Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
MP Satnam Singh Sandhu joins celebration of Mahavir Jayanti at Digambar Jain Temple in Chandigarh; Watch Video
Haling PM Modi’s mantra of Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi, Jain community in Chandigarh praises initiative for developing Jain circuit to connect 12 pilgrimage sites of Jainism
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 21, 2024: Jain community members in large numbers marked Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Shri 1008 Mahavir Swami, in Chandiagrh on Sunday with a special celebration at the Digambar Jain Temple in Sector 27B organised by Shri Digambar Jain Society.
While Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and IMF Convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu attended the function as chief guest, Digambar Jain Society’s president Navratan Jain, general secretary Sant Kumar Jain and members of the Jain community in larger numbers attended the event graced by the presence of the most influential disciple of Acharya Shri 108 Vasunandi Sagar Ji Maharaj, Chhullak Shri 105 Vishank Sagar Ji Maharaj.
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On the occasion, a special Prarthana Sabha (prayer meet) of the Jain community was held in which the chief guest Satnam Singh Sandhu and members of the Jain community sought blessings of the Lord Mahavir and Chhullak Shri 105 Vishank Sagar ji Maharaj for the country's progress and prosperity along with continued leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As part of the celebrations, a Rath Yatra, which started from the Digambar Jain Temple and passed through various areas of the city was also held.
On the occasion, members of Jain community lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his special bond of love and affection with the Jain community. They said PM Modi has taken special care to address the concerns of the Jain community and ensure development of the community in the past 10 years of his leadership.
Jain community members said PM Modi understood the sentiments of Jain community regaridng the holy site of Sammed Shikharji on Parasnath Hills in Jharkhand and made the timely intervention for ensuring protection of sacred site by stopping all tourist activity at the holy Jain site.
They said PM Modi has taken several initiatives for preservation of the Jain temples and tirtha (pilgrimage sites) across the country as a part of the mantra of Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi.
They said besides taking the initiative for developing a Jain circuit to connect 12 pilgrimage sites of Jainism, PM Modi has taken steps, inclduing allocation of Rs 40 Crore for establishment of the first-ever Centre of Jain Manuscriptology (GUCJM), unveiling of the 151-inch tall ‘Statue of Peace’ in Jetpura, Rajasthan, 116.65 kilometer long Taranga Hill-Ambaji-Abu Road new rail project worth Rs.2,798 Crores to facilitate easy travel for millions of Jain devotees traveling to Shri Ajitnath Jain Temple, keeping in view the sentiments of the Jain community.
Praising PM Modi’s mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, Jain community members said Modi’s government has empowered community’s youth by ensuring increased number of scholarships for Jain students and Mudra loans to Jain youth higher than proportion of the community’s population.
Members of the Jain community lauded PM Modi for his timely intervention for stopping all “tourism and ecotourism” activities on the Parasnath Hills where Sammed Shikharji, one of the holiest shrines of the community is located in Jharkhand. They said this step, taken in view of the sentiments of the community, underlined the PM Modi’s commitment to preserve and protecting the rights of Jain community over all their religious sites including Sammed Shikhar.where 20 of the 24 Jain tirthankaras are believed to have attained salvation.
PM Modi instrumental in preserving and promoting Jain heritage globally, says Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Indian Minorities Foundation Convenor, Satnam Singh Sandhu emphasized Bhagwan Mahavir’s teachings as guiding principles for a peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous society, and praised Jain community’s selfless service towards society.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been instrumental in preserving and promoting Jain heritage globally. Considering Jain Community’s religious sentiments, he intervened in Jharkhand Government’s decision to convert Parasnath Hill into a tourist destination, ensuring its religious sanctity, and also established the Jain Pilgrimage Circuit, connecting 12 sacred sites to enhance pilgrim accessibility.
Recently, Rs. 40 Crores has been allocated for the Center for Jain Manuscript Science at Gujarat University and Rs 25 Crores for the Center for Jain Studies in Indore to preserve Jain heritage and foster research in this field.
He has undertaken several initiatives to empower the Jain youth, such as providing 6.11 lakh scholarships for education and allocating 5% of PM Mudra Loans for entrepreneurship.
Additionally, PM Modi has acknowledged Jain community’s contributions to India's social and economic progress, with 17 Jains honoured with Padma Awards since 2014, including two this year,” he added.
Jains were not safe in the country earlier, they used to migrate to other countries; things changed drastically under Modi government, Jains are most protected and safer now than ever: Vishal Jain, Manager of Shri Digamber Jain Society
While extending wishes to PM Modi and countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, Vishal Jain, Manager of Shri Digamber Jain Society said, “The teachings of Mahavir Swami were based on the philosophy of Live and Let Live (Jiyo aur Jeene Do) which propagate the message of non-violence, people must follow these teachings.”
“As a follower of Jainism, I speak on behalf of all the followers of Jainism and want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervening in the matter and changing the decision of converting the most sacred place of Jains, the Parasnath Hill into a tourist destination. Under PM Modi, Jain community is safe and secure. Modi government has taken unparalleled decisions for the preservation of Jain culture and tradition in the past 10 years which no other previous government has ever done. They came to power, ruled, made promises and then never delivered on them. Pm Modi has ensured rejuvenation and beautification of shrines of Jains. The protection he has provided to Jains in past 10 years, no other government has ever provided that. We wish that PM Modi must continue to lead like this for years to come for the development and empowerment of Jains, Hindus and all other minorities. Works done for Jains, Minorities and initiatives like building of Ram Temple are indeed praiseworthy and deserves accolades; all these things were unheard of earlier,” Jain said.
