Jain sadhus working for Civic Issues

PALITANA: At a time when global leaders, business honchos and the state government are set to sign various memorandums of understanding ( MoUs) at the Vibrant Gujarat summit, an interesting MoU signed between a Jain group and Palitana Nagarpalika three years ago to solve civic problems of the Jain pilgrimage town in Bhavnagar district, is bearing fruits.

On inspiration of Jain monk Vijay Abhaydev Suriswersji Maharaj, his followers took up the challenge to take up civic issues of Palitana three years ago. According to Moksharata Vijay Maharaj, who has executed the project, Subh Mangal Foundation carried out the civic work without taking money from government.
"We have spent more than Rs 45 crore to carry out the major civic work in our holy place to make it more beautiful and lovable for Jain sadhus and sadhvis, pilgrims, and citizens of the town. A place of worship should be like one where one can get eternal peace," Moksharatna Vijay Maharaj told TOI.

"The developmental works have been carried out in the town from Taleti to Chhela Chakla, from Chella Chakla to Bhairavnath Chowk, and from Chella Chakla to Pallavi gate. In all 18 km RCC roads were built, covering main roads and all the dharmshalas, storm water drainage, drainage line, underground facility for cables of telephone and electricity, footpaths on both sides of roads have been completed," said Maharaj
"A filter plant with all allied facilities has been established. The plant will provide potable water to all the citizens of the town. More than 3,000 trees have been planted along the roads. These basic civic amenities will solve the civic problems which Jain sadhus and pilgrims used to face, especially during monsoons,'' he said.

He said the  Jains usually donate for constructing Derasars and for Jivdaya but for the first time all the followers generously contributed for the betterment of the society at large.

(From TOI)

Jain Sadhvis Attacked by Jains!

Sadhvis attacked during clash between Jain groups

A clash was reported between two groups of a Jain Sangh at the Shahibaug area in Ahmedabad on Saturday afternoon.

The incident created commotion in the locality near Girdharnagar Shahibaug Jain Shwetambar Murtipujak Sangh (GSJSMS) and the police had to cordon off the area.

According to one of the groups involved in the dispute, around 20 sadhvis of their group were attacked and locked inside by the women of the opposite group in the Sangh building in the afternoon when the former group was performing some ritual.

GSJSMS manages the Jain Derasar at Shahibaug. Two groups related to the Sangh are involved in a long-drawn legal battle over the administrative control of the Sangh and its properties for the past one decade.

The police said the clash could well be the fallout of a tussle over gaining control of the administration and its properties.

Shahibaug Inspector V A Rahewar said: “The issue is going on for two days and on Saturday, it intensified over some arguments inside the Derasar. We are still to get a fix on the real problem, but it appears that both parties are fighting over some administrative and land issues.”

Jain monk Janakmuni Maharaj passes away

Jain saint Janakmuni Maharaj Saheb passed away in Mumbai on Thursday morning after prolonged illness. He was 78. He died at 9.09 am at Hingwala Upashray in Ghatkopar, in the presence of a large number of followers.

"Maharaj Saheb was suffering from a heart ailment for the last couple of months. He was taken to Asiad Hospital in Mumbai a month back after he suffered a massive heart attack in Rajkot," said Dinesh Doshi, secretary of Rajkot Sthanakvasi Jain Sangh.

Janakmuni was born on the 13th of August, 1933 in the Pransva village in Junagadh district. He was keenly interested in the significance of Jain Agam (scriptures). He renounced worldly life at the young age of 18. He took diksha at Veraval in Junagadh under the influence of his religious preceptor, Saursashtra Kesari Shri Pranlalji Maharaj Saheb.

After taking to monastic life, he went to Rajasthan for further study of the Agam, became a scholar of the Jain scriptures and wrote many books. His profound knowledge of the Jain scriptures is evident in his books.
The Jain monk, who had lakhs of followers both in India and abroad, was honoured with several awards including Agam Diwakar (Shining Sun of Scriptures) in 1968, Gujarat Saint Shiromani in 2002 and Bahushrut in 2005.

Leopard sanctuary in Gujarat?

