Shree Jain Svetamber Derawasi Sangh Mombasa
e-Newsletter
August 2015
Jai Jinendra & Pranaam Welcome to the August e-Newsletter from the Sangh. This newsletter is devoted to highlight the programme for the forthcoming Paryushan which starts from 10th September 2015.
This year the Sangh will present its own Paryushan programme through a variety of evening events - some pravachan, some comedy skits, an evening of katha geet and a Pathshala children’s presentation on 18 Paapshthanak.
On 21st August, the Dhaja (Flag) hoisting was done by the family members of Chandulalbhai Vora ( D C K Vora ). See page 8 for the photos of this ceremony.
A reader drew our attention that the Mombasa Sangh follows the Jain Panchang and it is slightly different from the calendar published in the last two issues. Michammi Dukkadam.
We are looking for members to be part of the editorial team to ensure continuity of this newsletter and to publish a wide range of articles. If you would like to join the editorial team than please forward your name and contact to Sangh office in writing or by email to mombasajains@gmail.com.
All views expressed in the articles are those of the writers and not necessarily of the Sangh. Editorial Team.
INDEX Paryushan Sangh Flyer
Page 2, 3
Dhaja (Flag ) Hoisting
Page 8
Paryushan Programme Summary
Page 4
Jain Flag—Meaning of Colours
Page 9
Kartavyas During Paryushan
Page 5
Interview with Dada Vaswani
Page 9
Retreat Cancellation
Page 6
M M Shah & M V Shah Academy
Page 11, 12
Pathshala Classes
Page 6
Scholarship Program
Page 13
14 Dreams of Trishalamata
Page 7
1 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
2 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
3 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
Paryushan Morning and Afternoon Programmes Thursday
10.00 am to 11.15 am Lecture on Ashtanhika Monday
10th September Friday
14th September 3.00 pm 10.00 am to 11.15 am Lecture on Ashtanhika Tuesday
11th September Saturday
Bidding for 14 dreams of Trishlatamata
10.00 am to 11.30 am Kalpasutra Vanchan
10.00 am to 11.00 am Lecture on Ashtanhika 15th September
12th September 11.00 am Sunday
10.00 am to 11.30 am Kalpasutra Vanchan
Kalpasutra Varghodo
10.00 am to 11.30 am Kalpasutra Vanchan
Wednesday
10.00 am to 11.30 am Kalpasutra Vanchan
16th September Thursday 17th September
10.00 am to 11.30 am ‘Barsa Sutra’ nu Vanchan 3.00 pm
Bidding for Savantsari Pratikraman Sutras
4.00 pm
Savantsari Pratikraman
Pratikraman Timings during Paryushan Raisi Pratikraman :
Daily at 5.30 am
Devasi Pratikraman :
Daily at 6.30 pm except on Saturday 12th Sept & Thursday 17th Sept
Choumasi Pratikraman :
Saturday 12th September at 5.30 pm
Savantsari Pratikraman :
Thursday 17th September at 4.00pm
Paryushan Evening Programmes Thursday
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
108 Deepak Aarti & Pravachan by Kanchanbhai on 5 Kartavyas Mangal divo
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Deepak Aarti & Mangal divo
Bidding of Kumarpal Maharaja aarti, and Kalpasutra
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Deepak Aarti & Mangal divo
Pathshala children’s presentation on 18 Paapshthanak – 18 activities to be avoided in our daily lives
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Deepak Aarti & Mangal divo
Pravachan by Kanchanbhai
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Kumarpal Maharaja Kumarpal Maharaja procession 108 Deepak Aarti & Mangal divo
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Deepak Aarti & Mangal divo
Katha Geet
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Deepak Aarti & Mangal divo
Tapasavi Bahuman
10th September Friday 11th September Saturday 12th September Sunday 13th September Monday 14th September
Tuesday 15th September Wednesday 16th September Thursday
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm
17th September 4 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
Skits
Sakal Sangh ni Sanji
108 Deepak Aarti & Kshamapana ( Forgiveness ) programme Mangal divo
