Pilgrimage:

4.30AM on June 7^th, the participants accompanied by the director ISJS and Dr. Renuka Porwal (expert on Mathura History) left by AC bus for the three days of absorbing and sacred pilgrimage. All participants were oriented in details about the pilgrimage, handed detailed handouts to read so that they enjoy the pilgrimage.  

 

The first stop was at Mathura Chaurasi, the holy place where the last omniscient of Jains, Jambuswami attained liberation. The temple and Mathura were detailed by Dr. Porwal (en route and at temple about Mathura) along with a tour of the temple. The participants also observed large number of devotees offering their worship at the temple. The new idol of Jambuswami in the open hillock made was also visited and enjoyed. The group then visited the Jain museum (Government owned and operated at Mathura) to see the Jain idols and artefacts from 2^nd century BC to 8^th century AD). History of Kankali Tila and its remains in the museum and other art objects from Mathura were explained to the participants. From there we proceeded to the city of Agra.

 

The Jain community (literally several hundred) welcomed the group in traditional Jain style and honoured Prof. Jaini and Dr. Shugan Jain along with the entire group. We visited the beautiful Jain temple at Hari Parvat, the library of ancient manuscripts preserved and an absorbing lecture by Prof. Jaini on the contribution of scholars from Agra (notably Banarasi Dass and Hem Raj Pandey) to Jain religious literature. The meeting ended with a very sumptuous Jain lunch in traditional Indian thali style at a Jain restaurant. Overall it was a true Jain experience of temple, community, hospitality and old manuscripts. The participants then visited famous Taj Mahal and enjoyed its glory even though the mercury was touching 44^oC.

 

The group then travelled to Sonagir, the sacred Jain pilgrim place for night halt.  Next day i.e. June 8^th, we left for the most famous and largest collection of Jain idols and temples from 8^th to 13^th century AD. It is a good 175KM bus drive in most primitive Bundelkhand area (heart of Jains with a chain of Jain pilgrim places every 50KM) and Indians known for valour. The bus journey was a little demanding experience as good eating and toilet facilities are conspicuous by their absence in the entire area. We tried to serve good wholesome packed lunch, snacks, water and cold drinks en route to all. However the group was very cooperative and enjoyed every experience. As the group entered Devgarh museum, all the hardship of the journey were forgotten and the entire group immersed in the study of the Jain icons (laid out to give a feeling of the Jain heavens and Videhasketra). Prof. Jaini became our guide in explaining peculiarities of each and every icon as Prof. Tiwari could not make it due to illness. The group returned to Sonagir in the midnight. The next day the group visited Sonagir hill and enjoyed the large number of temples, the presiding idol of Chandaprabhu and the sacred ambience of the hill. The management of Kund Kund nagar organized a public reception and lecture for Prof. Jaini and the group. We then went to Gopachal in Gwalior. It was an experience as we reached there at 12.30PM noon. The walkway to the hill was very hot and yet everyone including Prof. Jaini climbed the hill and spent more than two hours enjoying the large collection of extremely large Jain idols. We then had a very delicious and complete Jain lunch at Hotel landmark. This was the end of the well organized, enjoyed experience of the pilgrimage. We travelled back to Jaipur the same day, spending some anxious moments (as the driver chose to take the small village roads) and then the highway.

 

Jaipur camp

Stay at Jaipur was managed by Ms. Shivani Bothra, commissioned by ISJS. Everyone was extremely happy and recommended Jaipur as a must site for the ISSJS program. It was an experience to see all participants enjoying meals and then internet (wireless) in the lunch room itself. The lectures were delivered by the most respected names in Jain studies (Prof. Kusum Jain at Rajasthan University for one month program) and Prof. K. C. Sogani at Nasiaji for the two months program. Lecture by Prof. Jaini on development and ecology was attended by several hundred academicians and community leaders. On Saturday, visit to Chulgiri and Sanganer temples and Dadabari were enjoyed by all. The one month group left on June 13^th by evening train to Varanasi for further studies while the two months group stayed back in Jaipur.

 

Prof. Jaini delivered a lecture on Jainism and Christianity-an interfaith dialogue based on his meetings with Pope John Paul II and Mark Tully on BBC. It was organized at Royal Asiatic Society library in downtown Mumbai. The program was attended by hundreds of Jains, Christians and academicians.

 

The next week starts in Parashwanath Vishyapeeth Varanasi for one month and at Nasiaji Jaipur for the two months group.

 

This year saw a tremendous fraternity feeling amongst the participants and a resounding support from Jain community and the academic community everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two groups of ISSJS2009 started as follows

·        One month program: May 24^th 2009

·        Two months program : May 31^st 2009

The first day of each program was devoted exclusively to orient the new participants about the program, way of life in the program, expectations on both sides and knowing each other better. It was indeed a very enjoyable experience which set the pace for joint learning and experiencing by the overseas participants and the ISSJS faculty and management.