By Rishi Banerji

Gujarat may soon boast of its very own sanctuary dedicated to another wild cat, the leopard. With the recent leopard attacks on humans in Mandvi taluka of Surat, a political leader has requested the state government and forest department to build a sanctuary, exclusively for the leopards.

Jagdish Parekh, president of Mandvi Nagarpalika, has taken up the task to create a dedicated sanctuary for leopard conservation and protection. Parekh has already identified a piece of land, located on the banks of river Tapi in Mandvi, for the same. The 250 sq km area known as Singhwaay Farm is owned by the state agriculture department, of which only two acres of land is being utilised by the department as a rabbit breeding centre, cow research centre and staff quarters.

"The remaining land is unused and if the government plans, it can create a very good sanctuary at the site. With constant reduction in forest cover, leopards have nowhere left to go. Thus they attack human settlements and their animals. Leopards are an essential part of the wildlife cycle and they need to be protected," Parekh said.

He added that the leopard is an identity of south Gujarat and with the region boasting of the maximum number of these cats, a sanctuary could help in their proper conservation. Apart from protecting the animal, the sanctuary could also be a tourist attraction, he said.

If the government doesn't help, Parekh has plans to create a small private sanctuary/zoo of 100 acres and has held talks with the Jain community in Mumbai and Gujarat, who are willing to help him. Parekh has been fighting for a sanctuary since two years, but has still not received any positive response.

"We are also ready to develop a sanctuary with funds collected through donations. There are around 200 leopards in and around Mandvi and I want to do something to prevent their extinction", adds Parekh.

Sadly, with repeated clashes between humans and the animal, the state forest department has issued orders to kill the leopards responsible for the attacks. With the leopard population on the rise and human settlements eating into their habitat, the situation has come to a head in the region. In the past month alone, four people including an 11-year-old girl have been killed in leopard attacks.

Jain Acharya Gets Threat Mail : Persecution of Jains

RAJKOT/SURAT, NOVEMBER 20

Even as the CID (Crime) is investigating the incidents of road accident deaths of Jain monks and sadhvis, the main acharya at Palitana in Bhavnagar district and his disciple has received a threat mail, the second in a week’s time.

The first one, also addressed to acharya Abhaysurishveraji, was received last week, after the Jains demanded a probe into the deaths of saints killed in road accidents in the state.

A total of six saints have been killed in two different road accidents in the last week. The Jains have claimed that over 25 saints have been killed in the guise of these accidents in the past six months or so.

The Palitana police began investigations on Friday after a letter arrived through post, even as heavy police security cover has been set for the pilgrimage town.

Investigating Officer Inspector R L Rathva said: “The letter is written in Hindi addressing acharya Abhaysurishveraji and his disciple Mokshratna Vijay, the head saint at Vaav Dharmshala. The sender has asked Jains to stop their legal and media campaign against the Mandal or they will be killed.”

The fresh complaint has been registered by Mokshratna Vijay.

The letter states that Jain saints and the community are responsible for the deterioration of the world. “No matter where you go, be it Rajasthan, Maharashtra or Gujarat, you will not be safe. We will dig up your graves,” the threat mail signed in the name of one Kashan Prajapati said.

The letter further said that no inquiry by the Gujarat government can harm them.

In view of the threat mail, the police have deployed additional security around Vaav Dharmshala in Palitana — considered among the most important pilgrimage place for Jains.

Following the outrage by the Jains, state Home Minister Amit Shah has ordered a CID probe into these incidents.

Elsewhere in Surat, members of the Jain community took out a silent rally from Katargam Darwaja to Bahumali building outside the collector’s office at Nanpura today to protest against the accidental death of four Jain sadhvis and two Jain monks in North Gujarat.

Later they handed over a memorandum to the district collector demanding free and fair investigations and strict punishment to the accused.

The rally started around 11.00 am today.

People from 25 different Jain organisations in Surat took part in the rally carrying banners stating the deaths were not accidental, but were killings done intentionally.

The Jain community started protesting over the deaths after a speeding truck hit four sadhvis near Mehsana and two Jain monks were killed under similar circumstances a few days ago.

