Jai Jinendra,

How about celebrating the start of the new year with Puja at the temple? Let us
all together usher in the new year with wishes of peace, prosperity and good
health and a pledge of non-violence.

We will have Snatra Puja at the Jain Center on Friday, January 1, 2010 from
10:00AM onwards.

Narendra Jain

Jain eLibrary DVD Project

Over the past six months, several Jain ächäryas, monks and nuns have indicated that the eLibrary committee should make all eLibrary books available on CD/DVDs.  It is very difficult for them to request Jain communities to download many books from eLibrary website for their studies. 

We are very happy to inform you that we have completed the eLibrary DVD project.  The eLibrary DVD package will be available from January 3, 2010 in India (we plan to publish the same package in USA in March 2010).

The eLibrary DVD package includes a set of 4 DVDs which contain about 2000 Jain books (700,000 pages of Jain literature) in pdf files as follows:

A 100 page catalogue is included which lists all books, their file names, number of pages of each book, and DVD number indicating in which DVD the book is available.

Important Notice

The eLibrary DVDs are to be used only for personal, private and individual use only.  This is important due to copyrights of authors/publishers of some of the books. You are not permitted to copy these DVDs for any private or public circulation or to put the contents of the DVDs on your website or on any other public display.

We request you to respect the above conditions in the true spirit of Jain religion.  We assure you that we do not make any profit on any of the Jaina Education project.  All of us are volunteer workers.  The entire eLibrary project is funded through contribution received from America and around the world.

Dedication of eLibrary DVDs to Muni Shri Jambu Vijayji Mahäräj Säheb:

The eLibrary DVD project is dedicated to Pujya Muni Shri Jambuvijayji Mahäräj Säheb.  Muni Shri Jambu Vijayji was a pioneer supporter of Jaina Education work and Jain eLibrary activities.  He made all his Jain literature work available for eLibrary in the beginning phase of the project.  My acquaintance with Muni Shri was from 1992 and since then I visited him almost every year and also consulted him with regards to several Jaina education projects over the phone several times every year.

We have organized two different dedication programs in India as follows:

Dedication Program:

            Date - January 2, 2010 - Saturday - 4:00 PM
            Place - Shri Samavasaran Derasar (across from Shri Babu’s temple) - Palitana

The function will be held at Shri Samavashan Temple at the foothill of Mount Shatrunjaya, Palitana. 

We will perform Arpan Vidhi (dedication) of the eLibrary DVDs at the feet of Tirthankar idol, to Shri Sarsvati Devi, and at the feet of Muni Shri Jambuvijayji’s portrait.  After this program we will make the DVD package available to the general public.

All Jaina volunteer workers and some other guests at the Palitana medical camp are also invited to join the eLibrary dedication function.  The program coordinator is Shri Anilbhai Gandhi of Ahmedabad Ph,   91 79 2662 0975, 98790 74939M and Dr. Dhiraj Shah of USA +91 97697 07010

Arpan of eLibrary DVDs to the Disciples of Muni Shri Jambu Vijayji:

            Date - January 10, 2010 - Sunday - 10:30 AM
            Place - Panchasara Parshvanath Yatrik Jain Bhavan, Pipala Shera, Patan Gujarat

We will do Arpan of DVD package to the Disciples of Muni Shri Jambuvijayji; Panyas Shri Pundarik-ratna Vijayji, Panyas Shri Dharma-ghosh Vijayji, Muni Shri Dharma-chandra Vijayji, Muni Shri Mahavideh Vijayji, Pujya Sadhvi Shri Jinendra-prabha-shriji, and Sadhvi Shri Chandanbalaji.

The program will be attended by Shri Pratapbhai Bhogilal, Vice-chancellor Dr. K. K. Shah, Padma Shri Kumarpal Desai, Pandit Dr. Shri Jitendrabhai B. Shah, Dr. Bipinbhai Doshi and many other dignitaries from India, America, and other parts of the world.  The program coordinator is Shri Yatinbhai V. Shah of Patan - Ph. +91 98240 65376, +91 94276 78245.

