Editor-in-Chief: Dr. H.A.Parshwanath

Vol.2      Issue 8

DECEMBER 2003

Editorial

MAHAVIRACHARYA

   Mahaviracharya was a great mathematician who lived in the 9th century in the court of Nrupatunga, the Rashtrakuta king. He has studies the works of other famous mathematicians of India namely Arayabhata, Varahamihira and Bhaskara. His great work was 'Ganitasarasangaraha'. This work brought name anf fame to him at the international level. The complete work is in sholakas with 9 chapters.

   He was of the opinion and confident that the arithmetical knowledge was of immense help in understanding even the dramas. He described that all the things found in the world also existed in arithmetic's. His work is composed of arithmetical exercises resolved in solutions and quoted with many examples. Vallabha has written commentary on it in both Telgu and Kannada. It is also well known in the western world. It has drawn the attention of great mathematicians. It is a matter of pride for the Jains where a classic work on mathematics has appeared. This work deals with progressions and seriers and also permutations and combinations. He has hailed Nrupatunga as 'Syadvada Nyayavadi'. One can find the rare intelligence and poetic forbearance with an artistic creativity in Mahaviracharya. He has provided simple explanation for the learners in mathematics. His work is a treasure of solutions for many mathematical problems. On ecan also find the sensuous humoral tone in his work.

   His 'Ganitasarasangraha' was found in the presidency college of Madras in 1912 by M.Rangacharya, the Sanskrit professor. Mahaveeracharya is also said to have written the work 'Jyotishapatala', though its script is not available.

   He has also contributed immensely for geometry. He has evinced keen interest in both arithmetic's and geometry. His contribution has helped in understanding economics and also many social and religious activities. Another name deserves to be mentioned as a Jain mathematician is Badhrabaha Swamy who lived in 3rd century B.C. The others include Bathapala and Siddasena. But their works are not avialable. The contributions by the Jain saints and scholars in the field of mathematics should always be regarded with reverance and propagated among the people.

Thanking you

-Dr. H.A.Parshwanath

HAMPA NAGARAJAIAH ELECTED PRESIDENT OF JAIN HISTORY CONFERENCE

Nippani (Belgaum District), November 28:  Fourth Jain History Conference of Maharashtra Jain Itihas Parishad will be held at Nipani (Belgaum) in Karnataka on 31^st January and 1^st February 2004. Renowned Jain historian Hampa Nagarajayya is elected as the President of the conference. The conference will be inaugurated by another renowned Jain historian Neeraj Jain of Satna. The chief guest for the inaugural function is Mr. Arun Gujarathi, Speaker of Vidhan Sabha, Maharashtra State.

For more details. Please contact: Mr. Shrenik Annadate, Editor, Teerthankar D-6, Rajhans, Rajendra Prasad Marg Tilaknagar, Dombivali East 421 201, Phone: 0251-2404149. News Courtesy: Mahavir Sanglikar

PARLIAMENT OF WORLD’S RELIGIONS IN JULY 2004

The fourth Parliament of world’s Religions will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from July 7 through July 13, 2004.  This parliament will also be one of the most significant events of the Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona with the support of UNESCO.  The 2004 Parliament registration badge will also grant access to a wide range of performances, exhibits and other activities of the Universal Forum of Cultures. 

The Parliament of World’s Religions is an international gathering where people of spirit, faith and goodwill gather for interreligious encounter, dialogue and creative engagement with the critical issues facing our world.  It offers an exceptional opportunity to engage in the many facets of the theme: Pathways to Peace: the wisdom of listening, the power of commitment.  An anticipated 10,000 social activists, religious and spiritual leaders, educators and performers from over 85 countries are expected to attend the 2004 Parliament in Barcelona.  This event will inspire, challenge, and energize people across the world that is committed to peace, social justice, and the international interreligious movement.  For more information on the Parliament and its theme, visit its website www.cpwr.org. -News Courtesy: jaincenter@hotmail.com

SATISH KUMAR JAIN GETS MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

EIGHT JAIN'S ENTER MADHYA PRADESH ASSEMBLY

VEERAKUMAR PATIL REELECTED MEMBER OF THE KARNATAKA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

RAJESH JAIN ENTERS DELHI VIDHANA SABHA FOR THE SECOND TIME

ONLY TEMPLE FIND PLACE ON NSG'S TERROR MAP

New Delhi, December 10: Are temples in the country more vulnerable to terrorist attacks than mosques and churches? The government seems to think so. The National Security Guard, which has completed a survey of major temples in the country, has concluded that nearly two dozen face a security threat and need more protection. The NSG survey was undertaken on the directions of Ministry of Home Affairs, following the terrorist attack on the Raghunath temple in Jammu earlier this year. The survey did not include mosques or churches. ‘‘There was no need to include mosques or churches as there is no perceived threat to them,’’ a senior official said.