Samast Surat Jain Sangh member Navin Nagarsewak said:
“We have demanded a free and fair investigation into the deaths.

The accused should be found out and punished strictly. The police should also provide security to the Jain monks and sadhvis walking on the highways. The police should ensure that the state is safe and secure.”

Jains Protest Jain Monk's Death

RAJKOT: Protesting the accidental deaths of four Jain sadhvis and two Jain monks in north Gujarat, thousands of members of the Jain community took out a silent rally in Rajkot and other parts of Saurashtra on Tuesday. Jains have demanded a thorough investigation of the deaths, which they claim were premeditated.

People wearing whilte face masks rode on more than 500 scooters in a rally that started from Chaudhary High School near Maniyar Derasar at 11 am and reached the collectorate where the community leaders handed over a memorandum to the collector.

The death of four Jain sadhvis who were mowed down by a speeding truck near Soneripura Patiya near Mehsana on November 9, followed by a similar accident in which two Jain monks died near Unjha on November 13, sparked off the protests across Gujarat.

Meanwhile, community leaders termed the accident as killing' and called for justice against the conspiracy' against the community in their memorandum.

A massive rally was also organised in Morbi and Dhoraji towns of Rajkot and Lalpur taluka of Jamnagar district, where thousands of Jain devotees walked up to the collecterate offices and handed over a memorandum, expressing anger and protest against the incident.

In Jasdan, Ghanshyam Bharad, manager of Marutidham Gaushala, sent a letter to the state home minister, urging an independent inquiry into the incident and alleged conspiracy.

Champak Vora of Neminath Derasar, D M Gondaliya, vice-president of Dashashrimali Jain Sangh and members of Sambhavnathji Jain Derasar on Pani Darwaja Road also gave a joint memorandum to the Amreli district collector. The additional director general of police, CID (crime) VV Rabari has already been given the charge of investigating both the cases.

Jains threaten stir if no step taken

Rajkot

The state government has roped in CID (crime) to investigate the alleged scam of killing Jain holy men/women in the guise of road accidents, but the community leaders want results. The Jains have given an ultimatum till Wednesday to the Gujarat government to make headway in the investigation or they have they threatened to intensify the silent agitation.

Saurashtra on Tuesday saw a widespread protest by Jains in the form of silent marches and scooter rallies by the four Jain sub-sects: Derawasi, Sthanakwasi, Digambar and Rajchandra. The protests have been organised following the death of four sadhaks last week in two different road accidents, where the victims were mowed down by speeding four-wheelers.

The conspiracy theory arose after the son of one of the holy men killed in a road accident near Mehsana filed an affidavit in the court, claiming it to be a pre-planned murder and one of several in a series of such crimes.

The Anup Mandal has come under suspicion due to its alleged remarks that religious practices of Jain holy men have resulted in a drought-like scenario.

The ultimatum was given at the end of a Monday meeting at Palitana— the second most important pilgrimage seat located in Bhavnagar—that was chaired by Acharya Abhaydev Sursishverji.

The meeting was attended by over 25 acharyas and 800 priests, who emphasised that the priests, who walk from one place to another and do not use vehicles, must be given protection.

Sursishverji, who also received a threat mail, has said that the Jains will begin an intense agitation if the police do not make headway in the case by Wednesday.

At Rajkot, members of all the four sub-sects took out a silent scooter rally on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to the collector. This was the second day of the protest.

“We strictly condemn such acts. Saints must be given protection from negative elements,” said Chandrakant Sheth, a Jain leader from Rajkot.

Similar protests rallies were organised at Morbi, Jamnagar and Amreli.

We'll take up arms if threats rise: Jain seer

Ahmedabad: Jain religious leaders have given the state government an ultimatum of 48 hours, demanding that the crime branch probe into the recent death of Jain monks in road mishaps yield concrete results. A Jain seer went so far as to say that Jain monks may have to carry scriptures in one hand, and arms in the other to defend themselves.

The religious leaders gave the ultimatum on Monday at Palitana where they had gathered for the 'gunanuvad sabha' (condolence meeting) for the monks who recently died in mysterious road mishaps. The Jain community blames the organisation, Anoop Mandal, for their deaths, alleging that the Mandal was committed to spreading hatred against the Jain community.

