Yesterday we got an opportunity to visit the Jain Bhavan @ Miplitas, CA. Swami Viditatmananda Saraswatiji gave an interesting talk about "Gaining Immortality through Self-Knowledge." The talk was very interesting and the talk is for 3 days - Today (06/24), Tomorrow (06/25) and Saturday (06/26). After the talk we thought we would go to the temple on the second floor. The whole atmosphere was so serene and it was an amazing experience inside. We prayed to all the Theerthankars inside and I got to take some snaps. If you are in the Bayarea then you should visit the Jain temple.
The Jain Prayer is as follows:
Namo Arihantänam Namo Siddhänam Namo Äyariyänam Namo Uvajjhäyänam Namo Loe Savva Sähunam Eso Panch Namukkäro Savva Päva Panäsano Mangalänam cha Savvesim Padhamam Havai Mangalam
Listen to this melodious prayer @ http://www.jcnc.org
Date(s): June 24, 2004. Album by Karthik Nagaraj. Photos by Karthik Nagaraj. 1 - 20 of 20 Total. 1485 Visits.
enlarge 86KB, 600x800 2 Sri Viditatmanand Saraswatiji giving the discourse on Self-knowledge based on the Kathopanishad.
enlarge 92KB, 800x600 3 Inside the temple. Look at the wonderful marble flooring and marble pillars. The place was very clean and the carpets well maintained. For a first-timer I was awed and so impressed with our Indian Heritage. One might ask me why - because it is from our India that Jainism started. I'm glad I'm a part of the whole process though my knowledge about Jainism is zero to nothing. Its a nice oppurtunity for me to start reading up on their culture for all preach the same message - Freedom and liberation from this material world by believing in the supreme omnipotent.
enlarge 91KB, 600x800 4 The main idol situated at the center of the bhavan.
enlarge 80KB, 800x600 5 On the right to the main idol you can find 3 more Pujya Swamis seated.
enlarge 76KB, 800x600 6 On the left you can find 3 more Swamis seated.
enlarge 96KB, 800x600 7 Around the main 7 deities we saw earlier we have a walkway and all along the walkway we can find splendid marble statues of the various Pujya Swamis.
enlarge 89KB, 600x800 8 Sri Ambika Devi - She is the dedicated deity of Lord Neminath the 22nd Tirthankara. She is also called Ambai Amba and Amra Kushmandini. Her color is golden and the lion is her vehicle. She has four arms. In her two right hands she carries a mango and in the other a branch of a mango tree. In her one left hand she carries a rein and in the other she hasher two sons. [http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/yaksh.html]
enlarge 81KB, 600x800 9 Shri Lakshmi Devi - Goddess Lakshmi or Shri has been very popular in India. It has been common in the merchant community, Jain or non-Jain to worship Lakshmi on Diwali. According to tradition, goddess Lakshmi was one of the dreams seen by mother of Lord Mahavira. Lakshmi indicates prosperity. Worhip of Lakshmi indicates an appreciation of prosperity and a sense of responsibility towards it.
Idol of Lakshmi is occasionally found in some Jain temples. There the general rule is that the minor gods and goddesses are not to be worshiped like the Jinas, rather they are to be respected as worldly entities. Any rituals involving them are for the worldly (laukika)considerations and not for salvation. [http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/yaksh.html]
enlarge 87KB, 600x800 10 Shri Dharnendra Dev - About 2800 years ago Bhagwan Parshvanath attained ‘Keval Gyan’ through deep ‘Tapashcharan’. ‘Samvar Dev’, the opponent of Parshvanath tried to create hurdles in his meditation and when ‘Dharnendra’ saw that ‘Samvar Dev’ is distracting Bhagwan Parshvanath then in order to show his devotion towards him, Dharnendra raised him on his hood (Phan) and Padmawati spreaded her hood above Parshvanath and thus the hurdle of Samvar Dev proved a failure (or became unsuccessful). [http://www.jainteerth.com/jainteerth/teerth/Ahichchatra.asp]
enlarge 91KB, 600x800 11 Shri Mahibhadra Dev - Shri Manibhadra is originally a yaksha, worshipped by Indian masses from very old times and his introduction in Jainworship is only a later adaptation. It is an image of six armed yaksha with an elephant as his vehicle. [http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/yaksh.html]
enlarge 98KB, 600x800 12 Shri Nakoda Bhairav Dev - This is the tutelary deity of Bhairava. This deity is usually found near the entrance of the temple. People from far and near, visit the shrine and make offerings to the deity on fulfillment of their material desires. It is the positive force around the temple. [http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/yaksh.html]
enlarge 64KB, 600x800 13
enlarge 76KB, 600x800 14 One of the Thirtankars etched in marble
enlarge 107KB, 800x600 15 As I move ahead the walkway extends around displaying numerous other marble statues of Pujya Swamis.
enlarge 101KB, 800x600 16 I have almost completed circling the rotunda.
enlarge 87KB, 600x800 17 Shri Saraswati Devi - Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is considered to be the source of all learning. This divine energy is the source of spiritual light, remover of all ignorance and promoter of all knowledge. She is respected and adored by all faiths, worldly persons and saints. She has four arms, one holding a book, the other a rosary and two hands holding a musical instrument Veena. Her seat is a lotus and the peacock is her vehicle representing equanimity in prosperity. In some places it is mentioned that the swan is her vehicle. [http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/yaksh.html]
enlarge 99KB, 600x800 18 Shri Padmavati Devi - She is the dedicated deity of Lord Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara. Her color is golden and her vehicle is the snake with a cock's head. She has four arms and her two right hands hold a lotus and a rosary. The two left hands hold a fruit and a rein. [http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/yaksh.html]
enlarge 86KB, 600x800 19 Shri Chakreshwari Devi - She is the dedicated attendant deity of lord Adinath (Rishabhadev). She is also called by another name i.e. Apratichakra. The color of this goddess is golden. Her Vehicle is the eagle. She has eight arms. In her four right hands she holds the blessing mudra, arrow, rope and wheel. In her four left hands she holds the rein, the bow, the protective weapon of Indra and the wheel. [http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/yaksh.html]
enlarge 84KB, 600x800 20 Shri Ghantakan Veer Dev - This deity is worshipped for protection and for driving away the evil influence created by lower types of negative energy. His arrow indicates penetration of evil forces. The bow gives forceful momentum to the arrow. His symbol is the bell that resounds to create auspicious sounds in the atmosphere. Sometimes people who are not aware of the facts call him by mistake Ghantakarna Mahavira that creates confusion between Lord Mahavira and Ghantakarna Veer. He is not connected to Lord Mahävir in any way. [http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/yaksh.html]