 

The first four days of the one month program were devoted to academic lectures by Prof R. P. Jain (ex JNU and Munster Univ. Germany) and Prof. Kamla Jain (JMC of Delhi Univ.). These lectures were organized to prepare the one month program participants for the next week of studies led by the most respected Jain scholar in the world; Prof. Padmanabha Jaini  as the key faculty (six lectures of two hours each) and supported by Prof. Shashi Prabha Kumar (JNU – one lecture) and Dr. Shugan Jain (ISJS – 3 lectures). The one month participants had a very happy and enjoyable dinner evening with Uma and Shugan Jain at their home on May 30th. On May 31^st participation for the both the programs visited Jain temples at Ahimsa Sthal, Bari Dadabari and Jain Lal Mandir and Birds Hospital Chandni Chowk.

 

The next week i.e. from June 1^st to 5^th was a very absorbing period in which we had very deep academic lectures by Prof. Jaini on the one hand, comparative religions by Prof. Shashi Prabha and the practice of religion and epistemology by Dr. Shugan Jain. Simultaneously this period had heavy experiential activities in the form of meetings and dinner with Jain community leaders (Shri Nirmal Sethi President of SBDJM, Smt. Indu Jain chairperson Time of India group, Dr. O. P. Jain founder of Sanskriti Foundation) and visits to Jain temples in Delhi and an evening with a Jain nun and feast of devotional Indian music by well known radio artists.  The week ended by a public talk delivered by Prof. Jaini on warfare and heavens in Buddhism and Jainism at India international centre attended by an overflowing auditorium on June 6^th.

 

Some photos of the activities performed are attached for the pleasure of your viewing.

 

To conclude, this year the experience at ISSJS had been truly phenomenal. There had been a tremendous bonding amongst the participants and ISSJS, an experience never felt before. The experience had set new standards for future ISSJS globally. Of course there were a few hiccups but they were generally resolved quickly to the satisfaction of all.  We pray for the successful completion of ISSJS2009 in the same spirit and tone set till now. On June 7^th, ISSJS proceeds on its yatra to the Jain holy pilgrim places and finally start the Jaipur session on June 10th.

 The Fifth ISSJS i.e. ISSJS 2009 consisting of three independent programs has been launched successfully as follows:

·        ISSJS2009 Bangkok: One month program from April 21^st to May 15^th 2009 at Mahidol University Bangkok. Attended by 17 students and scholars, this program has been successfully completed.

·        ISSJS2009 One month program: For beginners and intermediate level university students in India. May 24^th to June 23^rd 2009. Thirteen students and scholars are attending this program from USA, Canada, UK and Thailand.

·        ISSJS2009 Two month program: For intermediate and senior scholars in India. May 30^th to July 19^th 2009. Twelve scholars from USA, Canada, UK, Belgium, Thailand and Japan are attending this program. Besides six alumni and senior scholars from USA along with some faculty (ISSJS) and community leaders will attend the program from June 1^st to June 5^th 2009.

 

An important feature of ISSJS2009 is the delivery of lectures from June 1^st to June 5^th in Delhi by Prof. Padmanabha S. Jaini, professor emeritus University of California Berkeley and an internally authority on Jainism and Buddhism. Besides these classroom lectures, he will deliver the following lectures for academic and community leaders:

 

·        June 6^th:  6 PM at India International Centre New Delhi  ‘Heavens and warfare in Jainism’

·        June 7^th: 11.30 AM MD College Jain Mandir Hari Parvat Agra “ Banarasi Dass and contribution of scholars from Agra to Jainism.

·        June 11^th : 5 PM  Anuvibha Jaipur ‘ Development and ecology, Jain view’

·        June 13^th :   4 PM Asiatic Library near RBI Mumbai. ‘Sectoral debates in Jainism’

·        June 14^th : 10 AM  Santa Cruz Mumbai   ‘ Development and ecology in Jainism’  

 

 All arrangements have been finalized and we expect ISSJS 2009 in India to be as successful as the one in Bangkok. 

 

 Please visit www.jainstudies.org for details. Also please send request for printed brochure of The Fifth ISSJS2009.

 

 

 

ISSJS2009 Bangkok is organized by Mahidol University (leading multidisciplinary national university of Thailand with beautiful and modern campus) in association with Digambar Jain Federation Bangkok and ISJS India. Director ISJS Dr. Shugan Jain arrived here on 21^st April to make all arrangements final for inauguration, lectures, stay etc.

 

The inauguration program was attended by the entire class of 17 plus registered participants to the program and twenty community leaders and university faculty. The program was inaugurated by H.E. Mrs. Latha Reddy, Indian ambassador to Thailand. It was a very well organized program which started with lighting the lamp. Manglacharan by Dr. Shugan Jain followed by brief speeches by Prof. Sophana Srichampa of Mahidol and coordinator of the program, Mr. Pramod Jain president of DJF Bangkok, Dr. Shugan Jain director ISJS India and the Mrs. Latha Reddy Indian ambassador. DJF organized an exhibition of important Jain temples in the world which was also inaugurated by the ambassador. The function ended with light refreshments to all attendees. After the program an orientation program for the participants was organized and conducted by Dr. Shugan Jain in which a Help book was given to each student along with a CD containing Study notes Version 3.0 and Key to Tattvarathasutra. Jain path of Purification was also given to each participant.