Purchase of eLibrary DVD Package within India

Total cost of 4 DVD package and catalogue       Rs. 400.

Shipping charges within India                            Rs. 200

You can buy the eLibrary DVDs at the following address from January 6, 2010.  If we need to ship within India, please send the money order or check in the name of Sudesh Shah only.

Purchase of eLibrary DVD Package in USA, UK, and Other Countries

Total cost of DVD package including shipping charge = US $30.00

You can charge this amount to your credit card.  Please go to the eLibrary website (www.jainelibrary.org) to order (after January 15, 2010).  We will provide you the tracking number via e-mail and you will receive the package within two to three weeks from India to USA, Canada, UK etc. (Do not order more than 3 sets at a time, please).  Once we publish the package in USA, the cost will be significantly less.

Education Committee’s Request for Your Support

Three weeks ago, we had sent a request to support Jaina Education activities financially.  We are in real need of your contributions to continue our activities. We are very happy to inform you that as of today we have received about $3700 in contributions.  The new contributors’ list is given below.  Please continue to support us regularly.  We will provide the financial report in the next newsletter.  Also we will update the website within a few weeks to include the list of all the supporters.

Please make your contribution check (US dollars) to JAINA - Education Committee and mail it at following address.  (Do not mail your contribution directly to the JAINA Headquarters.  The committee needs to keep proper record before it is deposited in the JAINA account).

C/o Pravin K. Shah
Jaina Education Committee
509 Carriage Woods Circle
Raleigh, NC 27607 USA
+1-919-859-4994
education@...

If you would like to contribute in Indian Rupees

Please make your contribution check to “Shree Gyanvardhak Charitable Trust” and mail it to the following address.  This trust does not charge any administrative fee to our education committee.

C/O Arihant Graphics
Nanakram Super Market, Shop No F-20,
Ramnagar, Sabarmati,
Ahmedabad - 380005 (Gujarat) India
+91 99988 90335
arihant.graf@...

Your contribution in dollars in USA and Indian Rupees in India is tax deductible..

With very high regards,

Pravin K. Shah
Jaina Education Committee Chairperson
+1 919 859 4994

Jai Jinendra:

If you are planning to make donation towards your pledges or convert
interest-free loan to donation for outstanding pledges before the end of the
year to take tax deduction advantage in 2009, please take care of it as soon as
possible.

Due to holidays and as most of the JCSC officers’ are on vacation during the
last week of December, we would recommend you take care of your donations in any
of the following ways:

1. In person: Pramod Shah, Treasurer or Kishor Shah, EC member
    Sunday, Dec. 20 between 10 am and 2 pm in the JCSC office.

2. Mail check to: (Prefer to receive mail by Dec. 23rd)

    Jain Center of Southern California
    Attn: Treasurer
    P. O. Box 549
    Buena Park, CA 90621-0549

3. Drop off: Donation envelope to Mukeshbhai, Pujari at Jain Center

Thanks for your on-going support to JCSC.

Pramod Shah,
Treasurer
Email: pramod.shah@...
Tel: (949) 951-3830 or (213) 327-7058

Jai Jinendra,

New Lunar month (Paush) started on Dec 16, 2009 and as per Jain Center
tradition, we have our Monthly Snatra Puja and Navkaar Mantra Jaap on this
Saturday, Dec 19, 2009.

Snatra Puja and Navkaar Mantra Jaap will start at 9:30AM in the temple.

Please contact Padma Shah 714-670-7854 for more information.

Narendra Jain

Expalin Lunar Month and Solar Month?
------------------------------------
Lunar month is the time the Moon takes to go around the Earth. A lunar month is
exactly 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes and 3 seconds long. Twelve such months
constitute a lunar year of 354 days 8 hours 48 minutes and 36 seconds. To help
the lunar months coincide with the solar year, an extra month is added to the
lunar calendar. So 60 solar months = 62 lunar months. Hence an extra month,
called the Adhik Mas, is inserted every 30 months i.e. every 2 ½ years.

