Mahavir Ahimsa award to Dr. Sudarshan

Mysore, Apr. 17 (HT&DM)- Padma Shri Dr. H. Sudarshan, Hon. Secretary, Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra who has also won the Right Livelihood award was conferred the Mahavir Ahimsa award by the Mahavir Seva Samsthan during the Bhagavan Mahavir Jayanti celebrations held at M.L. Vardhamanaiah Memorial Hall on Chadragupta Road in city yesterday.

Kanakagiri Jain Mutt`s Sri Bhuvanakeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji, who spoke after conferring the award, said Mahatma Gandhiji, who was influenced by Mahavir`s preachings, imbibed his principles and advocated non-violence throughout his life. The followers of Jainism are in the forefront of implementing Mahavir`s messages, he added.

Forest Minister C.H. Vijayashankar who also spoke, observed that Mahaveer`s messages were a model to Jain Community and called upon the people to imbibe Mahaveer`s principles for the survival of mankind.

Digambar Jain Samaj President S.N. Prakash Babu, M.A. Sudhir, Madan Kumar Babu and others were present.

Mahavir Jayanti Celebrated in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Messages of non-violence and virtue reverberated in the air even as the city was painted in riotous colours marking Mahaveer Jayanti.

The 2610th birth anniversary of the last Tirthankara saw thousands take part in celebrations across the city. Organized by various Jain organizations, colourful processions, meetings and religious discourses marked the day. Speakers lauded the "Ahimsa Paramo Dharma" (the principles of non-violence and virtue) taught by Bhagwan Mahaveer and its relevance in the present day scenario.

The day began with the idol of Mahaveer being given a ceremonial bath followed by several rituals. Later, Maha Mastakabhisheka of Lord Mahaveer and special puja were held. Religious discourses and cultural activities were held throughout the day.

Speaking at a function in Freedom Park organized by the Jain Youth Association in Gandhinagar, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa lauded the contribution of Jain poets to Kannada literature.

"For ages, Jainism has been an integral part of Indian ethos. The rituals, teachings and religious roots of Jainism have assimilated into Indian culture. Through truth, non-violence, celibacy and rigorous achievement, Lord Mahaveer has been a trend-setter. The contributions by Janna, Pampa and Ponna to Kannada literature will remain forever. Mahatma Gandhi has proven that we can win with non-violence," Yeddyurappa said.

TRAIN TO BE RENAMED

Union minister of state for railways K H Muniyappa promised to rename either the Mysore-Jaipur train or Bangalore-Jodhpur train as Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Express. The Jain community members requested the CM to name the Metro railway station near Mysore Bank Circle after Lord Mahaveer.

MARCH FOR WORLD PEACE

Also known as the World Peace Day, the celebrations began with a peace march organized by Jain Yuva Sanghatan. The procession which was flagged off at Town Hall made its way through the narrow lanes of Nagarthpet, Chickpet via BVK Iyengar road to Freedom Park where thousands had gathered to spread the words of Mahaveer __ non-violence and peace.

There were multiple tableaus enacting various scenes from the Jain Mythology, life of Mahaveer. Mahaveer Janam Kalyanak was celebrated by the abhishek of the idol of Lord Mahaveer.

Sree Mahaveer Sangha organized a programme at Vimanapura, Old Airport Road. A procession of Lord Mahaveer Jain with 108 mangala kalasa was taken out on the morning followed by a religious function and later culminated with a cultural programme depicting the life story of Lord Mahaveer.

A book titled `Karnataka Digambar Jain Mandirs' was released on at a programme organized by the Karnataka Jain Association. It was followed by discourse of Jain teachings.

The Khandelwal Digamber Jain Samaj, Wilson Garden, held its festivities at the Digambar Jain Temple. A massive rally with all grandeur and royal decoration marked the celebrations.

President, Vice President, Prime Minister Greet on Mahavir Jayanti

PTI

President of India’s Greetings on the Occasion of Mahavir Jayanti

The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil in her message on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, which is being celebrated tomorrow has said: -

“On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens.
May Lord Mahavir’s noble teachings inspire us to strive for love, peace and harmony and work for the unity and progress of our country”.

Vice President Greets People on Mahavir Jayanti

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has greeted the people of our country on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. In his message he has said that through his divine life and teachings showed us the path of non-violence, truthfulness, peace and universal love. His teachings are relevant at all times to emancipate mankind from suffering and to ensure peace and happiness through spiritual excellence.

Following is the text of the Vice President’s message :

“On the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, I extend my best wishes to the people of our country.
Bhagwan Mahavir, through his divine life and teachings showed us the path of non-violence, truthfulness, peace and universal love. His teachings are relevant at all times to emancipate mankind from suffering and to ensure peace and happiness through spiritual excellence.

Let us rededicate ourselves to the enlightened teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir for the welfare of humanity.

PM greets the people on Mahavir Jayanti

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.

In a message, the Prime Minister said that the teachings of Lord Mahavira inspires us to lead a simple life of compassion and selflessness.

“May this festival strengthen in one and all the commitment to truth, non violence, and harmony”, Dr. Singh added.

Fake Jain Brides on Rise

By: Imran Gowhar
Bangalore


What seemed to be a marriage made in heaven, turned out to be a shocker for a recently wedded man, as he was taken for a ride by a marriage bureau that had more to it than meets the eye. Jeetesh (26), married Divya (20), in March through a community marriage bureau. All was well until recently, Chagan Lal, Jeetesh's father noticed scars of a cesarean section on Divya's belly. On questioning, Divya confessed that she is not a Jain and hails from a Maharashtrian family. She used to odd jobs to support her eight-year-old son from her previous marriage, and her aged mother.

Staged and scripted
Then she met Shanti Lal who promised to arrange her marriage into an affluent family. He trained her to act like a woman from the Jain community and gave her new name. As the twisted tale unravelled, Divya informed the family that the people who they met while fixing the wedding date were, in fact, an elderly couple hired by the marriage bureau to pose as her parents.

The agitated family approached the court with a complaint and got directions issued to the local police to investigate into the matter. This consequently led to the arrest of five persons running the bureau in Majestic area. "We tracked down prime accused in the racket Shanti lal, along with Hasmukh Lal, Madan Lal, Sanjay and Roopesh through mobile tracker. During questioning, they informed that they charged a commission of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for each marriage they fixed," said PI Shiva Kumar from Chickpet police station.

The police were shocked to discover that the gang targeted the Jain community for alliances as the male-female ratio is skewed. They had recently brought three more women from Mumbai promising to get them married into affluent families.

How it works?
"They women are first trained for a few months to develop their language skills and to adopt the accent of the community. The brokers then arrange fake parents and have them pose as affluent members of the Jain community from Mumbai," said Kumar.

During further questioning, Shanti Lal revealed that the gang had arranged four such marriages in Bangalore and Rajasthan. Ironically, those marriages are successful and the women are doing well, Kumar, who verified with the address, said.

"We have booked the three women and their parents as witnesses and send them back to Mumbai. They will be summoned to the city to testify before the court against Shanti Lal and others involved," Kumar added. "The police have arrested six members of the group for cheating under Section 496," said, S N Siddaramappa, DCP (west).

Rs 5 lakh The fee that the bureau charged for the marriage they fixed.

News Courtesy: Mid-Day