Shikharji at Siddhachalam Anniversary Celebrations

Acharya Sushil Gurve Namah

Respectful Invitation to Anniversary Celebrations

August 24-25

Jai Jinendra,

Siddhachalam is delighted to invite you and yours to the Anniversary Celebrations of Pratishtha of Shikharji at Siddhachalam on August 24-25.

The highlight of the celebrations is Dhwajarohan (“hoisting of flag”) atop each of the 30 Tonks of Shikharji at Siddhachalam.  Dhwajarohan symbolizes our spirit of renewal and of our resolve in celebrating the path of liberation shown by the Tirthankars.  It also helps nurture and nourish our Tirth (place of pilgrimage).

Participating in Dhwajarohan

Prior to the dhwajarohan, a grand puja will be performed on August 24 morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Main Temple to prepare the dhwaj and the Dhwajarohan-performing family for the auspicious task.

The suggested donation for the laabh of performing Dhwajarohan is $5,001 or more.

Choice of Tonk for Dhwajarohan will be determined by a draw held on August 24, 2013 at 10 a.m. and includes the Tonk of Shri Parsvanath Prabhu and each of those Tonks on which a Pratishtha laabharthi does not first elect to also perform dhwajarohan by contributing $5,001 or more.

The opportunity to perform dhwajarohan is on a first-come first-serve basis.

The names will also be announced in our mailings to over 15,000 families and displayed for a year at the ashram for viewing by 25,000 or more yatris that perform yatra to Siddhachalam each year

_____________

Naming Rights

The privileged family that performs Dhwajarohan will have the right to display names of their choice for an entire year on a plaque by the Tonk.  This is one of the ways in which donors seek to set an example of tyaag of wealth, thereby earning punya and encouraging generousity for a worthy cause.

The fortunate family will also have the privilege of taking the existing (“pujith”) dhwaj with them for their private temples.  This will be presented to them in a beautiful, hand-crafted, especially-made ornamental frame with their names engraved in a brass plate.

Tonk of Shri Parsvanath Prabhu

There are only 30 Tonks, one of which is that of Shri Parsvanath Prabhu.

The fortunate family whose name is drawn for Dhwajarohan of Tonk of Shri Parsvanath Prabhu will have the honor and privilege of being one of those who board the hand-made, horse-driven rath (chariot) that carries the dhwaj in a grand varghodo/ shubha yatra from the Main Temple to the Tonk of Shri Parsvanath Prabhu.

The Main Temple of Siddhachalam has pratimajis of Tirthankars in both the Swetambar and the Digambar tradition on the same vedi (altar).  Guruji probably saw that, in time, an enlightened community will cherish diversity rather than shying from it.

__________________

Siddhachalam Temples’ 21st Pratishtha Anniversary Celebrations

In 1992, under the auspicious presence of Acharya Sushil Kumarji, history was created by the dedication of two unique temples at Siddhachalam. A Sthanakvasi monk, Guruji probably saw temples as much as a place of meditation charged with positive vibrations, as for bringing all sects of Jain dharma together.

On August 24-25, please join us in reciting Nomokar Mantra and performing puja and Abhishek of each of the pratimajis of the temples of Siddhachalam.

The pratimajis are:

Main Temple: Shri Adinath Swami (Moolnayak), Shri Parsvanath Prabhu, Shri Mahavira Swami, Shri Chandra Prabhu, Shri Shantinath Prabhu, Chakreshwari Devi, Padmavati Devi, Bahubali Swami, and Shri Dada Guru.

Parsvanath Temple: Shri Parsvanath Prabhu, Padmavati Devi, Parsva Yaksha, Nakora Bhairavji, Ghantakaran Mahavir, Manibhadra Swami (protector of Siddhachalam), Saraswati Devi, Lakshmi Devi, Ambika Devi, Roop Chandji Maharaj, and Guruji.

In addition, we will do Abhishek of the pratimaji of Bhomiyaji.  We will also pay our homage to Srimad Raj Chandraji as part of the vargodo.

More details of the program and puja opportunities follow.

We look forward to your enthusiastic participation.

Respectfully,

Jaipat Singh Jain

Vice-Chairman & President

For questions, suggestions and volunteering opportunities, please contact:

Jaipat Singh Jain, president@siddhachalam.org

Bharat Shah, Chairman of Anniversary Celebrations Committee, bharatshah@siddhachalam.org