Please provide your feedback at the earliest.

Narendra Jain

Jai Jinendra,

Mr Gordhan Patel sent his first message to the Jain Center Community today. Did
you receive it? If yes, you can discard the rest of this message! If not, please
read on...

As informed earlier, Mr Gordhan Patel will be our new Public Relations Officer
for a 2 year term 2010-2011. As the new PR, he will be communicating regularly
with everybody. He will also be an additional moderator for all Jain Center
emails and sending out regular emails to the community. He can subscribe new
members to the distribution list as well. His email address is:
gpatel1945@....

Important
---------
Please make sure to add email address of Gordhan Patel: gpatel1945@... to
your Contact List. This will ensure that you will continue to receive Jain
Center emails sent by him in your Inbox and not getting into your Junk Mail/Spam
folders.

This is very important. Again, Please add gpatel1945@... to your contacts.

In short, following addresses should be on your Contacts list:
jaincenter@...
gpatel1945@...
nikhil_dhami@...
nuks_jain@...
register@...

Please feel free to get in touch with us if you need help.

Narendra Jain

Content of the 1st email sent by Mr Gordhan Patel:
--------------------------------------------------
Cancer Awareness Talks - Ovarian Cancer - Dr. Jayshree Vyas/December 20, 2009

Jai Jinendra

On Sunday, December 20, 2009, Nalini Shah Cancer Awareness Talks series will be
given by Dr. Jayshree Vyas on the important topic of Ovarian Cancer Awareness.

These talks will be held in the Aradhana Hall on Ground level in the temple
building. The times are between 11:15 AM to 11:30 AM.

Please make a special note of the change in times. The new times are 11:15 AM to
11:30 AM (and not 12:30 - 12:45 PM). The doctors will be available for
consultation from 12:30PM onwards, as the 2nd part of the swadhyay will continue
from 11:30PM onwards.

Please observe these times very strictly so that we can cater to and respect
everybody's needs.

Please attend these very informative talk series.

Gordhan Patel

Jai Jinendra All,

This is an official response from the 8 BOD members identified below
representing over 70% of the BOD. This response is to indicate our support for
the resolutions passed by the EC with 8-6 vote, censuring JCSC's current
President, Mr. Ashok Savla, for sending emails disguised to make it appear as if
those emails were from "Young Jains." Our response to Mr. Savla's Message of
Apology are as follows:

a. We accept Mr. Savla's confession to sending those disguised emails and his
apology to the community;

b. We maintain that the resolutions passed by the EC are indeed in compliance
with the Bylaws. The resolutions do not relate to "removal or termination" of
the President, and thus, section 7.03 of the Bylaws is inapplicable to the
resolutions passed;

c. The resolutions, in part, simply expressed EC's sense in terms of its
"belief" that Mr. Savla not seek any office at JCSC in the future. Such "belief"
is non-binding and does not invoke any prohibition against it in the Bylaws;

d. Mr. Savla was not only provided several opportunities to come clean on this
issue, but he had actually promised to apologize to the community before leaving
for India. The resolutions were passed only due to the failure of Mr. Savla to
carry out his own promises made to 2 BOD members;

e. The apology was required to ensure that no JCSC leader attempts
to engage in such behavior in the future. The leaders have a fiduciary
responsibility and such lapses in judgment cannot be covered up behind closed
doors by the EC and the BOD;

f. Although covering up the issue would have been the easiest thing to do as
some (6) EC members wanted, the EC majority (8), however, made the hard choice
in the interests of making the truth known to the community. If the EC had
decided to cover up the issue then its members would have violated their own
fiduciary duties to the community.

Clearly, this is a very difficult issue for all of us and we urge everyone to
put this behind us and move forward.

Finally, let us all give the newly elected EC a chance to move us in a fresh,
new, positive direction beginning January.

