26.05.2017 ►JAINA ►Newsletter

Jai Jinendra!

We give brief details of Shree Prem Acharyaji know as Papaji. He is a noble soul and ardent follower of Shrimad Rajchandra. He has been instrumental in bringing lot of youths to follow the principles of Jainsim in true spirit.

JAINA Mangalam App is also getting huge response and please spread the same amongst your friends and relatives worldwide.

Sincerely,

Ashok Domadia
JAINA President & Chairman
San Francisco

My soul characterized by knowledge and faith is alone eternal. All other phases of my existence to which I am attached are external occurrences that are transitory.

- Mahavira (Niyamasara, 99)

"A revolutionary Spiritual Soul!"
Founder, Shrimad Rajchandra Aatma Tatva Research Centre"

Shree Prem Acharyaji, fondly known to all as Param Pujya Pappaji, has been an enterprising individual since youth and tasted success early in business with exposure to diverse industries during 1950-1970.

He founded the Asiatic Group of companies in the year 1955, at a young age of 25, when he started India’s first factory to manufacture zinc chloride at Kolkata. His vision and business acumen directed the expansion of business that raised the manufacturing facilities of the company to 11 factories spread across the country. He introduced his innovation of special battery grade “ZINC CHLORIDE” to several European companies, and Asiatic Chemicals emerged as the sole supplier to leading Dry-Cell battery manufactures of India, enjoying a monopoly for 40 years.

Endowed with an exemplary thinking power, he infiltrated into the depths of reasons behind his existence and success. His deep contemplation on his success whether it was his intellect, his hard work, his destiny or God’s special choice unfolded his spiritual side.

In series of Shatrunjay stories, this time we will learn about Samavasaran Mandir and Kirti Stumbh

The Mandir was inaugurated in 1986 after 14 years of construction. It is a three-dimensional representation of the Samavasaran. A Samavasaran is a preaching hall erected on the spot where a Tirthankar attains Nirvana (enlightenment). A Tirthankar delivers sermon from this Samavasran. According to Jain texts, the heavenly pavilion are erected by devas (heavenly beings).

Humans, animals and devas assemble there to listen to the Tirthankar speak. It is believed that during this speech, there is no unhappiness for miles around the site. As you enter the temple, the outside wall is lined with a 108 pictures of various temples throughout India. The inner wall holds 108 pictorial representations of the lives of various saints.

The inner sanctum is a 42 foot dome with a 16 foot wide pillar in the center. There are 108 idols of Parshwanath and the other Tirthankars. Step outside and you can climb further up to the top of the 108 foot tall Samavasaran. Here you see four idols of Mahavir Swami facing in four different directions. This type of statue is called a Chaumukhi.

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

On the left is the entrance to the newest temple on this hill. The temple houses four idols of Adinath facing in all four directions. Such as arrangement is called a Chaumukhi.

Each idol is made of a different stone - a delicate rose quartz, a clear crystal, Jade and a special Jade called MayurPankhMargaj. It is called MayurPankh because the sunlight bouncing off the idol creates images of a peacock feather.These beautiful idols make this a “must-see” stop on our climb.

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

When karmas attach to the soul, there are four levels of bondage:

1. Sprusta or Sithil (Loose): Karmas can be easily shed by regret.
2. Baddha or Gadha (Tight): Karmas can be shed by offering an apology.
3. Nidhatta (Tighter): Karmas can shed by very strong efforts, like austerity.
4. Nikachit (Tightest): Karmas can only be shed by bearing the results.

It should be realized that it is not always true that we have to wait in Order to bear the results of our karmas; we can change the course of Our karmas before they mature. It can be changed in duration and Intensity as well as in nature too. This is very important point because it means, that not only we do have control over our karmas, but that we can change our fate. For explanatory purpose let us understand some terms.

1) Abadhakal - the duration of bondage of karmas to the soul, which starts from the time of the karmas, bondage until its maturity.
2) Bandh - bondage of karmas to the soul.
3) Uday - refers to the results of karmas being manifested in normal during their normal maturation time.
4) Udirana - refers to the results of karmas being manifested prematurely.
5) Satta - refers to those karmas which are dormant on the soul.

6) Sankramana - Depending of our activities, bonded karmas can transform within some of their sub-types.
Example: Shata and Ashata Vedniya karmas are the two sub-types of Vedniya karmas. Shata Vedniya karma causes comfort while Ashata Vedniya karma causes discomfort. If our current activities causes comfort to someone then our Ashata Vedniya karma gets transformed to Shata Vedniya karma. And, so it works for opposite activities.

7) Utkarshana - increase of duration and intensity of karmas which are already bonded to the soul.
8) Apakramana - diminution of duration and intensity of karmas which are already bonded.
9) Upashama - state in which karmas are suppressed and cannot produce results.
10) Nidhatti bondage - type of bondage in which karmas are neither brought into operation prematurely nor transferred into that of another sub-class, but may increase or decrease in duration and intensity of results.
11) Nikachit bondage - type of bondage in which karmas do not operate prematurely, nor transferred, nor increase or decrease in duration or intensity of results.

