Articles on Jain Dharma Practitioners
How an Idea Turned into 90,000+ Hot Meals Served
By Rahi Shah, Janvee Patel · Jain Avenue, 2023
In May 2023, the Jain Avenue Voice of the Practitioners of Jain Dharma featured an article detailing how an initiative began providing meals to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The effort started when Varun Gandhi received a call from Adhir Shah, who…
Avanti Parshwanath Temple & Kalyan Mandir Stotra: Ujjain's Jain Heritage
Jain Avenue, 2023
The ancient city of Ujjain, originally named Avantika Puskarandini and Vishala, served as the capital of Malwa. King Sudhanva later renamed it Ujjain. The city holds historical significance as the birthplace of King Samprati, who, under the guidance of…
The Jain Monk and His Saka Saviours
By Devdutt Pattanaiik · Jain Avenue, 2023
The article discusses the historical and cultural significance of the Kalak Acharya Katha, a Jain text that originated from events occurring around 2,000 years ago and was later written down in Prakrit and local languages approximately 1,000 years later. This…
An Interview with Anand Jain
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen · Jain Avenue, 2023
Anand Jain, founder of the Jain Centre of British Columbia, discusses key aspects of Jainism in an interview. He elaborates on the concept of an eternal universe inhabited by souls governed by karma, where human beings can reincarnate as gods. Jainism…
The Earth is My Teacher: A Jain's Spiritual Journey Through Philosophy and Action
By Rajiv Rathod · Jain Avenue, 2022
Rajiv Rathod's spiritual journey began with a lifelong interest in philosophy, leading him to explore fundamental questions about existence. Seven years ago, while living in Bangalore, he observed a community effort to build a Jain temple. This sparked…
Lord Mahavira's Journey to Nirvana and the Kalpasutra's Sacred Teachings
Jain Avenue, 2022
Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara in Jainism, renounced his Kshatriya prince life at 30 and attained nirvana by 72. His teachings emphasize ahimsa (non-violence). The Kalpasutra, a sacred Jain text attributed to Bhadrabahu, was composed 150 years after…
Searching for Extraterrestrial Life: Human Habitable Planets and Ancient Loka
By Jeoraj Jain · Jain Avenue, 2022
The article explores the question of whether humans are alone in the universe, referencing scientific efforts to identify habitable exoplanets and extraterrestrial civilizations. It discusses the Fermion paradox (1921), which suggests we are not alone, and…
The Essence of Samaysar: A Humble Exploration
By Yash K Jain · Jain Avenue, 2022
The author, Yash K Jain, a retired ISRO director with a background in electronics and space programs, expresses humility and self-doubt while attempting to articulate the essence of Samaysar, a Jain philosophical concept. He references Pandit Todarmalji’s…
Lonka Shah and the Sthanakvasi Jain Sect's Historical Context
By Bipin Shah · Jain Avenue, 2022
Lonka Shah, founder of the Sthanakvasi Jain sect within the Svetambara tradition, emerged during a turbulent period in Gujarat’s history marked by the decline of the Vaghela dynasty, widespread temple demolitions by Delhi Sultanate forces, and significant…
Padma Shri Honors Acharya Shri Chandanaji: A Tribute to Jain Dharma's Living Legend
By Dilip V. Shah · Jain Avenue, 2022
Acharyashri Chandanaji, a revered figure in Jainism, was honored with the Padma Shri award on January 26, 2022, coinciding with her 86th birthday. A virtual celebration was organized via Zoom due to COVID-19 restrictions, originally planned for 500 attendees…
Jain Principle of Ahimsa and Environmental Crisis
By Sohan Lal Jain Gandhi · Jain Avenue, 2022
The article discusses the Jain principle of ahimsa (nonviolence) and its relevance to contemporary ecological crises. Rooted in Jainism since the time of the first Tirthankara, Rsabhadeva, ahimsa gained prominence in the 20th century through Mahatma Gandhi's…
Non-Violence: Supreme Human Value & Foundation of Existence
By Dileep Dhing · Jain Avenue, 2022
The article emphasizes non-violence as the supreme human value and the foundation of all human values, arguing that its absence leads to the degradation of humanity, humanism, and ethical principles. Dr. Dileep Dhing asserts that non-violence is an eternal…
Ahimsa: The Life Force of Jainism or Just a Word?
