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Samani Parimal Pragya | Samani Amit Pragya |
The feelings of unity, togetherness & spirituality were overwhelming when 5 different Jain organizations visited the JVB Preksha Meditation Center in Houston (JVB) on Sunday December 2nd, 2012. The visit was the first stop for a group of about 150 people, who were on a pilgrimage to visit & pay obeisance at 5 local Jain temples in Houston in one day. This pilgrimage, also called Chaitya Paripati is conducted after the Chaturmas for worship, prayers and meditation by Jains by visiting 5 religious places.
This event was a first for the Houston Jain community & possibly also in all of North America with the coming together of representatives from Six Jain organizations under one roof for Chaitya Paripati/Patna Darshan.
Jain Society of Houston (JSH) took the lead role in organizing this event and the other four participating Jain organizations were from Waco, Austin, Dallas & Wisconsin. All the members arrived in 2 chartered buses & were received with a grand welcome at JVB that began with playing of the dhol, chanting of mantras, bhajans & with the unfurling of the Jain flag by JVB Chairman Swatantra Jain & Director Alok Jain. Thereafter all the visitors upon entering the premises were adorned with tilaks; & all Sanghpatis (leaders) from the various organizations were honored individually. Jain Society of Houston was represented by Kirti Bhai Shah & Arvinda Ben; Kirit Bhai Daftary represented the Waco Jain Sangh. The Austin & Dallas Jain Sanghs were represented by Rajiv Gandhi & Dewang Kaveri respectively, & Devendra Bhai Modi was in Houston representing the Wisconsin Jain sangh.
JVB Houston’s resident Jain nuns - Samani Parimal Pragya ji & Samani Amit Pragya ji presided over the welcome proceedings and Samani Parimal Pragya gave a thoughtful message to all attendees by talking about brotherhood & amity among all. JVB Chairman Swatantra Jain welcomed everybody to the JVB center & its temple to pay their obeisance as part of the Chaitya Paripati. JSH President Jayesh Sanghvi presented a token of appreciation & memento to the JVB team on the occasion of their Chaitya Paripati visit. He also extended an open invitation to JVB patrons & Samanijis to visit JSH soon.
This was followed by a delicious lunch for all the visitors sponsored by Hasmukh Bhai & Chandrika Ben Doshi. Thereafter the Chaitya Paripati/Patna Darshan continued with departure from JVB to the next temple destination.
The JVB Board & Executive Committee are extremely thankful to all the volunteers who contributed their valuable time & effort to make this event memorable and a resounding success.
More pictures are available at:
Chaitya Paripati 2012 @ JVB Houston Pictures
Regular Weekly Program Schedule:
Tuesday (Mangal Day - A great program for Adults/Seniors)
09:00 am Jain Studies
10:00 am - 12:00 noon Geet, Relaxation & Meditation
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Audio Spiritual Discourse & DiscussionsWednesday
8:00pm Spiritual Discourses
Thursday
9:30am Yoga & Meditation (For Ladies only)
Saturday
9:00am Yoga & Meditation for a Healthy Life
2nd Saturday
9:00am-1:00pm Preksha Meditation Workshop (Register)