Minister of State for Home I.D. Swami told The Indian Express that most of the vulnerable temples had been provided ‘‘ample security’’ which included Central forces such as the CRPF and CISF, in addition to state police. He denied religious considerations in gauging threat perception. The temples under the vulnerable category include the Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar, Kamakhya in Assam, Jagannath in Puri (Orissa), Vaishno Devi in Jammu, Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Dilwara (Jain) in Mount Abu, Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Somnath in Gujarat, Dwarkadhish Krishna and Iskcon temple in Vrindavan and Hanuman and Birla Mandir in Delhi. It mentions also threats to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. - News Courtesy: Indian Express

BAN ON COW SLAUGHTER IN MADHYA PRADESH

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), December 13: The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet friday decided to impose a complete ban on cow slaughter, a promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party before the elections. Presided over by the Chief Minister, Uma Bharti, the Cabinet also decided to reinstate thousands of retrenched daily wage earners, wind up the district governments and bring the Narmada water to Bhopal. Ms. Bharti had announced during her election campaign that once she came to power, a decision would be taken at her very first Cabinet meeting to impose a complete ban on cow slaughter. Similarly, she had emphasised that a decision would also be taken at the meeting to reinstate thousands of daily wage earners appointed after December 31, 1988, clear the Narmada water supply scheme for Bhopal and abandon the system of district governments that had been imposed on the Panchayati Raj system by the Digvijay Singh Government. The BJP Government has also decided to properly equip the cow sheds for keeping sick and ailing cows. - News Courtesy: The Hindu

THE SUCCESS STORY OF DIPAK C JAIN

December 2 : Dipak C Jain, the two-time gold medalist from Guwahati University is the first Indian dean to head the Kellogg School of Management in the US. His journey to the top from humble beginnings in Assam indeed bears lessons for managers and teachers alike. Son of an army officer, Jain, in 1980, was just appointed as a lecturer at Guwahati University and was simultaneously working for doctorate degree in operations research. Lack of proper access to academic journals or research materials that were required for his doctoral study made Jain to step up proactive approaches to acquire knowledge. So he wrote letters to researchers at universities in the United States, asking them to send him their working papers. During one such interaction, with his letter to Professor S Prakash Sethi, who was at the University of California, Berkeley, he came into contact with Professor R. Chandrasekaran, professor of operations research at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Professor Chandrasekaran asked if Jain would be interested in pursuing a doctorate degree in operations research. And suggested that Jain send his transcripts and test scores at the earliest. Jain responded by sending his transcripts and certificates that demonstrated his academic honours and achievements and was ultimately admitted to the master's degree programme in the University of Texas, Dallas, in operations research with a full scholarship. And soon, he followed it up with a doctorate in marketing from the University of Texas at Dallas. On his arrival to the United States in 1983, Jain switched gears from operations research to marketing. It was a pivotal shift for, on completion of his thesis, he was accepted as an instructor at Kellogg, which was known for its marketing expertise. On January 5, 1987, Jain taught his first class. Fourteen years later, he got the responsibility to navigate the course of the premier business school in the world. In 1994, Jain was named the school's Sandy and Morton Goldman Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies and professor of marketing. In addition to teaching at Kellogg, Jain served as a visiting professor at the Koblenz Business School, Germany; Nijenrode University, the Netherlands; Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; IIT Delhi; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong; and Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Aware of the challenges ahead of him after succeeding Don Jacobs as the Dean, at Kellogg, Jain soon after taking office laid emphasis on regular interface with alumnis, recruiters and partners to strengthen the brand image of Kellogg. And to also improve the job prospects of the students. - News Courtesy: Sify.com

A BRIGHT DAY FOR JAINISM

The spirit of Jainism burned bright on a cold, overcast Saturday morning, when twenty five volunteers from the Jain Center of Southern California and the Jain Center of San Diego spent over six hours applying the value of jivdaya, compassion to all living beings, to their lives. These six hours were spent improving the condition of a non-profit farm animal rescue organization, The Purple Cow and Friends farm, in Escondido, California.

The Purple Cow and Friends ranch is dedicated to providing a sanctuary for rejected and abused farm animals destined for death or the slaughterhouse. The parallels between Jainism and the values of The Purple Cow and Friends organization (e.g.ahimsa or non-violence) are the main reasons that many were drawn to support this cause. To begin the day, volunteers took on the task of moving and organizing over fifty bales of hay, each of which weighed close to forty pounds. This task proved to be challenging because each bale of hay required three people to roll it down a hill to where it would be stacked according to whether it was alfalfa hay or “golden” hay by another group of three or four volunteers. Although most were not accustomed to this type of labor and some even had allergic reactions, everyone contributed in a positive way and helped save the hay, used for the animal‘s bedding and food, from damage caused by the cold and rain of winter. 

After a quick lunch break, groups began the construction of two, twenty-four-square-feet goat shelters. To efficiently unload long plywood pieces without wasting time or ruining materials, the volunteers used an assembly line. Although the plan of the shelter took a prolonged period of time to modify, the actual construction time was remarkable. Each person picked up a hammer and correctly learned how to insert a nail into wood. Also, many began simultaneously constructing the second shelter by mimicking the model they had been given. In a few hours, two shelters were built by the hard work of twenty-five hands.

