February, 2007
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Volume : 79 Issue No. : 79 Month : February, 2007 TEMPLES SUPREME COURT ORDERS HANDING OVER KESARIAJI TEMPLE TO JAIN SAMAJ BUT LOCAL ADIVASIS OPPOSE Accepting the repeated appeals by the Jain community, The Hon'ble Supreme Court, after a long period of 33 years, has reiterated its earlier decision that the Jain temple at Shri Kesariaji, near Udaipur in Rajasthan, which was being controlled by the Devasthan Department of the Government of Rajasthan be handed over back to Jain samaj. The Court Has accepted the contention of Jains that the temple belonged to them only and not to Hindus or any other community. However, it did not specify as to which sect, the temple should be handed over. This decision has been left to the Government of Rajasthan, saying that the State Government may settle this impending controversy between the two sects, Shwetambar and Digambar. The decision was announced by double bench of Supreme Court, consisting of Hon'ble Mr. Justice S. B. Sinha and Mr. Justice Markendey Katju. on the 4th January, 2007. The announcement made by the Supreme Court has however sparked off agitation amongst the local adivasi poulation and they have adopted a damaging attitude. Looking at the adverse situation, the local authorities, deputed a large contingent of police to control the situation and protect the temple premises, but the adivasi group, occupying a near-by hillock, started pelting stones on the police, which resulted in death of one and injury to several policemen. Few adivasis have also been injured. Observing the still worsening situation, the authorities have alerted the army to keep ready, if called in for helping police. The local adivasis have great respect for the temple god, e.g. Bhagwan Rishabh dev, whom they call 'kala bhagwan'. Though the fight for the control of the temple looks as if it is between Jains and Adivasis, but it is apparent that the adivasis living close-by in a large number have been mis-guided by the vested interests and have ben been told that they will no more be allowed to enter the temple, once the control goes in the hands of Jains. The State Government will have to intervene quickly and clear the doubts once for all, if the problem is to be solved. Few days after the problem arose, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Mrs. Vasundhara Raje visited the place and met various sections of people, including adivasis, people of Jain community and those of Hindu community. She has assured the Adivasi people that adequate compensation will be granted to the family of the deceased and all facilities will be provided for their rehabilitation. PROTEST CALL OVER KESARIAJI TEMPLE HANDOVER WITHDRAWN Tribals protesting the move to hand over an historic temple in Rajasthan to the Jain community have withdrawn their call for Sunday's protest demonstration following Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's assurance that she will look into the matter. The Rajasthan Janjati Vikas Parishad, an association of tribals, had this week threatened to stage a 'mahapadav' or sit-in at the temple if the state government did not listen to its demand on the temple in Rishabdeo town, over 450 kms from here. Officials said the protest call was withdrawn after the chief minister assured them that the government would consult legal experts to request the apex court to review its decision. 'We would take a decision after seeking legal advice in this matter,' Vasundhara Raje had told a tribal delegation here this week. The tribals, who worship the temple's presiding deity - Jain god Rishabdeo - as 'Kala Baba', are irked over the court ruling last month transferring the ownership rights of the ancient temple to the Jain community. The 15th century temple is of special significance to Jains. On Feb 8, one person was killed and seven were injured in police firing as tribals tried to enter the temple forcefully. Courtesy: Mr. Gaurav Jain 'Lakshaya', M: +91-981 198 1233, E-Mail: [email protected] EIGHT IDOLS STOLEN FROM DIGAMBAR JAIN TEMPLE NEAR JAIPUR The ugly incidents of theft in Jain temples are on the increase day by day. Such cases are being reported almost every week but culprits are brought to book only in very few cases. The stolen goods consist of idols of Teerthankars and other gods and goddesses, ornaments used on the idols and cash money received as donation in cash boxes. In a recent case at a Digambar Jain temple at village Bassi, near Jaipur, eight ashtadhatu idols of Bhagwan Parshwa nath, one idol of Devi Padmavati, one idol of Siddh Bhagwan and one set of idols, depicting 24 Tirthankars alongwith half a dozen silver umbrellas (chhatra), and cash amount of Rs. 15,000 kept in a donation box were reported to be stolen in the early hours of Friday of 26th January, 2007. The matter was promptly reported to the police. SUPREME COURT OF INDIA JUDGEMENT ON SHREE KESARIAJI TEMPLE Jainsamaj Matrimonial Courtesy: JAIN GAZETTE, LUCKNOW Database CASE NO. : Appeal (civil) 4092-4095 of 2002, PETITIONER : Deewan Singh & For widest matrimonial Ors.