Jain Society of Central Florida recently had Vardhman ShakraStav Abhishek and 108 Parshwanath Pujan at the temple. Here are some photos of same.

Last month, Jain Center of America had Shri Siddha Chakra Pujan at the temple. Here some pictures:

Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington is proud to announce the Khanan Vidhi (groundbreaking) program for the new Jain Center - Shikarbhandhi Temple that will be held at the site on June 11th. This dharmic event will be graced by Narendrabhai Nandu and team. You are cordially invited to participate in the program that will last the entire weekend from Jun 9th evening, leading up to the ground breaking ceremony on June 11th.

Jain Society Of Metropolitan Washington DC (JSMW) invites the Jain Sanghs, families and friends across the nation to participate in this auspicious and joyous ceremony with the JSMW families.

JSMW has arranged special accommodation for the visiting sangh members at a nearby hotel at a special subsidized rate. JSMW will provide transportation to and from the hotel to the program locations. Please contact JSMW Khanan Vidhi team at for any questions.

Full details about the program can be found at .

Vaiyavrutya is third abhyantar tap.

To serve Sanyami who practices self-restraint, with devotion and without any selfish motive is called Vaiyavrutya. It means serving with devotion, religious teachers, ascetics, virtuous people, Sadhus and colleagues and companions. One should render services especially to the sick and the weak, and give them the necessary help. This quality is very efficacious as internal Tapas. The Tirthankaras themselves have considered this quality as of great significance. There are 10 types of people who are considered as deserving vaiyavrutya;

1) Acharya – chief of the religious leader.
2) Upadhyay - who teaches others.
3) Tapasvis - who perform some great and severe penance.
4) Shaiksha - new ascetic.
5) Glan - ailing ascetics.
6) Gana - Group of older ascetics.
7) Kula - Group of disciples under one acharya.
8) Sangh - constituted of Sadhu, sadhavi, Shravak and Shravikas.
9) Samanojna - who is spiritually equal.
10) Sadhus

Vaiyavrutya means rendering services to the worthy ones is like serving Tirthankar. That enhances the unity of the sangha, strengthens the religious order, helps the needy and stabilizes the aspirant on the right path.

Join us at 3 PM EST on Saturday, May 27th, for , a webinar featuring author, blogger, and former YJA Board member Priyanka Shah! This webinar is for anyone interested in pursuing a healthy, compassionate lifestyle through a plant-based diet. We’ll cover simple cooking tips, how to shop healthy and stock a Jain kitchen, and demo some easy recipes from We look forward to seeing you there.

Pablo Picasso once said that "the purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” When words fail us, art speaks. In this spirit, YJA Pathshala is having an art competition! Submit any form of visual artwork (e.g. drawing, painting, digital art) that represents any topic covered so far in YJA Pathshala, and emailing by June 10th. Include a short explanation of the art's meaning (2-3 sentences max), and the name of the topic that it relates to as the title of the submission. The best artwork will become the cover picture for the YJA main Facebook page for one day, and will also be awarded an Amazon gift card!

• 1 cup besan (chickpea flour)
• 1 tsp black mustard seed
• 1 tsp sesame seed
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tbsp + 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 green chili, thinly sliced
• 1 handful of cilantro, chopped leaves
• 7-8 curry leaves

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix the besan, salt, lemon juice with 1 and 1/2 cup of water. Stir and break up the lumps until you have a smooth batter.
2. Add 1 tsp of oil in non-stick skillet/ pot. Turn on the heat to medium and add the batter to the cold pan. Turn the heat to high and let the batter cook. Keep stirring the batter continuously to avoid lumpsand batter to stick and burn. Cook until the batter thickens to the consistency of spackle.

3. Test the doneness of the batter by spreading a little at the back of a cookie sheet/plate. If the batter lifts from the surface and is easy to roll up, it’s done. If not, cook little longer. Don’t forget to keep stirring the whole time. The cooking process takes about 10 minutes.
4. As soon as the batter is done, quickly spoon out the batter onto a flat surface (backs of cookie sheets, plates, or table tops). Using a spatula, spread out the batter into thin sheets. The thinner the layers, the better the khandvi. So try to get the layers as thin as possible. Again, work quickly because the batter will cool and become hard to spread.

5. Once the batter is spread out, let it cool for 5-6 minutes then cut into rows about 1 to 2 inches wide.
6. Using the tips of your fingers, roll the khandvi into rolls. Keep the rolls loose because loose rools taste better than tight rolls.

7. Once all the khandvi are rolled out, heat a small pan with 1 1/2 tbsp of oil. When the oil begins to shimmer, add mustard seed and let it crackle. Add curry leaves, green chilies and sesame seeds. Cook a few more seconds. Add the cilantro and turn off the heat.
8. Pour the oil and spices over the khandvi. Serve at room temperature.

JAINA has launched JAINA Mangalam App 5 weeks ago and has received an overwhelming response. Every week new videos,stavns and lectures are being added for giving our viewers more and more content. Please spread this app among your friends and relatives worldwide.