Why can Jains eat dried GINGER although it is grown underground ? The answer which we published in July issue to the above question raised good debate among our readers. We would welcome a detailed alternative answer to be published in the next issue. Please send your alternate answer to the Sangh office or email to mombasajains@gmail.com. We had received the following replies : 1.”” I believe dried ginger can be eaten because it is no longer alive . This One sense being dies immediately as opposed to other root vegetables.”” Kirti R Shah 2. “”Jains can use dried ginger as an AUSHADH -i.e. Medicine ,provided ,the dried ginger is grinded into powder form by somebody else. This is according to SHARADH VIDHI GRANTH . It is not used as a relishing food item.”” Dinu Kanti Vora 5 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
Unfortunately, this retreat was cancelled due to lack of participants! The aim was to acquaint young adults with basics of Jain Philosophy so that they are able to make informed and intelligent decisions on it’s application when they venture abroad for further studies or start their careers. Modern life comes with stresses of work/life balance, materialism, a peer group expectation for all to live a high standard of living, high pressure to do well in exams and at work place, increase in white collar crime, opportunity to be extremely wasteful due to availability of things. At times this leads to unhappy families, involvement in wrong doing to ‘keep up with the Jones’s’ and environment degradation. However, this retreat can be organized again if enough interest is shown in the future by parents or young adults.
Regular Pathshala Classes The Saturday Pathshala classes at Oshwal Academy will resume on Saturday 29th August 2015.
New Entrants : New entrants aged between 4 1/2 to 6 years are only taken at beginning of the term and so parents interested in sending their children should send details of their child ie Name and age to liljains@gmail.com by 28th August 2015. A new class will only be started if there are sufficient new children.
14 Auspicious Dreams of Trishalamata The story of Trishala Mata revolves around the fourteen dreams she had after the conception of her son, Lord Mahavir. King Siddharth, summoned the scholars of the court and asked them to explain the meaning of the dreams. These dreams are explained on the next page. On Monday 14th September at 3.00 pm, during Mahavir Janm vachan there is ’gheeboli’ of representations of the 14 dreams. The finale is birth of Lord Mahavir. All should try to attend this very colourful event.
6 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
14 Auspicious Dreams of Trishalamata
1 ) ELEPHANT : He will guide the spiritual chariot, and save human beings from misery, greed, and attraction of life.
2) BULL : He will be a spiritual teacher of great ascetics, kings, and other great personalities. He will help cultivate the religion.
3) Lion : He will be as powerful and strong as a lion. He will be fearless, almighty, and capable of ruling over the world.
5) Garland of Flowers : The fragrance of her son's preaching will spread over the entire universe.
6) Full Moon : He will lessen the suffering of all living beings, bring peace to the world and help the spiritual progress of humanity.
7) Sun : His teaching will destroy anger, greed, ego, lust, pride, etc. from the life of the people.
8) Large Flag : He will carry the
10) Lotus Lake : He will help to liberate the human beings who are tangled in the cycle of birth, death, and misery.
11) Milky Sea : He will achieve the infinite perception and knowledge and will escape from worldly life which is the ocean of birth and death and misery. This will lead his soul to Moksha.
12) Celestial Plane : All Gods and Goddesses in heaven will respect and salute to his spiritual teaching and will obey him.
9) Silver Urn : He will be perfect in all virtues and be full of compassion for all living beings. He will be a supreme religious personality.
13) Heap of Gems : He will have infinite virtues and wisdom.
4) Goddess Laxmi : He will attain great wealth, power, and prosperity.
banner of religion and reinstate the religious order throughout the Universe.
14) Smokeless Fire : He will reform and restore religious order. He will remove blind faith and orthodox rituals. Further, he will burn or destroy his karmas and attain salvation.
These pictures are actual photos of artwork done for the Panch Kalyanak Exhibition in 2013. 7 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
Hoisting of Dhaja (Flag) - 21 August 2015 by Family members of Chandulalbhai Vora ( D. C. K. Vora )
The Dhaja Pooja started at 8.30 am , followed by the procession and finally the hoisting.
This is an annual event.
8 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
The 18th century gave rights to man. ** The 19th century gave rights to slaves. The 20th century gave rights to women. The 21st century will give rights to animals. Quote by Dada Jashan Pahlajrai Vaswani, the spiritual head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission ** In 1789 the French National Assembly passed the Bill of Rights giving people rights. Until then, the King was sovereign; people had no rights. Sadhu Vaswani Mission is a non-jain mission based in Pune, India promoting Education, Healthcare, Social Services, Village Upliftment, Disaster Relief, Animal Welfare, Satsang, Dada Bhandara, Meatless Day Campaign, Promotion of The Sindhi Language, Publications 9 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
Excerpts from an interview with Dada Vaswani What are your main reasons for advocating vegetarianism? I object to meat eating on three counts: humanitarian, hygienic and aesthetic. I believe that one life flows into all— men, birds and animals. No one has the right to take away life. Life is God’s most precious gift. From the health and hygiene point of view, non-vegetarian food is high in cholesterol. From the aesthetic point of view, the cruelty to animals is insupportable. Have you ever visited a slaughter-house? But isn’t it nature’s way that we serve each other with our lives? Each one should serve the other provided the service is voluntary. The animal loves his life as much as we do. This is exploitation by humans. The time has come when all exploitation must cease. The piteous soul of humanity is crying for peace. But there can be no peace until we stop all killing. If I kill an animal for food, then I can also kill an enemy. But is this inference really borne out by facts? After all, the West is more concerned about human rights than we are and they are largely meat-eaters. They are more war-minded. The latest war (in Iraq) was an infliction by America on a country that did nothing. Is non-vegetarianism a reason for this? It is one of the reasons. The West believes that might is right—a great fallacy. You cannot have either culture or peace as long as you believe that. Not many are aware that on an average a human being eats up over a 1,000 creatures who value life as much as those who eat them up. We must recognise the moral inviolability of the individual—human and non-human. Just as blacks don’t exist as resources for whites or women for men, even so animals don’t exist as resources for men. There can be no peace without vegetarianism. Is vegetarianism enough to guarantee peace or is this the first step? I believe that it is the very first step. Today, I hear of animal welfare. But what is needed is animal rights. Men have rights. Do animals not have rights? Who has befriended man since the dawn of creation? Do men have no duty towards them? It is time to formulate a charter of animal rights. The very first right will be the right to live. That’s radical. Will everyone agree to this? It might take time but it will surely happen. The same questions were asked when abolition of slavery was mooted. This step is to be taken because otherwise, humanity cannot live in peace and happiness. We cannot take away what we cannot give. And we cannot give life. The 19th century gave rights to slaves. The next century gave rights to women. The 21st Century will surely give right to animals. Does vegetarianism have an impact on our spiritual progress? Food has an effect on the temperament of man. I know of a total meat-eater who had a bad temper. After he converted to vegetarianism, he became calm and patient. How did the Meatless Day come about? Sadhu Vaswani passed away on November 25, 1966. Our American devotees suggested that we observe that day as Meatless Day, where people pledge to stay off animal food for that one day. Sadhu Vaswani said: “Believe me, the day will come when meat-eating will be condemned as murder. I have seen God’s image shining in birds and animals. Not to love them is not to love God.” Last year we received 4 crore and 36 lakh pledges from all over the world. We have also joined forces with PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals). Recently, the UN asked me to deliver a lecture and I said that the only way to peace is to give rights to all, including animals. What came of it? I don’t think they have a charter of animal rights. But no matter. We continue to strive for it, offering our work at the lotus feet of the Lord. The time spirit is in favour of vegetarianism. People are more receptive. We plan to open a veterinary hospital in Pune as soon as we get land. Meanwhile, a mobile hospital goes to all the villages every year on November 25, giving vaccines to cows to avoid foot and mouth diseases. Members of our centre at Bangalore go to slaughter houses, purchase animals and set them free. 10 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
M M Shah & M V Shah Academy Mrs. Maniben Vaghjibhai Pethrajbhai Shah (age 103) passed away on Monday 10 August 2015 in Jamnagar, India. A person of high ideals and a simple life Maniben was a strict follower of Jain Dharma. She had lived a life of austerities (tapasvee jeevan). A doer of Maskhaman, Varshitap, Siddhitap, countless Atthai and Ayambil, Maniben was a great follower (bhakt) of Bholeshwar Dada. Maniben, who had given a big donation towards rooms in Bholeshwar and Geeta Vidyalaya in Mombasa, also gave donations for rooms at Khambalia’s M. P. Shah Sarvajanik Chhatralay (public hostel), stage in Kumar Mandir, Pathshala and Wing in Jain Vidyalaya , Mombasa derasar and Jain School (the present day MM Shah & MV Shah Academy). Maniben, who lived a self-reliant life till the end, had also become Sanghpati of Jamnagar – Palitana Chharipalit Sangh (yatra) (The Sanghyatra is the holy travel of the fourfold Jain society on bare foot from place to place. They wander thus from place to place, having a darshan of the Jain temples; and worshipping them; going on a pilgrimage to various places of pilgrimage; disseminating and preaching the dharma; and helping the people in distress. This is called Sanghyatra. During this Yatra. six very important rules are observed hence ‘Chharipalit’) She also funded the Kayami Ayambil at Kunwarbhai Dharmashala and Swami Vatsalya lunch for Oshwal community.. Known as Saurashtra’s Bhama Shah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Bhamashah), Maniben who was the wife of Vaghji Pethraj Shah (younger brother of Mehgji Pethraj Shah popularly known as M P Shah) lived her life in accordance with dharma.
A special general meeting on 13th July 2015 approved Kshs 13 million for the reconstruction of the rear boundary wall. The contract was awarded to Swamibapa Construction Ltd and the structure engineers are Manor Consultants. The work commenced on 20th July 2015 and it is expected to complete by end of October 2015. 11 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
Completed Sports Courts
Volley Ball Court
Field for Football and Rugby
Badminton & Tennis Court
Handball Court
Netball Court
Courts used for Skating
Basketball Court 12 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM A very generous Jain, Mr. Jayendra Gudka, expressed a wish to sponsor 5 students for 5 years at The M. M. Shah & M. V. Shah Academy in 2013. After much soul searching by the Jain Education Board (J. E. B.) it was decided to give the scholarships to children from Orphanages & Homes. Thus the Scholarship program was launched in 2014 and requests were made for more scholarships during Paryushan in the same year. A scholarship of KShs. 100,000/= per annum per child pays for tuition fees, transport, class uniform, sports uniform, class & sports shoes, lunch, books and class trips. 21 scholarships were received and taken up by children from 8 different Children’s homes. The progress of these children is under constant review and two teachers having been appointed as mentors to look after their progress and welfare in the School. This is a wonderful way to share our excellent facilities with the less privileged in our society.
Current List of Sponsors—2015 Mr. Jayendra. R. Shah (5 students)
Kikambala Group (2 students)
Mr. Lalit Doshi
Mr. Chuni Devshi Shah
Mr. Kirti Ramniklal Shah
Mr. Rohit Maganlal Shah
Mr. Prabhulal Narshi Samat Shah
Mr. Ketan Shantilal Shah
Mr. Ramesh Devchand Shah
Mrs. Chandramaniben Raichand Shah
Mr. Ramnik Virpar Shah
Mrs. Suryaben Chandrakant Meghji Parivar
Family of Late Mr. Keshavlal Rupshi Shah
Messrs Kachra Surah Shah
Scholarship - 2016 The school principal and his team are very happy with the programme and they are confident to scale up the same. Therefore, the Jain Education Board would like the number of sponsors to increase to 50 !
The scholarship sponsorship for 2016 academic year will be KShs 110,000/= per child. The increase is due to increase in tuition fees, transport costs and other costs. Please email to JEB Secretary, Mr Niteen Shah, or JEB members in charge of the Scholarship program, Mr Atul Gudka and Mr Dhiren Shah, for further information or you would like to sponsor a child.
Mr Niteen Shah 0733 234482 Mr Atul Gudka
0727 067488
Mr Dhiren Shah 0722 752713 13 SJSDS Newsletter August 2015
Email : jaineducationboard@gmail.com