Celebration as Dasanhaka Mahotsav will be from August 18-27,during and after
Paryushan, which will include two major events like "Chhod" and "Murti" making, 
Procession,installation and Asthapadji puja.For both events JCSC has received a
very good response from community,we have pledges of 25 "Chhods"and 24 "Murtis"

'Udayapan' is the ceremony of expressing a feeling of gratitude towards 'DEV - GURU' for having been able to complete an austerity or any spiritual activity successfully without any impediments. Commonly this is called 'Ujamana' or 'Ujavana'. This ceremony is performed by Donating/Giving Away those articles which are useful for the Temple; articles useful for the dissemination of Knowledge; and also those things which may be used by our Sadhu Bhagwants and Sadhviji Maharaj. 

The ceremony comprises of the Exhibition and the Donation/Giving Away of these articles relating to the "Temple", "Knowledge", and "Sadhu Bhagwants/Sadhviji Maharaj". The joyous devotees offer after the completion of their Vows, an Ornamental Canopy with the Velvet Back Curtain embroidered with gold and silver threads design which is usually used for the image (Pratima) of Bhagawan in the temples and for the Platform, which is used for delivering the sermon (Vyakhyan/Vachana) by Acharya Bhagawants. This is known as "CHHOD".

There also will be "Asthapadaji Puja" with grand replica of "Ashtapadaji and Twenty Four Tirthankars" which will be conducted by Vidhikar Hiteshbhai on Sunday, August 27. 

Procession-Shobhayatra-Rathyatra:
JCSC has planned for a grand procession on Sunday, August 27th, 2017.

If we think of the importance of Rathyatra-

Rathyatra is yatra to our inner soul,

we have walked a lot out side since many lives

but not according to prabhuji's guide,

now we want to walk that way, to end up out side journey.

Rathyatra is the best way of Parmatama bhakti,

every shravak should observe at least once in a year.

Procession will includes banners, flags, Indra Dhwajas, Dholi/Music, Sanghpati, Dignitaries, community members,

Shravikas with Kumbh,Dhravadi,All Chhods-an Ornamental Canopy with the Velvet Back Curtain embroidered with gold and silver threads design,

All 24 Tirthankars brought from India for Astapadji Puja, Different color Chhabs of Darshan, Gyan, Charitra upkarans, New Silver carved separate Ast mangals,etc.

On Sun. August 27th we have arranged for breakfast starting at 7.30 am. Please come early so we can start the procession promptly. Procession will start at 8:30 am.

Some main points of the procession are:  Procession will be led by a Jain center banner, followed by Indra Dhwaja, ladies carrying Ghado, women & men carrying Upkarans in decorative chhabs,different chhods carry by family,all 24 tirthankars,Asthmangal baskets etc. It would be a wonderful scene to view and be a part of. Pathshala kids age 7-13 will be carrying balloons banners and dwaja with Jain religious messages. There will be about 100 kids each carrying balloons to add color & meaningful messages. Two very well decorated floats will carry all 24 tirthankars, DJ, Garba and more. There will be something for everyone to cherish for their life time. The entire Procession will be managed by our own JCYC Youth.

Procession Planned Sequence and Nakro Opportunities Route: Total Distance: 0.4 mile Starting from post office parking lot, Right turn on Los Robles street, Right turn on 7th street and then Right turn on Commonwealth Street 1. Banner of JCSC, 2. 4 Flags - India, USA, Derasar Dhwaja, and California 3. Indra Dhwaja: individual Dhwaja. 4. Dholi / Music, 5. Sanghpati, Dignitaries, leaders, community members. 6. Two Chhadidars, nakro $ 101 each. 7. Shravikas- with Kumbh, in row of three 8. Dharavadi ($101), Deepak, Dhoop, Chamars, Ghant-$ 51 each. 9. All Chhods carry by family. 11.Chhabs will be of different colors- White, Red, Yellow, Green & Black-(Panch parmesti) will have Darshan,Gyan,Charitra upkarans 12.Float One: Nakro: 2501, four family members will sit in float and name of beneficiary will be displayed on float. It will contain 12 tirthankars two family members will sit in float. 13 Float two-same as above.  14.Dholi.music, DJ- 15.Ladies-Garba, stavans, Nara etc. 16.Out of state members: with banner, music, stavans, Garba. 17.Banners, slogans 18.Pathshala students will carry balloons, volunteers will line up procession, will help in traffic control, will carry red & green flags, will carry slogans and will initiate naaras. All community members are requested to take laabh of Navakarshi on the day of procession. Laabhartis (beneficiaries) are requested to pick up nakro items to join procession. The items should be picked by 7:00 AM to 8:00 (latest by 8:15 AM) AM on Sunday 27th August.

There are two types of Tirth

The first is “Jangam Tirth” or “Bhav Tirth.” This is where Tirthankara Bhagwan establishes the fourfold order of Sadhus, Sadhvijis, Shravaks and Shravikas. It helps “Sansari Jivs’ (ordinary humans) to attain Moksha.

The second type of tirth is “sthavar tirths” commonly referred to as “Drvya-Tirths.” This refers to the holy places (bhoomi) where Kalyanaks of Tirthankars occurs. As a result, this place helps many achieve liberation because of its sacrosanct location, one that is imbibed with deeply spiritual and thus positive vibrations. Such Tirths as we know them are “Shatrunjay”, Sammet Shikhar, Girnarji, Abuji, Sankheswarji, and so on. Sammet Shikharji, Girnarji, Pavapuri are also Nirvan Bhoomi of current Tirthankars.

Ashtapad is a Tirth which is not physically identifiable at present, but which holds equal significance as other MahaTirths for Jains.

Why is there so much significance attached to Ashtapad where we can do only” Bhav Yatra, or Bhav pilgrimage”?

