan substitute: oil)
• 2 cloves (laung / lavang)
• 25 mm (1") stick cinnamon 6 to 8 black peppercorns
• 2 round red chillies
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 2 green chillies, slit green chillies
• 6 to 8 curry leaves (kadipatta)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbspchilli powder

Method:

1. Combine the toovar dal, rice, turmeric powder, ¼ tsp of asafoetida, salt and 5 cups of water in a pressure cooker, mix well and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
2. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Keep aside.
3. Heat the ghee/oil in a deep non-stick kadhai, add the cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, red chillies and cumin seeds and saute on a medium flame for a few seconds.

4. Add the remaining ¼ tsp of asafoetida, green chillies, curry leaves and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute.
5. Add the tomatoes, a little salt and chilli powder and sauté on a medium flame for another 1 minute.
6. Add the cooked rice-dal mixture, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes,while stirring occasionally.
7. Serve immediately.