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Jain Temple of Greater Detroit (Jain Society of Greater Detroit)

The Jain Society of Greater Detroit, Inc. was founded in 1975 as a religious organization to provide a forum for Jains to observe and perform various activities related to Jainism, to preserve Jain culture for future generations, and to promote fellowship among all Jains. Starting with 50 families in 1975, the total membership in 2008 had reached 449 with 416 life members.

Since 1975, every year society activities have been significantly increasing to reach new milestone. Some of the milestone highlights include:

1975	Formation of Jain Society by the founder members. Announcement was made on radio to invite members for the Jain religious activity. First Snatra puja was performed. Ninety people from Lansing, Toronto, Windsor, and Metro Detroit area attended the puja. First Samvatsari pratikraman was held.
1976	Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated for the first time. Paryushana Purva was celebrated for the first time. Mahavir Nirvan Din was celebrated for the first time.
1977	Bhavna and Snatra Puja. Celebration of religious holidays such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana Purva. Contacted Chicago, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington Jain Society to exchange ideas.
1978	First adult member performed “Atthai” during paryushana. First religious scholar Devendrakirtiji visited our society.
1979	Bhavna and Snatra Puja. Celebration of religious holidays such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana Purva. 1980: Bhavna and Snatra Puja. Celebration of religious holidays such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana Purva.
1980	Bhavna and Snatra Puja. Celebration of religious holidays such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana Purva.
1981	First Executive Committee elected by general body. Celebration of Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana and Diwali. Religious lectures by scholars. Bhavna and Snatra Puja. Jain Society Constitution passed and adopted for the first time. Incorporated as a non-profit organization.
1982	Society was granted non-profit tax-exempt status by IRA. First summer camp for adults and children. First Father's Day family picnic.
1983	First study class for children was organized in April.
1984	Acharaya Shree Sushilkumarji attended summer camp.
1985	First study class for adults. Hosted third Jain Convention of North America in Detroit. Acharaya Shree Sushilkumarji and Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu attended the third Jain Convention of North America. Society member successfully completed varsitap.
1986	Performed first Siddachakra pujan. Samovsaran was donated to Jain Society. Established “Clothes Donation” program for needy family in India. Membership grown from 50 families to over 200 families.
1987	Life time membership was introduced for the members. Meruteras Puja was scheduled for the first time.
1988	Newsletter was named “Jain Vani.” Parna for “Sakal Sangh” after paryushana. Jivdaya collections started for the first time. Meruteras Puja was added to the yearly scheduled activities.
1989	Bought the property at 29250 West Twelve Mile Road for the temple project. First youth member performed “Atthai” during paryushana. Triputi Bandhu Maharaj attended summer camp.
1990	Bhavna and Snatra Puja. Celebration of religious holidays such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana Purva.
1991	Bhumi Pujan. First fund raising dinner organized by the Society. 1992: Shila Ropan ceremony for the temple was performed. First mass-Khaman completed by a member of the Society.
1992	Shila Ropan ceremony for the temple was performed. First mass-Khaman completed by a member of the Society.
1993	Constitution committee recommended two separate governing bodies - Board of Trustees and Executive Board. Formation of Jain Organization of Youth (JOY). Purchased property adjacent to temple site. Temple was opened in the new house.
1994	Bhavna and Snatra Puja. Celebration of religious holidays such as Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana Purva.
1995	First phase of temple project was approved for 2.5 million dollars. Fifth fund raising dinner organized by the Society. Organized Sangh Yatra by Bus to Pittsburgh Jain Temple.
1996	Dr. Hukumchand Bharil attended summer camp.
1997	Over 160 families performed the Brick Laying Ceremony.
1998	Completed a Historic 10 Days of Pratishtha Mahotsav ceremony of newly constructed temple (June 27 - July 6). Pratishtha vidhi performed by Shree Narendrabhai Nandu. Temple Dwar opening ceremony completed on July 6.
1999	First Temple Anniversary was celebrated. Celebrated Paryushana Purva with Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu.
2000	Second Temple anniversary was celebrated. Aarti for all eleven idols in temple were performed. Twenty-fifth anniversary celebration. Tenth fund raising dinner was organized by the Society.
2001	Third temple anniversary was celebrated. Siddhachakra Pujan and 108 Arihant Abhiskek Pujan was performed.
2002	Pratishtha Mahotsav for 24 tirthankar in bhomati area was celebrated. 4 Mungal murties were installed on main Shikhar. Uvasaggharam Pujan, Guru Gautamswami Pujan, Navkar aradhana, Saraswati aradhana and Shalibhadra Drama was performed.
2003	Fifth temple anniversary celebrated. 24 tirthankar’s Chhatra and Dhwaja ceremony. Eleventh Fund raising dinner.
2004	Sixth temple anniversary celebrated. 24 tirthankar’s Mugat & Dhwaja ceremony. Shatrunjay and Saraswati aradhana was performed. $50,000 donated by Prakash Jain family during twelveth Fund raising dinner. Purviben Shah and Pravinaben Ravani completed Varsi tap tapsya.
2005	30th anniversary of JSGD was celebrated. Seventh temple anniversary.
2006	Eighth temple anniversary celebrated. A Snatra puja was performed to celebrate the payment of remaining balance owed to the bank.
2007	Nineth temple anniversary. 25th Anniversary celebration of Swapna Darshan ceremony. Maas khaman along with Maun done by Harsukhbhai Doshi. Bhartiben Shah and Jyotiben Shah completed Varsi tap tapsya.
2008	10-day celebration of Tenth Temple Anniversary. 25th Anniversary of the Study class was celebrated. Visited by Pittsburg, New Jersey, Toronto and Chicago Sangh.

A woman sitting in the Prayer Hall of the Jain Temple in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Photo by Bill McNeece.

Worshipers at Jain Temple in Farmington Hills Michigan performing Arati (waving of lamps) at entrance to the temple’s Ghabhara Room. Photo by Bill McNeece.

Picture from inside the temple (1998), Photo by umich.edu.

Picture from inside the temple (1998), Photo by umich.edu.