Ashtapad is the Nirvan Bhoomi of first Tirthankar Shri Rushabhdev Bhagwan who was responsible for reestablishing the Jain Dharma in this descending era of the current time cycle in our living space (Bharat Kshetra). It is said he delivered several sermons on this particular mountain

A beautiful parable about Rushabhdev, Bharat Chakravarti and Marichi explains and establishes the basic tenets of Jainism.

In this story, Bharat Maharaja poses a powerful question to Rushabhdev, the omniscient Tirthankar: are there any members in present in the currently assembly (“Parshada”) who will become a future Tithankar? Adinath Bhagwan sagely informs him, “Your son Marichi will be the 24th tirthankar in this era of the current time cycle.”

Upon hearing this, Bharat Maharaja instantly circles around Marichi (performing pradakshina) and bows down dutifully to him He makes clear, however, “I am respectfully doing Vandan to the “SOUL” of future Tirthankar and not to the current physical self of Marichi.”

Bharat Maharaja then proceeded to construct a Palace of Jewels establishing (sthapana) of the current twenty four Tirthankars. It is total faith and appreciation in what Sarvagna Bhagwan says, about who are the subsequent 23 tirthankars going to be who will carry forward Dhrama for the benefit several living beings after Rushabhadev Bhagwan’s Nirvana.

This event reaffirms several fundamental principles underlying Jainsm:

• An omniscient who has totally removed all his passions and attachments will attain “Kevalgyan,” which allows him know the past, present and future phases of all things, living or otherwise.
• The soul is permanent and forever, transmigrating in different phases of living beings until it liberates itself from all Karmas of the physical body. In their purest form, all souls are equal and therefore deserve respectful recognition all the time irrespective of current state of the physical body in which it dwells and its accompanying karma.

A potent lesson can also be found by looking at Gautam Swami and his special relationship to Mahavir Swami and how his exemplary Bhakti leads him to an Ashtapad Yatra.

In this story, Gautam Swami overhears a group of devotees discussing Mahavirswami’s deshana (sermon), which they had just attended. In the deshana, Mahavir swami said any soul who performs the Ashtapad Yatra and performs overnight Bhakti of the twenty-four tirthankars will attain “Moksha” in the same lifetime. Gautam swami himself was capable of knowing whether he would attain Moksha in this life time, but would defer understanding of all such events as per Mahavir Swamis guidance. Such was his total dedication and humility to the Lord.

Toward this end, he obtains permission from Mahavirswami to undertake the Yatra of Ashtapad Tirth. Gautamswami’s purity of the soul was at such high level that he could fly (Akashgami Labdhi) and he could overcome big obstacles by grabbing sun rays and powering himself up.

The Ashtapad tirth yatra entailed climbing over eight insurmountable steps or the hills. Ordinary human beings were incapable of achieving such a feat. Some “Tapas,” or individuals yearning to perform yatra, had gotten over the first step, fewer over the second, and even fewer had reached the third step. But that was it.

Suddenly a tall, handsome flying ascetic arrives, and begins effortlessly climbing Ashtapad. With the power of the sun rays coursing through his veins, Gautam Swami swiftly and effortlessly climbs over the eight steps.

Witnessing this extraordinary feat, these Tapas decided to become Gautamswami’s disciplines so they too could perform yatra and achieve Moksha. The next morning they beg him for the privilege. But Gautamswami advises them to become disciples of his Guru Mahavirswami. They all agree and Gautamswami suggested that they do Parna of their Tapsya before doing so.

The rest of the story is well known: Gautamswami helps them perform Parna with a single bowl of endless Khir (sweet) which never runs out and produces enough to satiate all 1500 Tapas. All 1500 attain kevalgyan in 3 groups before even reaching to Mahavir Swami.

Lord Mahavir himself explained the significance of Ashtapad yatra toward attaining Moksha. Specifically, he stresses how complete faith in the lord and total dedication and devotion in him can achieve the same results for those who surrender.

So let us join in the Bhav-Yatra of the Adhtapad Tirth at our house of the Lord Mahavir, Jain Center of Southern California and hope that over the next few lifetimes, we can end our cycle of birth and death.

Astapad Puja Nakro $101/each- 8 puja out of which 2 puja given to sponsors, Rest 6 puja with 5 families taking labh in each puja, four on each side of the Astapad and one by the Trigadu on the stage.

RSVP for Paryushan Mahaparva 2017

1. In your smart phone, locate the text message app, and click to open
2. Click on compose to compose a new message
3. In the TO: field, type in 67076
4. In the message field, type in JCSC
5. Click on Send button to send the message
6. Once you send it, you will receive a link via text message.
7. Click on the link to begin RSVP process.

Volunteers required during Dasanihaka Mahaparv Celebrations at JCSC

Volunteer Registration Form For Paryushan

• Friday, Aug. 18th             -­-­-­-­ 12:00pm  to  2:00pm    
• Saturday, Aug. 19th         -­-­-­- 11:00pm  to  1:00pm    
• Sunday, Aug. 20th           -­-­-­-­ 12:00pm  to  2:00pm    
• Monday, Aug. 21st          -­-­-­-­ 12:00pm  to  2:00pm    
• Tuesday, Aug. 22nd        -­-­-­-­ 12:00pm  to  2:00pm    
• Wednesday, Aug. 23rd    -­-­-­-­ 12:00pm  to  2:00pm    
• Thursday, Aug. 24th         ­-­-­-­ 12:00pm  to  2:00pm    
• Friday, Aug. 25th             -­-­-­-­ 12:00pm  to  2:00pm    
• Saturday, Parna  Aug. 26th -­-­-­-­  8:30am  to  10:30am    

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