Jai Jinendra

BOD Members:

Dinesh Shah
Hasendra Shah
Rajen Dhami
Manilal Mehta
Kantilal Shah
Yogesh Shah
Pramod Shah
Navin Gangar

Jai Jinendra,

As informed earlier, Mr Gordhan Patel will be our new Public Relations Officer
for a 2 year term 2010-2011. As the new PR, he will be communicating regularly
with everybody. He will also be an additional moderator for all Jain Center
emails and sending out regular emails to the community. He can subscribe new
members to the distribution list as well. His email address is:
gpatel1945@....

Important
---------
Please make sure to add email address of Gordhan Patel: gpatel1945@... to
your Contact List. This will ensure that you will continue to receive Jain
Center emails sent by him in your Inbox and not getting into your Junk Mail/Spam
folders.

This is very important. Again, Please add gpatel1945@... to your contacts.

In short, following addresses should be on your Contacts list:
jaincenter@...
gpatel1945@...
nikhil_dhami@...
nuks_jain@...
register@...

Please feel free to get in touch with us if you need help.

Narendra Jain

PS: Mr Gordhan Patel will be sending his 1st email soon!

Jai Jinendra,

On the Magshar Vad 9, 10 & 11 (Navmi, Posh Dashmi & Ekadashi) we have the
Parshvanath Bhagwaan Janam Kalyanak and Diksha Kalyanaks. Devotees worship and
do Ekasana for all these 3 days and do this for 10 years and 10 months. Ekasana
is done by having Sugared Water, Khir along with eating once a day. Some people
also do Ayambil on these 3 days.

These auspicious days are on Dec 10, 11 and 12, 2009. Parshvanath Kalyanak Puja
will be celebrated at the Jain Center this Saturday, Dec 12, 2009 from 9AM as
per the program below:

9:00 AM - Snatra Puja (Nakro of $101)
Then Panch Kalyanak Puja - Total 8 with $51 nakro for each puja.
If you wish to do all the Pujas, there is a nakro of $501.

The pujas will be followed by Ekasana. We are looking for sponsors for the
Ekasana for a nakro of $701. Part sponsorship is also welcome.

Please contact:
Padma Shah on 714-670-7854
Savita Mehta on savita.mehta@... or 714-898-3156

Please keep visiting our website http://www.jaincenter.net for the latest news
and events.

Narendra Jain

She is a founder of Noopur dance academy. She has been teaching for last 15 years. She has got basic training in Bharat Natyam & training folk, semi classical & contemporary style. She teaches at city of Cerritos & La Mirada. She has won numerous awards in Neema dance competition & Boogi Woogi competitions.Her students perform at cultural events, charity show, wedding, multicultural events. She was a choreographer in Pratishtha & Jaina.

Traditional Folk:
Paulomi Pandit:

She is founder of Rangashree dance academy. She is teaching at Sanatan temple & Arcadia. She has master in Bharat Natyam & has specialized training in regional folk dances of each state from India. She has wealth of the knowledge in classical Bharat Natyam & folk dances. She has performed & trained at well renowned institute in Southern India. She was a choreographer in Pratishtha.

Vocal & Harmonium:
Harshvardhan Thaker:

He is coming from family of musician. His father is an accomplished Dilruba player & Mother is Harmonium player. He is been teaching in Cerritos for last 10 years. He was trained under his guru Mr.Trivedi. His students perform at various cultural events

Please provide your feedback at the earliest.

Narendra Jain

Jai Jinendra

On December 2, 2009 at a joint meeting of current and newly elected EC/BoD, following resolution was passed with 8 to 6 in favor by current EC members.

The EC of JCSC agreed to the following resolution.

1. Resolved that the EC censured its current President Ashok Savla for the action during the election, specifically related to certain emails sent Mr. Savla cavertly and under the guise of young Jains. The EC hereby expresses its profound sense of disappointment with the unethical actions taken by Mr. Savla.

Finally, the EC considers such actions of Mr. Savla to be so serious that it is the belief of the EC that Mr. Savla should not hold any office at JCSC in the future.