“Earlier, Jains were not safe in the country, owing to which they had started migrating to other countries but under PM Modi things have changed completely; Jains are most protected and safer than ever. Entire Jain community is with Modi ji and want him to continue to lead the country in the years to come,” he added.
PM Modi understood Jain community’s sentiments, facilitated unprecedented progress for the community, says Vice President of Shri Digamber Jain Society Chandigarh, Damodar Das Jain
Damodar Das Jain, Vice President of Shri Digamber Jain Society Chandigarh, extended warm wishes to all members of the Jain Community and the people of India on the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.
He also expressed deep appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s ongoing and future efforts towards the development of the Jain community. He said, “Over the last 10 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken significant initiatives benefiting the Jain community, for which we are sincerely grateful to him. He has understood our religious sentiments and facilitated unprecedented progress for the community, for which entire Jain community extends its best wishes to him.”
Jain Community hails PM Modi’s commitment to promoting Jain Heritage and national development
Another Jain community member, Srikant Jain, said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has successfully addressed the Parasnath Hill issue in Jharkhand and, more recently, in Gujarat, he has allocated a budget of Rs 40 crore for the Jain Manuscript Science Center (GUCJM) to promote Jain heritage and foster research in this field. His approval for the creation of the Jain Circuit, which links 12 significant Jain religious sites, reflects a commendable effort to respect the religious sentiments of the entire community, which has never happened before. Furthermore, PM Modi has consistently shown great respect and reverence for Jain saints, as evident from initiatives over the past decade. He has not only addressed the needs of the Jain community but has also actively worked towards reviving the cultural heritage, civilizational spirit, and fostering communal harmony. The entire Jain Community stands with Prime Minister Modi, and firmly supports his vision for Vikas (development) in the country. Not only this, PM Modi has made significant strides for India’s overall progress across various fronts, particularly in space exploration while also ensuring inclusive development for all communities.”
PM Modi has ensured equal empowerment of not just Jain community but all Minority communities in past 10 years, say Youth from Jain Community
PM Modi has empowered Jain community like never before, say Youth of Jain Community
A young member of Jain community, Nikita Jain said, “I am a big fan of PM Modi. Ever since he has taken reins of the country in his hands, he has ensured empowerment for not only Jain community but all other Minority communities in the country,”.
“In the past 10 years, PM Modi has ensured equal development of all communities without any discrimination. He shares a special bond with the youth of the nation; PM Modi always says that the youth is the foundation of nation’s progress both in present and future. One of the countless examples of his resolute commitment to empower youth from minority communities is that more than 4 percent students of Jain community have got scholarships under with Mudra Yojana which has empower them financially to start their own business or take up entrepreneurial ventures. He has always delivered on his promises. We need strong leadership of PM Modi in future as well for the development of the country to continue unhindered,” she added.
Extending her heartiest wishes to PM Modi on the occasion on Mahavir Jayanti, another Jain community youth Nidhi Jain said, “PM Modi has worked for the empowerment of Jain community like no other leader has ever done in the past. He has taken the country forward and made it stronger like never before. PM Modi has taken several initiatives for the preservation of Jain culture and tradition in the country in the past 10 years. He has not only given voice to the Jain community but paid attention to our concerns and taken care of them. We support strong leadership of PM Modi which must continue in future as well for the inclusive development of the nation.”
PM Modi has enhanced India’s global stature in past 10 years: say Jain Community women
Protection of Jain Pilgrimage sites reflects respect for Community's religious sentiments; Development of Jain Circuit a symbol of reverence towards Jainism: Jain Community Woman
Expressing gratitude to PM Modi for respecting sentiments of Jain community, Sandesh Jain, a resident of Chandigarh, said, “PM Modi has always worked for the empowerment of Jain community. He has intervened in the matter of Parasnath Hills as a result it remained a pilgrimage site and was not converted to a tourist spot. Modi government has also developed the Jain circuit preserving the cultural and traditional sanctity of Jainism. PM Modi follows the teachings of Lord Mahavir Ji and worked for the development of all communities equally. He works with the spirit of Nation First by rising above the caste, religion or social divides. We need strong leadership of PM Modi for the development to continue in the future as well.”
Calling herself as Modi Ka Parivaar, she added that the global stature of India has improved significantly in the past 10 years of Modi government. “Today, leaders of various countries look up to Modi Ji for resolving many pertinent global issues,” she added.
Another woman, Shikha Jain, who participating in Mahavir Jayanti celebration along with her family, emphasized that Lord Mahavir's teachings advocate the message of Ahimsa Parmo Dharma (non-violence as the paramount religion), which is reflected even in PM Modi's mantra of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, she commended his commitment to honouring Jainism, which has contributed to the progress of the Jain community.
She said, “During his tenure, PM Modi has undertaken numerous initiatives for the Jain community and instilled confidence in us that he will continue to prioritize their welfare in the future.” Referring to herself as part of ‘Modi Ka Parivaar’ (PM Modi's family), she said that the entire Jain community and whole of India stands with Prime Minister Modi. She also expressed optimism about PM Modi's victory in the upcoming elections, surpassing the vote count of four hundred.”