Around 25 acharyas of various Jain sects, more than 800 Jain monks and thousands of lay Jains attended the condolence meeting at Palitana. Acharya Abhaydevesuriswarji Maharaj Saheb, who recently received an anonymous letter threatening him with death, said he was deeply worried about the security of Jain monks.
"If necessary, Jainacharyas will have to carry shaastra (religious scripture) in one hand and shastra (weapon) in the other," he said. "Several Jain monks have died in road accidents in recent years. There seems to be some kind of conspiracy against Jain monks."

All acharyas present at Palitana agreed to Abhaydevesuriswarji Maharaj Saheb's suggestion that an ultimatum of 48 hours be served on the government, asking it to act fast in the accident cases. In Surat, too, Jains held a meeting to express concern over the threat to Jain sadhus.

Missing Jain Nun Found

AHMEDABAD: When Kiran Pandya got his sister's call from Mehsana, he could not believe his ears. Pandya, who had stormed the Jain fraternity in the city along with police, was shocked to know that his beloved sister, who had taken to Jainism and got diksha at the age of 9, shunned monk's life to marry to a youth from the community.

According to sources, Pandya was in the city for last three days, searching for his missing' sister. Talking to TOI on Tuesday, Pandya had raised questions about the safety and whereabouts of Mahasatiji Ojasvinibai, 28. "In the wake of strange incidents happening with sadhus and sadhvis of Jainism, I fear that she might have been abducted."

However, the twist came on Wednesday when she contacted him to reveal her location. "She had left a note while leaving the upashraya in Vasna informing that she was shunning monk's life by her will and was safe. This information was kept under wraps to protect the prestige of the institution. But, when allegations were levelled against us, we had to disclose the truth," said a member of Jain community.

The Jain sangh members told TOI that Ojasvinibai met Ashish Bhavsar, a youth from Viramgam while on Chaturmaas (four months of stay at one place for monks) at Mehsana. It was mutual attraction, according to duo, who decided to get married. As per plan, she left the upashraya and world of religion behind and donned the new identity of Archana.

The duo then went to Bali in Rajasthan for a civil marriage in front of marriage registrar.

The news did not go down well with her brother. "When Pandya went to Mehsana, he got enraged and attacked Bhavsar and alleged him of influencing to take a wrong decision. The matter went out of control and nearby police personnel had to rush to the spot. When police came to know that it was a matter of two adults having married with consent, they let them go and warned Pandya," said a police official.

Pramukhchand Shah, president of Dariapuri Sthanakvaasi Jain Sangh, told TOI that earlier sadhviji was warned of unacceptable practices' such as using mobile phone. "However, the restrictions were termed as harsh behaviour by her brothers. She had also given us a written apology. We just want to say that she has no grudge against the treatment she got or her life as a monk till she was in the city," he said.

Remnants of Jain Temple found from hospital

DNA
Vadodara: The remnants of an ancient temple were found while digging ground near the nursing hostel of SSG Hospital here.

The remnants contain an arc, some carved stones and an idol. After preliminary investigations, the remnants are believed to be of a Jain temple.

While digging of ground for the construction of an auditorium at SSG hospital was going on, some sand stones were found along with the soil. Dr Adish Jain, who was passing by the place, saw the stones. He found them interesting and when he took a close look at them, he was astonished to see carvings on the stones.

He immediately informed senior officials of the hospital about it, and soon archaeology department officials were informed about the remains.

A team of archaeology department rushed to the spot, and during investigations found an arc, an idol and some carved stones from the site. According to archaeology officials, it was difficult to say whether the remnants belonged to a Jain temple or Hindu temple as their architecture are more or less the same.

Talking to DNA, ex-superintendent and dean of the hospital Dr Kamal Pathak said, "It is for the third time that the remnants of a temple have been found from this area of the SSG hospital.
In 1992-93, an idol of a Jain tirthankar was found during the stone installation ceremony of the urological department at the hospital. In 2001-02, too, some other remnants of sandstones were found from the hospital premises.