2. Resolved, the EC further agrees that the above resolution (censor resolution) will be considered null and void if Mr. Savla issues a statement of Apology to the JCSC, at large. The apology must contain the following:

1.      Expression of what actions Mr. Savla took and his sense of deep regrets.

2.      Apology for such actions, such statement of Apology must be sent through JCSC mail list no later than 6th of December 2009. If such statement of Apology is not sent by that time, the EC will release the censure resolution above to the JCSC community by Dec. 7th, 2009.

As per JCSC Bylaws 7.03 Removal and Resignation: Any EC Member may be removed from the EC for failing to fulfill their obligations (see section 6.04) by at least 2/3 majority of all EC Members at any regular or special meeting of the EC. The EC Member in question shall be given an opportunity to explain his/her case before the EC vote. Any member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the EC, the President, or the Secretary of the Corporation. A member's resignation shall take effect when it is received or at any later time specified in the resignation. Unless the resignation specifies otherwise, its acceptance by the Corporation shall not be necessary to make it effective."

This resolution is illegal because

(1) I was not given an opportunity by an EC to explain before the vote, as required per Bylaws;

(2) Resolution was passed without required 2/3 majority of all EC members present as required per Bylaws; and

(3) Nowhere in Bylaws it is stated that EC can censor anyone from future positions.

All the JCSC members are an asset to the center and EC/BoD members are elected by the life members. EC/BoD has no right to bar anyone from taking any future position in any circumstances.

Even though EC's resolution is not confirming with Bylaws as stated above I am sending my apology with an explanation as follows:

There were 4 e-mails sent from youngjains@...(No affiliation to YJA or YJP) to few individuals, I have no problem in sharing content of these e-mails with you all. We did use this e-mail account created by my family to send responses to the e-mails that our family received, where it was painted to community that endorsement letter was wrong and dividing community and against Jain values. There was another email send under the heading of "Appeal for unity" stating all the endorsement e-mails sent out are outright wrong and advising to select candidates on their merits. Despite this we received another e-mail from four community families endorsing the other candidate and nothing was said about. However, as stated in e-mails received it was wrong for one candidate to send endorsement and yet same thing is right for the other candidate.

In frustration we send out those e-mails. I had not used any of JCSC platforms to send any of those e-mails.

I regret doing that and apologize for using this e-mail address without my name, which was a poor judgment on my part.

I had no intention to deceive anyone as some of you felt. I have served Jain Center for past 10 years in various capacities. As witnessed by most of you, my family and I have sacrificed so much for the betterment of our center. I had one common goal to have wonderful temple, Unified Sangh and educate children our religion.  I had never deceived anyone in these 10 years of services to our Center.

While I submit my apology to community, I strongly believe that  EC and Mr. Rajen Dhami, who brought this proposal to the EC, went too far for an error made by an individual needs to realize their mistake and should apologize. This is to make sure that EC/BoD in the future does not pass irrational resolution which can hurt JCSC and their members.

Michhami Dukkadam!!!

Ashok Savla, President

November 24, 2009

To:  Jain Community Members

RE:  Ahimsa Awareness Pre-Thanksgiving Activities Held on November 22^nd 2009 at Jain Temple

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the community members for attending the event and for their tremendous support, encouragement and enthusiasm in making it a great success. Also a special thank you to all the youths for their divine attention and participation with Premal during the Thanksgiving-Jain way discussion.

Our grateful thanks are also extended to Mona Gandhi and Hot Bakery of Cerritos CA., for providing us with delicious and mouth-watering eggless desserts thereby giving Jains the choice of an �Ahimsak� lifestyle.  We are thankful to Mother�s Market Natural food Store and Nestle Cafe based in Redondo Beach CA., for graciously donating gift certificates as a raffle prize.

The raffle drawing and winners will be announced at our next Pathshala Day, December 6^th during lunch hour.

With your support, we will be bringing similar �Ahimsa Awareness� Activities to the Jain Community as well other communities in the future.

Jai Jinendra!