-Appellants, RESPONDENT : Rajendra Pd. Ardevi & Ors. Respondents. choice add. your profile on www.jainsamaj.org DATE OF JUDGEMENT : 04/01/ 2007, BENCH : S. B. Sinha & Markandey Katju, JUDGEMENT :, JUDGEMENT for Rs. 850/-for one year. WITH CIVIL APPEAL NOs. 4076-4079 OF 2002, CIVIL APPEAL NOs. 4081-4084 OF Click here to submit profile 2002, CIVIL APPEAL NOs. 4086-4089 OF 2002, S. B. SINHA, J. FORM Management of a temple known as Shri Rikhabdevji situated in the village Dhulev near 40 miles away from Udaipur in Rajasthan is involved in these appeal which arise out of judgements and orders dated 18.09.1997 and 06.02.2002 passed by the High Court of Rajasthan. Indisputably, the matter came up for consideration on an earlier occasion before this Court in State of Rajasthan and Others v. Shri Sajjanlal Panjawat and Others since reported in [(1974) SCC 500] To read the full text of judgement. MUMBAI JEWELLER INTENDS TO RENOVATE JAIN HERITAGE IN PAKISTAN Satish Shah, a diamond merchant from Mumbai wishes to revive Jain Temples in Pakistan. He is planning to raise Rupees 25 crores for this purpose. When Satish Shah, chairman of city-based Goldstar Jewellers, visited Pakistan to scout for a potential market, little did he expect to find Jain temples. Recently Mr. Shah visited Pakistan and felt extremely sorry about the state of old Jain Temples situated in different parts of Pakistan particularly Sindh province. The different temples included the 1,200-year-old samadhi of the spiritual leader Dada Jin Kushal Suruji. According to Shah, the references of the temples can be found in old Jain manuscripts and also in books prepared by Jains when they migrated from Pakistan to India. There is a sizeable population of Hindus in the Sindh province and so the Hindu temples have not fallen to disrepair. Courtesy: Mr. Satyesh K. Bhandari, E-Mail : [email protected] DIKSHA KALYANAK OF BHAGWAN SHRI PARSHWA NATH CELEBRATED AT NAGPURA IN CHHATISGARH BY THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES - The celebrations of the diksha kalyanak of Bhagwan Shri Parshwa nath Ji were held at Nagpura a village near Rajnadgaon on national highway no. 6 for a period of five days starting from the 13th December, 2006. These were attended by thousands of devotees from Chattisgarh and other parts of India. The special guests who joined the celebrations oncluded Dr. Raman singh, Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh, Swami Achutanand Ji from Haridwar, Shri Dinesh Devangan, Chairman, Nagar Nigam, Durg, Acharya Shri Ratna Sunder Surishwar Ji maharaj and Sadhwi Shri Sanveg nidhi ji maharaj. The Chief Minister announced during his speech that Nagpura would ve developed not only as a Jain pilgrimage centre but also as an Ayrveda university as well as a Centre for Naturapathy, Homeopathy and other sciences. A sum of Rs. 7 crores has been sanctioned for the purpose. The celebrations included a yoga and health care camp and cultural and spiritual programmes. For the purpose of worship (Maha-abhishek), holy waters from 108 rivers was obtained in pitchers. SAINTS DEVOTEES EYEWITNESS SEER'S 'KESHA LOCHAN' CEREMONY Mangalore Feb 21: A number of devotees witnessed 'revolutionary' ascetic Acharya Tarun Sagar Muni's "Kesha Lochana" ceremony (plucking the hair) at "Veera Bhavan," the house belonging to Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade, where the seer has been taking rest for some time in Mangalore. In fact, Acharya Tarun Sagar had invited the media persons as well to witness the life of Jain seers. The seer who started the 'Kesha Lochana' around 2.15 pm completed by 3.15 pm. At first, he put ash (prepared using cow dung) on his head and started plucking his hair with his hands. The 'Kesha Lochana' (plucking hair) is part of Jain seer's life. Throughout the ceremony, devotees sang Bhajans. The last time, the seer performed 'Kesha Lochana' was in Bangalore about four months ago. This is said to be the first time Mangalore is witnessing the 'Kesha Lochana' of any seer. Mr Surendra Kumar, his wife Anitha Surendra Kumar, Jain Milan President Pushparaj Jain and Mr Jayaverma Raj Ballal among others were present on the occasion. MUNI SHREE TARUNASAGAR JI TROUBLED FOLLOWING RUMORS ABOUT HEALTH Mangalore: A highly revered and admired Jain Muni Shree Tarunasagar Ji has been troubled lately following rumors about his well being. So in order to clarify unnecessary confusion about his health, Tarun Sagar Ji addressed a press conference from the residence of Dr. Veerendara Heggade. Dr Veerendara Heggade dismissed the rumors regarding the ill health of Jain muni Munishree Tarunsagar Maharaj, saying that Munji's health conditions is perfectly Ok.