At the end of the day, it was rewarding for all to see that their efforts made a difference in the lives of many helpless animals. The goats immediately took to their new home and the horses enjoyed an extra helping of alfalfa in their daily meal thanks to the youth of the Jain community. More importantly, however, the volunteers themselves were touched by the impact of the spiritual benefits they gained through this experience. Not only did Tiffany St. Ives, the founder of The Purple Cow and Friends, express her endless appreciation, but every adolescent supporter also articulated his gratefulness to have had an opportunity to experience religion in the context of the real world. Ultimately, the young adult generation of Jains proved that they haven‘t thrown away the values of their parents and continue to burn the fire of Jainism in their hearts. - News Courtesy: jaincenter@hotmail.com & Saloni Shah

AHIMSA YEAR CELEBRATIONS AT DHARWAD

AHIMSA YEAR CELEBRATIONS AT SHIMOGA

MAHENDRA MEHTA HONOURED

Mahendra Mehta of Mumbai has been honoured and awarded a purse of $100,000 by World of Children at Columbus, Ohio. He has been helping runaway children from streets of Mumbai by educating them and teaching them skills so that they return to society with respect. He also distributes artificial legs to handicaps. News Courtesy: Jaina Spectrum

MANGAL PRABHAT LODHA ELECTED INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT OF 'MAHAVIR INTERNATIONAL'

In the annual convention held at Aurangabad, Mr. Mangal Prabhat Lodha was elected as International President of Mahavir International. The convention was attended by over 2000 members from India and other countries. Earlier Mr. Lodha also served the organisation as Chairman, Mumbai Centre. Mr. Lodha is son of Justice Guman Mal Lodha ( Ex. Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court and Member of Parliament). On the lines of Rotary and Lions, "Mahavir International" is an international organisation with 252 branches, in India and overseas and over 40,000 active members. The institution is focusing its activities mainly in the fields of health services, medical relief to the needy & education. It runs five hospitals in Delhi. Impressed by the dedication of its members and services offered by this organisation in Delhi, Shri. Sahib Singh Verma, present Labour Minister in Vajpayee Government & Ex. Chief Minister of Delhi donated his anchestral house to this organisation to be used as hospital.  News Courtesy: The Ahimsa

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF JAIN DOCTORS ON 3RD AND 4TH JAN. 2004 AT AHEMDABAD

MATRIMONIAL MEET AT BELGAUM

OBITUARIES

SAMADHI

RAMACHANDRA SYADVADI PASSES AWAY

NEW PUBLICATIONS

The main intension of this column is to provide a platform to the news of even the small villages spread all over India. We here by request our readers to kindly send the news of the pooja mahotsav's in the Jain temples taking place at the nooks and corners of the world.

Wednesday 3rd December 2003 - Diksha Kalyana of Bhagawan Aranatha.

Thursday 4th December 2003 - Janma Kalyana and Diksha Kalyana of Bhagawan Mallinatha, Kevalagnana Kalyana of Bhagawan Neminatha.

Sunday 7th December 2003 - Janma Kalyana of Bhagawan Aranatha.

Sunday 7th December to Wednesday 10th December 2003 - The Conference for Religious Solidarity in the Midst of Communal Violence.

Monday 8th December 2003 - Diksha Kalyana of Bhagawan Shambavanatha.

Tuesday 16th December 2003 - Dhanusankramana, Dhanurmasa pooja begins.

Thursday 18th December 2003 - Diksha Kalyana of Bhagawan Mahavira.

Monday 29th December 2003 to Friday 2nd January 2004- International Conference on World Peace, will be held at the Gujarat University.

Friday 2nd January 2004 - Kevalagnana Kalyana of Bhagawan Shanthinatha.

Saturday 3rd January 2004 - Kevalagnana Kalyana of Bhagawan Ajithanatha and Bhagawan Chandraprabha.

Wednesday 7th January 2004 - Kevalagnana Kalyana of Bhagawan Dharmanatha.

Friday 9th January 2004 - Kevalagnana Kalyana of Bhagawan Mallinatha.

Sunday 18th January 2004 - Diksha Kalyana of Bhagawan Chandraprabha and Bhagawan Parshwanatha, Janma Kalyana of Bhagawan Parshwanatha.

Tuesday 20th January 2004 - Kevalagnana Kalyana of Bhagawan Sheethalanatha.

Friday 23rd January 2004 - Kevalagnana Kalyana of Bhagawan Vasupujya.

Sunday 25th January 2004 - Janma Kalyana and Diksha Kalyana of Bhagawan Vimalanatha.

Tuesday 27th January 2004 - Kevalagnana Kalyana of Bhagawan Vimalanatha.

Friday 30th January 2004 - Diksha Kalyana of Bhagawana Ajinatha.

Saturday 31st January 2004 - Janma Kalyana of Bhagawana Ajinatha.

Additions as on 15th DECEMBER 2003

Photos of the Jain idols at the National Museum, New Delhi