Ahimsa Awareness Group (AAG) 

November 24, 2009

To:  Jain Community Members

RE:  Ahimsa Awareness Pre-Thanksgiving Activities Held on November 22^nd 2009 at Jain Temple

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the community members for attending the event and for their tremendous support, encouragement and enthusiasm in making it a great success. Also a special thank you to all the youths for their divine attention and participation with Premal during the Thanksgiving-Jain way discussion.

Our grateful thanks are also extended to Mona Gandhi and Hot Bakery of Cerritos CA., for providing us with delicious and mouth-watering eggless desserts thereby giving Jains the choice of an �Ahimsak� lifestyle.  We are thankful to Mother�s Market Natural food Store and Nestle Cafe based in Redondo Beach CA., for graciously donating gift certificates as a raffle prize.

The raffle drawing and winners will be announced at our next Pathshala Day, December 6^th during lunch hour.

With your support, we will be bringing similar �Ahimsa Awareness� Activities to the Jain Community as well other communities in the future.

Jai Jinendra!

Ahimsa Awareness Group (AAG) 

Jain Center of Southern California

Jai Jinendra

Did you know that because of the great efforts of JAINA, President of United
States sets free one giant Turkey on Thanksgiving day to show compassion towards
turkeys / animals.

Narendra Jain

Jai Jinendra,

Thanks Giving and Bakr-Idd is during this long-weekend.

It is our tradition every year that we have prayers for the thousands of slain
goats and turkeys.

We will have Bhaktambar Stotra Puja done on Thursday November 26, 2009 from
9:30AM in the Aradhana Hall.

Please join all of us to observe Jiv Daya, non-violence & vegetarianism.

Narendra Jain

Jai Jinendra

Maun Ekadashi is on Saturday Nov 28, 2009. Jain Center will celebrate
this auspicious festival by doing Snatra Puja and Panch Kalayanak
Puja. We will also be doing Ayambil on this day. Please register for
Ayambil at the signup sheets outside the temple area.

Following is the detailed program:

09:00 AM - Snatra Puja - with nakro of $101
10:00 AM - Panch Kalyanak Puja
            Total of 8 pujas with nakro of $51 for each puja
            Followed by Arti, Mangal-Divo and Shanti-Kalash
            There will be with Gheeboli for this.
12:30 PM - Ayambil
            Sponsored by Alpesh-Rinku Shah, Sachin-Sejal Shah,
            Rajesh-Neeta Shah and Nilesh-Krina Shah.
02:30 PM - Dev Vandan followed by Pratikraman.

If you wish to do Snatra Puja as well as all Panch Kalyanak Pujas, the
nakro is $501.

For all pujas please contact
Padma Shah on 714-932-0756.

For Ayambil please contact
Sachin Shah on 213-944-4363 or sachin.shah@... or
Rajesh Shah on 213-820-5400 or rajesh.shah@...

Importance of Maun Ekadashi
---------------------------
Maun Ekadashi falls on the 11th lunar day in the month of Magsar.
People remain silent for the entire day and eat food only once a day.
As many as 150 Kalyanaks of Tirthankars from past, current and future
Chauvishi fall on this day making this a very auspicious day.

The most common recital is 'Aum Rhim Shrim Mallinath Sarvagnya Namah'
as Mallinath Bhagwaan is one of the 150 Tirthankars. Some of the
other rituals followed are:
- A fast is observed in Paushadha with keeping silence
- Kayotsarga of 12 Logassa
- 12 Khamasanas
- 12 Swastiks and 20 Navakarvalis of the Jap Pad

For latest news and events, please visit the Jain Center website at
http://www.jaincenter.net

Narendra Jain

Jai Jinendra,

We will have monthly Navkaar Mantra Jaap and Snatra Puja this Saturday-November
21, 2009 as per the program below:

Navkar Mantra Jaap  9:30 AM
Snatra Puja        10:00 AM

If you have any questions, please contact
Padma Shah @ 714-670-7854 or
Savita Mehta @ 714-898-3156.

Narendra Jain