23.11.2017 ►JAINA ►Newsletter

Jai Jinendra!

A Very Happy and Blessed Thanks Giving to You. Let us start our Thanks -Giving meal with a Prayer. We may start our Thanks-Giving Meal with the seven contemplations, or with whatever traditional grace or prayer you prefer to use to express our gratitude.

JAINA has received invitations from various organizations in India for events to be held in month of January and February, 2018. We shall soon publish he same so those who are visiting India can participate in same.

JAINA also welcomes suggestions from various members for any new projects they would like to take up in JAINA/ their centers. Please feel free to contact me.

Warm Regards,
Gunvant Shah
JAINA President
11-22-2017

The unenlightened takes millions of lives to extirpate the effects of karma whereas a man possessing spiritual knowledge and discipline obliterates them in a single moment.

- Bhagwan Mahavir

Start the Thanks-Giving Meal with the seven contemplations, or with whatever traditional grace or prayer you prefer to use to express our gratitude.

Honor the Food

1. This food is the gift of the whole universe: the earth, the sky, numerous living beings and much hard, loving work.
2. May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to receive it.
3. May we recognize and transform our unwholesome mental formations, especially our greed, and learn to eat with moderation.
4. May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that we reduce the suffering of living beings, preserve our planet, and reverse the process of global warming.
5. May we ask for forgiveness from all living beings that we may have harmed, intentionally or unintentionally. May peace and compassion grow in ourselves and extend to all around us.
6. May we pray that all the people everywhere in the world will avoid inflicting harm on animals and fellow human beings and practice nonviolence and compassion.
7. We accept this food so that we may nurture our sisterhood and brotherhood, strengthen our community, and nourish our ideal of serving all living beings.

STORY #28: NEMINATH'S TEMPLE & THE INCOMPLETE WEDDING

The Neminath Temple is a Must See. Take a moment to go inside. It is a beautiful and ancient temple. The temple has three levels. We will first go to the basement to see a beautifully carved representation of Neminath’s wedding ceremony.

As you enter the temple, walk around and behind the center edifice. There you will see a set of stairs going down. As you walk down, in front of you is a marvelous samovasaran carved out of a single stone.

At the bottom of the stairs turn right. Look for 4 pillars that form a wedding stage called chauri or mandap. To identify them, look for two pillars that have pots carved into them, stacked on top of each other. Notice the two pillars across from them don’t have the pots. These four pillars form a square and that is the wedding stage.

Now step inside the chauri and look at the ceiling. The frieze on the ceiling depicts Neminath’s wedding.

The story is this: when Neminath saw animals being sacrificed for his wedding feast, and when two deer came crying to him, he asked the charioteer to turn around his chariot, abandoned his bride-to-be Rajul, and called off the wedding. He could not stand for such violence and he renounced the world.

On one frieze, you can see Neminath on a chariot going towards the wedding stage. The second half of the same frieze shows the chariot turning back. You can see the slaughter of animals and the bride all dressed and waiting for the groom.
Can you guess why the second set of pillars does not have the stack of pots?
Because it represents an incomplete wedding!

The temple has three nicknames - First, Neminath Chauri - and know you know why! Second, it is known as Vimal Vasahi. This might be because this temple resembles the Delwara temple in Mount Abu that was built by Vimal Shah. And the third name is Bhul-bhulamni, which means maze. I think you will agree that the layout of the temple is a little confusing and thus the name.

Our next stop is another fun spot just around the corner.

Click to read the story & listen to an amazing audio clip in or .

KUMARPAL PUJA KATHA

Do the souls not get great fruit of even a slight worship performed to Lord Jineshvara?
To explain: a pumpkin gourd creeper, though small in size, present big fruits to its nourisher. Even a little service to Lord Mahavir brings better results. In this regard the Gujarat King Kumarapala born of Caulukya dynasty and the Staunch devotee of Lord Mahavira is celebrated as an example.

There lived a Ksatriya called Jaitra who was surrounded by his servant - plunderers in the slum area situated in Malava region. Though kind by nature used to being in contact with thieves, he looted many caravans & enjoyed additions.

Jain Center of New Jersey (JCNJ)

Jain Center of New Jersey Celebrated Kartiki Sud Poonam Aradhana.It is said that the meaning of the Shatrunjaya is winning over enemies. The pilgrimage of Shatrunjay is performed to win over the karma-enemy. So it is said that each step on the pious place Shatrunjay can remove or destroy karmas of previous births.The person who puts one step towards Shatrunjay with pure heart, can be free from all the sins of the present and previous life. The sinful souls had become pious by worshipping it properly.

On this Auspicious day Jain Center of New Jersey organised Kartiki Sud Poonam Aradhana at both locations, Shree Munisuvrat Swami Jinalay and Shree Parshwanath Swami Jinalay and with utkrusht bhav all ages of aradhak's joined in this Bhav Yatra. Shree Shatrunjay Tirth Patt was installed for Darshan & Bhav yatra, Sadharmik's started their Aradhana with Shri Adinath Bhagwan Stuti,Stavan, Panch Prakari Puja followed by each Chaityavandan of Shri Jay Taleti, Shri Shantinath Bhagwan, Shri Rayan Vruksh, Shri Pundrik Swami & Shri Adinath Bhagwan. Bhav Yatra concluded with 21 Khamasana. On this Mangalmay day most of the Sadharmik's had done upvas, chaath or attham upvas aradhana.

PAV BHAJI

• 3/4 cup boiled, peeled and mashed raw bananas
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup chopped capsicum
• 2 cups finely chopped tomatoes
• 3 tsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp pav bhaji masala
• salt to taste
• 3/4 cup boiled green peas
• 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania)

• 4 lemon wedges
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander

1. Heat the butter in a deep non-stick kadhai, add the capsicum and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute.
2. Add the tomatoes, chili powder, pav bhaji masala, salt and ½ cup of water, mix well, mash it lightly using a masher and cook on a medium flame for 7 to 8 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
3. Add the green peas, raw bananas and ¾ cup of water, mix well, mash well using a masher and cook on a medium flame for 5 to 7 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
4. Add the coriander and mix well.
5. Garnish with lemon and coriander and serve immediately with toasted pav and tomato slices.

Know how Jain Philosophy describes the way of looking at the world through these 9 Tattvas/Fundamentals.

Click here to watch video: