Overview: The Federation of JAINA is an umbrella organization of local Jain Associations in USA and Canada and was started with the blessings from Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji and Acharya Shri Sushil Kumarji. It was initiated at the first Jain Convention held in Los Angeles in 1981 and formalized at the second Jain Convention in New York in 1983.

JAINA is a federation of 62 Jain organizations representing more than 100,000 Jains living in USA and Canada without any distinction based on sect, language or region. It has provided a forum to foster friendship and unity among various Jain communities in North America.

Objectives:
1) Promote religious and educational activities related to the Jain religion and to develop better understanding of the Jain religion.

2) Assist and promote charitable and humanitarian activities in North America and worldwide.

3) Actively promote vegetarianism and Nonviolence.

4) Provide and promote academic and cultural exchanges amongst Jains everywhere.

5) Assist existing Jain associations and support the formation of new Jain associations in North America

6) Serve as a liaison with government agencies in pursuance of the above objectives.

7) Foster cordial relationships with interfaith or multi faith organizations.

JAINA functions through more than 300 Volunteers from all corners of North America. It has an executive assistant with Headquarters in Getzville (Suburb of Buffalo, NY). The Executive Committee of JAINA is elected every two years from a group of Directors nominated by member organizations.

Publications: JAIN DIGEST is a quarterly magazine published by JAINA and is sent free to 10,000 families in North America. It chronicles news and activities of member organizations, community affairs and articles by scholars of Jainism and humanitarian activities undertaken by JAINA volunteers. JAINA SPECTRUM is a monthly electronic newsletter sent out to nearly 3,000 online subscribers. It is presented as “The Jain Voice of North America”. Anyone can subscribe to it by visiting the JAINA website: www.JAINA.org JAINA also publishes a colorful calendar each year with important Jain holidays and is mailed free to all Jain households in North America.

Milestones: JAINA was successful in arranging the recital of a jain Prayer as an opening prayer in the US house of representatives in May 2001 in celebration of the 2600th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankars. Jain prayers were also held in the state assembles of Maryland, Ohio and Virginia. JAINA has adopted the first Sunday in October in recognition of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday as Ahimsa Day. JAINA volunteers work with local governments to issue proclamations for observance of Ahimsa Day. It is celebrated by promoting non-violence, Vegetarianism and organizing seminars on Ahimsa.

Every other year beginning in 1981 JAINA holds a convention that draws thousands of attendees from all over the world. The thirteenth biennial convention will be held during the first weekend of July 2005, in San Jose, California. Every other year YJA, the youth wing of JAINA serving 4,000 members, holds its own convention drawing about 800 youths.

The World Community Services (WCS) of JAINA has helped victims of the earthquakes in Latur and Kutchh (India), North Ridge (California) and Kobe (Japan), the famine in Rwanda and the devastation left by hurricane Andrew on the southeastern coast of the US, the victims of the Mississippi river flood, hurricane victims of Kandala and Orrissa. WCS also operates medical camps in rural parts of India. Presently the WCS is raising funds to help build a school for 1,000 children in Pawapuri. The Wheels of Hope Committee ships medical equipment and supplies free to charitable hospitals all over India.

In recognition of JAINA’s world wide humanitarian work, United States Agency for International Development has awarded JAINA a certificate of registration making it eligible to receive grants from USAID. It also grants JAINA a blanket certificate to export medical and educational equipment for humanitarian aid globally. JAINA has also received several awards in United States and India including awards from World Medical Relief Inc. of Detroit, and American Red Cross.

There is a JAINA library with more than 8,000 books in the Jain Center of Southern California. JAINA Patron Program and the JAINA Charitable Trust are the fund raising arms of JAINA and they are vital organs of JAINA. The Education Committee of JAINA has published teaching curriculum and text books which have received praise worldwide. The JAINA Publication Committee has produced a DVD on Kshamapana and is made available free. The Jivdaya Committee promotes cause of vegetarianism and funds animal shelters in India. The JAINA Book Depot sells books, audio and videos on Jainism on no profit basis.

Organization: The Pilgrimage Committee organizes a pilgrimage of Jain Temples in India every year and the Teerthodhdhar Committee sponsors medical camps for Sadhu/Sadhwis and funds restoration of Jain Temples. These two committees worked together to help build a school for 400 children in Lachhwar, Bihar; birthplace of Lord Mahavira. Jain Rituals committee helps local centers and individuals perform religious functions.
JAINA Academic Liaison Committee is a charter member of Ahimsa Center at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, and is preparing to catalog and support Jain studies in North America. The V.R. Gandhi Scholarship Committee grants scholarships for advanced Jain studies in India and has published books and literature on the life and work of Shri Veerchand Raghavji Gandhi. The Scholar Visitation Committee invites scholars of Jainism and arranges their seminars in different centers.

There are two youth organizations within JAINA: Young Jains of America (YJA) and Young Jain Professionals (YJP). The Marriage Information service and JAINA Network Forum have enabled many parents to find Jain spouses for their children. The North American Family Assistance committee has quietly helped Jain families in need and the Senior Housing Committee is exploring possibilities of creating housing for the aging Jain population in different cities.

JAINA has established bilateral relationships with the World Confederation of Jains, Veeraytan, Vegetarian Society of Bombay, Jain Social Group Federation and Bidada Sarvodya Trust through its Government and International Relations Committee. The Interfaith Committee has fostered valuable contacts with many inter-religious organizations and participated in the Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona, Spain.

JAINA as an umbrella organization with links to many such organizations around the world has many other committees that help JAINA run efficiently. The Membership, the Media and Public relations, the Long Term planning, the Technology Committee and the Legal Affairs Committee are some of these committees.

FAQs About JAINA:
Q. How can I become a member of JAINA?
A. JAINA is a Federation of Jain Associations in North America. Individuals can not become members but as a member of any of the member organization of JAINA individuals and families are served by JAINA.

Q How can I receive JAIN DIGEST?
A. JAIN DIGEST is mailed free to every Jain Family in North America. You can send a request to be on the mailing list by writing to JAINAHQ, P O Box 700, Getzville, NY 14068-0700 or by emailing your request to: jainahq@jaina.org. You can support JAIN DIGEST by donating $151.00 and becoming a life member.

Q How can I help JAINA?
A. As a volunteer organization, JAINA can always use your talent. Just write to the headquarter at above address with area of interest and someone will get in touch with you.