By Sulekh Jain · Jain Avenue, 2022
The article explores the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) in Jainism through a poem by 10-year-old Rutvi Shah, who expresses a deep desire to embody Jain values such as compassion, honesty, and respect for all life. The poem highlights themes of…
Science and Religion: Complementary Perspectives on Human Belief
By Dominic Johnson, Michael Price · Jain Avenue, 2021
The PDF discusses the enduring prevalence of religious belief, noting that over seven billion of the world's eight billion people adhere to some form of religion, with atheism remaining relatively rare, particularly in non-Western societies. It highlights the…
Bhagvan Mahavira's Path to Omniscience: Overcoming Ignorance through Spiritual Effort
By Narayan Lal Kachhara · Jain Avenue, 2021
The text discusses Dr. N.L. Kachhara's exploration of Jain philosophy, particularly focusing on Bhagvan Mahavira's attainment of omniscience after eliminating psychical karma through intense penance. It explains that a common human soul is bound by ignorance,…
Exploring Anekanta Philosophy in Jain Dharma
By Rahul Kapoor Jain, Arihant Kumar Jain · Jain Avenue, 2021
This October 2021 issue of *Jain Avenue*, a monthly online magazine by JAINA India Foundation, focuses on Jain philosophy and its practical applications. The cover article introduces "Voice 07: The Practitioners of Jain Dharma," part of a video series by…
Virchand Gandhi: Defender of Indian Culture at 1893 Chicago Parliament
By Virchand Raghaviji Gandhi, Bipin Doshi · Jain Avenue, 2021
Virchand Raghaviji Gandhi, a contemporary of Swami Vivekananda, was a prominent exponent of Indian culture and Jainism. He played a significant role in correcting misconceptions about India at the 1893 Parliament of World Religions in Chicago, countering…
Life and Works of Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj: A Jain Dharma Practitioner
Jain Avenue, 2021
His Holiness Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj, born on June 15, 1926, in Shikopur, a small village in Haryana, India, was a self-realized spiritual master dedicated to non-violence, world peace, universal brotherhood, and environmental protection for over 50…
Chitrabhanu: Man of the Millennium - A Life of Ego-less Service and Spiritual Guidance
By Nirmala Hanke · Jain Avenue, 2021
The PDF content discusses the biography *Chitrabhanu: Man of the Millennium* by Dilip Shah, reviewed by Dr. Nirmala Hanke. The book chronicles the life of Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji, a revered Jain spiritual teacher who impacted Jains and non-Jains globally,…
Jainism's Future: Addressing Disconnection and Redefining Religious Practice for Next Generations
By Sejal Shah (Ph.D.) · Jain Avenue, 2021
The October 2021 issue of *Jain Avenue Voice of the Practitioners of Jain Dharma* explores themes of religion's future, societal evolution, and Jain identity. Dr. Sejal Shah questions whether religion will exist in 30 years and, if so, in what form,…
The Mirror of the Self: The Doctrine of Leshya: A Historical Perspective
By Aastha Mehta · Jain Avenue, 2021
The article explores the doctrine of leshya, a concept originating in philosophy that has gained attention in scientific research. The aura, described as a circle of light surrounding the body, and the halo, a luminous circle often depicted around the heads…
Lessons from Mahavir: Non-Violence in Human Conflict
By Mona Badani · Jain Avenue, 2021
Dr. Mona Badani, a radiologist and Jainism student, reflects on her journey learning about Jainism through a University of Mumbai course. She emphasizes the historical reality of Mahavir Swami, citing evidence from historians, and highlights the practical…
Science In Jain Canonical Literature
By Laxmi Chandra Jain, Manikant Shah · Jain Avenue, 2021
The article critiques Euro-American Western science's dominance, highlighting its limitations rooted in 16th-17th century thinkers like Descartes, Newton, Copernicus, and Galileo, which emphasized particularism and reductionism. It argues that the claim of…
Jain Society's Existential Dilemma: Survival Amidst Global Violence
By Narendra Bhandari · Jain Avenue, 2021
The text discusses the existential challenges faced by Jain society, a non-violent minority, in a world dominated by widespread violence. Authored by Dr. Narendra Bhandari, a space scientist and Jain scholar, it questions whether such a community can survive…
Acharya Rajendrasurishvarji's Legacy: Abhidhan Rajendra Kosh
By Jitendra B. Shah · Jain Avenue, 2021
Acharya Rajendrasurishvarji, born in 1827 in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, was a pivotal figure in Jainism, renowned for his scholarly contributions and spiritual influence. His father, Sheth Rushabhdas, and mother, Kesarbai, nurtured his early inclinations toward…
Compassion: First Step Towards Liberation
Jain Avenue, 2021
The article explores the concept of compassion (karuna) as a pathway to liberation in Jain dharma, emphasizing its proactive nature beyond mere sympathy. It distinguishes compassion from pity by highlighting the absence of ego in helping others and…
Compassion in Action: Creating a Jain Animal Sanctuary in America
By Shaleen & Shilpi Shah · Jain Avenue, 2021
Shaleen and Shilpi Shah, inspired by Lord Mahavira’s teachings on compassion, founded Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary near Denver, Colorado, to promote ahimsa (non-violence), karuna (compassion), and jiv daya (compassion for all life). Their journey began when…
Celebrating Selfless Organ Donation: Stories of Compassion and Hope
By Bhavi Khetani, Sejal Zaveri · Jain Avenue, 2021
The article highlights two notable cases of organ and body donation in the Jain community, emphasizing the selfless choices made by families and individuals. Jash Oza, a 2.5-year-old declared brain dead, became the youngest cadaver donor, providing organs to…