21st October 2012
The Institute of Jainology and JAINpedia team were delighted to attend the Yorkshire Jain Foundation’s annual Swami Vatsalya Bhojan on the 21st of October, to mark the eleventh anniversary of the inauguration of their Murti of Lord Mahavira.
The programme began with a gracious welcome to all by Hemant bhai and Preeti ben, and was followed by the eight-fold puja worship of Lord Mahavira’s Murti and the flag-hoisting ceremony (Dhvaja Badali).
Guests were then invited to view the JAINpedia Travelling Exhibition in the beautiful Mandir, where they were given an introduction to the website and the projects run by the Institute.
JAINpedia Exhibition Panels
This anniversary was marked by the launch of a Gujarati translation of Prof. Kanti Mardia’s book ‘Jain Dharamni Vagyanik Adharshila’ by The IOJ’s chairman Mr Nemu Chandaria OBE.
Prof Kanti Mardia, who has been an important patron of the IOJ and JAINpedia project, was then invited to share his inspiration behind the book who requested his grandson to read some excerpts from its English edition, as he explained how the Jain game of Gyan-bazi, popularly known as snakes and ladders in the west, was a good model for understanding the karma theory and the 14 gunasthanaks.
Professor Mardia, Mrs Mardia & Nemubhai Chandria Launching
the book ‘Jain Dharamni Vagyanik Adharshila’
The day’s event was concluded with some final prayers, the Arti and Mangal Divo, and the swami vatsalya bhojan.