 

From 22^nd to 25^th April, eight lectures as scheduled were delivered by Dr. Shugan Jain. These formed the foundation of Jainism for the participants to learn the concepts and practices in Jainism properly.

 

The following lecture schedule was delivered to the participants

·        First week        Dr. Shugan Jain (9 lectures)

·        Second week   Prof. Kusum Jain (5 lectures), Prof. Sogani (9 lectures)

·        Third week       Dr. Priya Jain (9 lectures)

·        Fourth week     Prof. Bhag Chandji (10 lectures)

 

Besides two lectures by ISSJS alumni from Thailand were also delivered for a total of 45 academic lectures on all aspects of Jainism.

 

·        On Sunday April 26^th, a three hour Shwetambar Jain puja was organized at Shwetambar Jain temple in Bangkok.

·        On Saturday May 2^nd a three hour Digambar Jain puja was organized at Digambar Jain temple in Bangkok.

Both pujas were followed by a sumptuous brunch organized by DJF.

 

All the lectures were highly interactive including group discussions by participants. All the seventeen participants attended the programs completely with others coming off and on depending on their interest. Participants are a mix of students and faculty members (6).  A very senior philosophy scholar (Dr Savior, an advisor to UNO and a number of MNCs) is also attending the program on full time basis. Three Jain business men and women also attended the program completely besides the university students and faculty. At the end of the each week all the participants were requested to give their comments and suggestions for improvements which were very valuable and showed complete satisfaction by the attending participants.

 

Overall a feeling is generated that this program is the beginning of an annual ISJS class regularly. More the half class wishes to attend the two months program in India also and others a similar program in Bangkok next year. Dr. Savior, the Spanish scholar wishes to come to India for the two months program and a stay later at PV Varanasi for experiencing the Jainism tradition in more details. A detailed meeting with the dean and senior professors of Assumption university (Dean Sriwarakuel and Director international affairs Glen Chatelier and senior professors) was held with a view to enhance cooperation between ISJS and them. Similarly, Mr Prasong, an ISJS alumni and a lecturer at Rahmbeg University was held to review cooperation. By all accounts ISJS has been fully established in Bangkok with very exciting activities already being planned.

 

ISJS thanks the organizers of ISSJS2009 Bangkok i.e. DJF (Mr. Pramod Jain, Mr. Atul Shah and Mr. Nikunj Mehta particularly and the entire council of ISJS Bangkok and DJF), Mahidol University, especially Prof. Sophana Srichampa for their special efforts and hard work to make this program a grand success. ISJS alumni Mr. Prasong and Nomnian have also worked very hard to make this program a reality. Special thanks go to Shri Nirmal K. Sethi president of Shri Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha for financially sponsoring the visit of all the five faculty members of ISJS. 

 

ISJS Bangkok chapter was also inaugurated with Mr. Pramod Jain as its chairman. The chapter members requested director ISJS to significantly increase ISJS activities in Bangkok. The current program is a joint offering by Mahidol University and ISJS and a certificate of participation will be given to all participants by both institutions combined. The candidate selected as best performer in ISSJS 2009 Bangkok will be offered a trip to India to attend the lectures by Prof. Jaini and participate in the pilgrimage.

 

Some photos of ISSJS2009 at Bangkok are enclosed.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the eve of ISSJS2009 launch, director ISJS India has presented his report to all alumni, enrolled participants, faculty, supporters and well wishers of ISJS.

 

The following new initiatives have been launched by ISJS on the occasion:

 

·        Setting up ISJS chapters at UK and Bangkok. Now ISJS has complete presence in India, USA, Canada, UK and Thailand.

·        Sending Jain scholars to different universities / research institutes in India and overseas): Requirements of Jain scholars for posting in Thailand and India exist with ISJS. Need good Jain scholars.

·        Offer of two scholarships for four years, each valued at Rs 50000 per year for PhD students conducting research on Jain history. These scholarships are sponsored by Shri Satish Chand Jain of Nagpur.     

·        Setting up ISJS-PV Global Centre for Ahimsa and Indological Research at Parashwanath Vidhyapeeth Varanasi. More such centres are being planned throughout India.

 

ISJS whole heartedly thank its financial supporters and faculty members for providing financial and academic resources for ISSJS2009.

 

Messages from Prof Crawford chairman Academic council ISJS USA, Dr. Sulekh Jain chairman ISJS governing council USA, Dr Atul Shah Chairman ISJS chapter UK and Mr Pramod Jain Chairman ISJS Bangkok chapter can be viewed.