JAINA: Federation of Jain Associations in North America
FIRST DIKSHA CEREMONY IN AMERICA
at
JAIN CENTER OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
722 South Main Street Milpitas, CA 95035
DATE: APRIL 7th and APRIL 8th 2012
Its an honor and a privilege for Jain Center of Northern California to host this auspicious occasion of Diksha at our temple.
DIKSHA of MANGALAM JI by ACHARYA CHANDANA JI
As part of this Diksha Ceremony and Mahaveer Jayanti Celebration, we will have lot of Religious Activities, Lectures, Poojas and Kids Activities at the temple for 2 days. We would like for all members of our community to mark their calendars and make plans to attend this auspicious occasion along with family and friends.
BIO OF MANGALAM JI
Magalamji is associated with Veerayatan since her childhood. At the young age of 6 years, she memorized Bhaktamar, Kalyan Mandir and Tatwartha Sutra and other Jain stotras.
She has been fortunate, to learn Sanskrit and Prakrit under the able guidance of a very revered and well known scholar Sant Pujya Gurudev, Upadhyaya Shri Amar Muniji Maharaj and Acharya Shri Chandana ji Maharaj. Along with Jain scriptures she also studied Hindu and Buddhist texts, with very good communicating skills in English, Hindi, Marathi and Guajarati. Along with the studies she also held the administrative post atVeerayatan Rajgir for a few years.
For last 17 years, she has been living in United States where she was married, and has a beautiful 12 years old daughter "Ruhani”.
Even though she was living in USA for so many years, her heart was with Veerayatan all the while. During her stay in the US she continued her religious studies and worked in various volunteer activities of Veerayatan.
She is blessed with an enchanting melodious voice which has mesmerised and touchedhearts of thousands of people around the world.
With the blessings of Acharya Shri Chandanaji Maharaj, she has taken Diksha (Sanyas) on December 20th 2011 at Veeraytan Rajgir. Now the Badi Diksha will be held at our Bhavan on April 7th and April 8th of 2012. This is probably the first ever occasion in the history of Jain community that an American citizen after living such a considerable period in that culture has decided to become a Jain Sadhvi.