1. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Jai Jinendra!

Anumodna to all the Tapasvis for their tap and blessed are your souls for being able to do Tap Aradhana during this auspicious festival. All the centers have celebrated Paryushan and Das Lakshana with great pomp. Please send your details of Upvas at earliest so we can recognize you.

We are receiving overwhelming response to our appeal for relief for Hurricane victims and JivDaya for Flood hit areas of India.

Warm Regards,
Gunvant Shah
JAINA President
09-09-2017

2. QUOTE

The nights that have departed will never return. They have been wasted by those given to unrighteousness.

- Bhagwan Mahavir

3. JAIN CENTER NEWS

JAIN TEMPLE OF VIRGINIA PARYUSHAN HIGHLIGHTS

Jain Temple of Virginia Paryushan 2017 was festive, bhaktimaya and memorable among all the members. More than 500 people have visited and enjoyed Shri Lalitbhai Dhami’s Bhakti Bhavana, Ashtapad pujan, bhavya Angi Darshan, Arti / Mangal Devo with different raags etc and felt like home away home. The young scholar Shri Ankitbhai Shah’s morning and evening lecture in simple language including Shatrunjay Bhavyatra left long lasting impression on our minds especially many kids enjoyed a lot. This year people enjoyed a very artistic and spectacular Siddhshila, 14 Swapna, Kesar and many more angi darshan during eight days.

Nearly 45 kids participated in school supply distribution of stationary and nearly 15 kids participated in Vitrag link competition including 5 years old girl.

4. SHATRUNJAY SERIES

#14 SHRINE OF SONS TAKING UP ARMS

On the right a fenced mini-temple on a platform with 4 idols made of black marble standing in a meditative posture.

The first two, Dravid and Varikhill, were among Adinath’s 102 children. Before renouncing the world to become a Jain monk, Adinath gave each of them their own kingdom and armies. Dravid waged a war against his younger brother Varikhill. Half of their armies were killed. Repenting their greed, they ultimately attained liberation.

The 3rd idol is of Aimuttamuni, the author of a book called “ShatrunjayLaghuKalpa”. The book explains the Shatrunjay’s significance to Naradji, who is the 4th idol.

When the town of Dwarika was burning and Naradji saw many people turn to ash, he renounced the world, accepted sainthood,and came to Shatrunjaand attained enlightenment on this hill.

Because so many have attained enlightenment on this hill, Shatrunjay is also known as Siddhachal.

Click to read the story & listen to an amazing audio clip in English or Gujarati.

5. JAIN STORY

MONKEY AND SUGARI

Sugari's (tailor bird) is known for its very well-woven and an artistic nest. It protects from wind and rain. On one rainy day, a sugari was sitting in its nest and it was raining heavily and it was thundering with frequent flashes of lightening. At such time, a monkey troubled by the cold wind and rain took shelter under the tree. The sugari sarcastically asked, "You are so clever then
why didn't you build a nest to live in on the rainy day?"
The monkey got angry and told the sugari to shut up. He kept on shivering. Sugari could not resist teasing him, she said,
"Why did you waste the summer time in laziness?"

On hearing this, the monkey was enraged and verbally abused the sugari. The rain and thunder increased and the sugari once again opened its mouth. The monkey was so mad now that he said, "Keep quiet, you bad mouth. If you keep murmuring, I will make you homeless. Don't pretend to be a pundit (a learned man)." The sugari kept quiet. But the cold monkey started to shiver again due to the bitter frost, and the sugari once again spoke the words of wisdom. At last, the monkey could not control its anger any more. He said, "Although I have no ability to make a house, I do possess the ability to break one." Saying so, he climbed up the tree, and destroyed the sugari's nest, making the poor sugari also homeless. Now both of them suffered from cold wind and rain.

Such occasions are very common. We should not point out the faults of others. We should remain indifferent to them. Everyone is responsible for what he or she does. We should try to learn from other people's good and bad experiences. We should improve ourselves and get rid of our faults first. This was one of the many messages of Lord Mahavir.

6. CHILDREN'S CORNER

STORY OF ROHINIYA THIEF

7. BE PATIENT

There was a king who had in his cabinet a large number of old ministers and a few youths. One day the youthful ministers lodged a complaint with the king that the old ministers be removed as they were weak, both physically as well as mentally. They might be replaced by youthful ministers as they were strong and courageous. Thereupon the king replied that he would decide the matter later on after a couple of days. Next day, the king put a question to the youthful ministers, who made the complaint, if someone might pull his beard then what would be the punishment in their view for the erring person.

At once the minister replied that such a man must be awarded capital punishment, his head be chopped off by a sword. Hearing such an answer from the mouth of the young ministers, the king put the same question before his old ministers and they replied they would think it over and would reply next day. After dispersal of the court, the old ministers assembled and began to discuss and decide the answer. They replied the king by saying next day that such man deserves double love from your side.

8. YJA UPDATE

YJA's Summerfest Retreats have been taking place across the regions to bring young Jains together for fun under the sun! We kicked things off in Atlanta, GA where YJA Southeast took on daring roller coasters at Six Flags. YJA Northeast gathered at Boston Commons playing Frisbee, enjoying vegan treats and catching a play. Mid-West pride reached new heights with sessions on Jainism and a day full of riding roller coasters, eating chutney sandwiches, and getting drenched on water rides! YJA West took on the great outdoors with a camping retreat where they played dodgeball on the lakeshore, explored the hills outside Kings Canyon, told Jain stories around the campfire, and counted over a 100 shooting stars lying under the open sky! YJA members in Houston bonded over Taco Bell and the Mid-Atlantic region kicked off their retreat by building their own pizzas!

9. JAIN RECIPE

RAVA IDLI

Ingredients:

• 500 grams Samolina (rava)
• 50 grams urad dal
• 100 grams rice flour
• 200 ml butter milk
• Salt to taste
• Oil

Preparation:

1. Roast lightly the samolina. Mix it with the rice flour and the butter milk to make a soft batter.
2. Soak urad dal for 2-3 hours. Grind and mix with the batter. Keep it for 5-6 hours.
3. Add salt and 1-tsp. oil to the batter.
4. Grease the idli moulds. Fill the moulds with the batter and steam for 10-12 minutes.
5. Take out the idlis from mould and serve with chutney and sambhar.

You can also add peas, cashew nut or coconut in idlis.

10. ANUMODNA

Jayesh Shah 30 Upvas JSMC	Parul Shah 30 Upvas JSMC	Hemali Shah 21 Upvas JSMC
Vishal Shah 10 Upvas JSMC	Binal Shah 9 Upvas JCNC	Atul Shah 8 Upvas Chicago
Dr. Harhsit Khara 8 Upvas Danville, NY	Gunvant Shah 8 Upvas JCNJ	Keval Shah 8 Upvas Salt Lake City
Manju Bhandari 8 Upvas	Shashikant Bhandari 8 Upvas	Vijay Chheda 8 Upvas JCSC