‘Live and let live is the message preached during Chaturmas’

‘Live and let live is the message preached during Chaturmas’
Sakal Times - CAMIL PARKHE Thursday, 17 July 2014 - 11:10 PM IST
Tags: Jain community, Ratanmuniji, Chaturmas, Pune, Camil Parkhe, quick takes

The four-month holy Chaturmas period of the Jain community is being observed from July 11 to November 6. Various religious programmes are being organised at Jain temples and other institutions. Ratanmuniji, who has been camping at Moraya Yatri Nivas in Chinchwadgaon, speaks to Camil Parkhe about the significance of Chaturmas.

What is the significance of the Chaturmas period?
Chaturmas is the four month period during the Monsoon when various forms of life, including insects, are born. The Jain munis continue their sojourn for religious preaching during the eight months of the year and during Chaturmas they rest at a particular site so that no form of life is harmed because of their physical movement. Ahimsa or non-violence and respect for all forms of life are the most important tenets of the religion. 'Live and let live' is the message preached during Chaturmas.

What religious activities are performed during this period?
During Chaturmas, munis reside at a particular chosen venue where they carry out various religious activities along with the local devotees. They deliver discourses, guide the devotees on scriptures and conduct debates on religious and ethical issues. Chaturmas is the holy period of prayer, meditation and penance. The religious activities at the Jain institutions are attended by a large number of devotees.

What is the message given to people during Chaturmas?
The message to Jain devotees and also people of other faiths is to respect all forms of life, follow ahimsa (non-violence) and promote peace. Being materialistic and selfish results in hatred, while love and sacrifice bring happiness and peace. Jain religion preaches sacrifice and sharing of one's assets with the underprivileged. That is why members of the Jain community are seen giving alms and participating in charitable activities.

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'The Chaturmas is a period of spiritual purification'

'The Chaturmas is a period of spiritual purification'
- CAMIL PARKHE Thursday, 22 August 2013 - 10:06 PM IST
Tags: Chaturmas, Sadhvi Vishwadarshanaji

The Jain community is presently observing the holy period of Chaturmas. Sadhvi Vishwadarshanaji, who is camping at Kalyan Pratishthan in Chinchwad, explains to Camil Parkhe the significance of this holy period, related to prayers, penance and purification.

What is the significance of Chaturmas?
The holy Chaturmas period - the four months of the monsoon season - is exclusively devoted for spiritual and religious affairs. The Jain gurus and sadhvis, who tour different areas on foot for eight months of the year, preaching the religion, choose a place to camp during the four months of the Chaturmas. During this period, religious leaders guide devotees on the teachings of Lord Mahavir. The daily activities during the Chaturmas include religious discourses, discussion on various religious matters and also sanskar classes for children.

What are the obligations of the devotees during the holy period?

Devotees  attend discourses daily and also observe some penance like total (nirankar) fasting for a day or more, but that is not enough. The devotees are also advised to follow the principle of non-violence, to shun hatred and to forgive others during this holy period. The eight-day-long Paryushan Mahaparva, which will be observed from September 2 to 9, is the most important part of the Chaturmas.

Sawantsari Mahaparva, the last day of Paryushan Mahaparva, is the most holy day when devout Jains all over the world observe a fast. The Chaturmas is a period of spiritual purification.

What is the relevance of the Ahimsa (non-violence) principle in today's world?

The principle of non-violence has become even more relevant at present in view of the growing incidents of terrorism all over the world. Love begets peace and hatred begets violence. Mahatma Gandhi too advocated non-violence to fight against the British. The root cause of most ills in the world is hatred towards other people or entities. If people love their fellow beings and also all living beings, there will be peace and happiness in the world.

Splendid story of an enlightened life

Splendid story of an enlightened life

Posted by Gandhi Serve Foundation on April 27, 2009 at 11:31am in Mahatma Gandhi News Digest
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Splendid story of an enlightened life
http://www.sakaaltimes.com/2009/04/27145633/Splendid-story-of-an-en...

Sakaal Times - Pune, India
By Camil Parkhe
Two months ago, Martin Luther King III, the eldest child of Rev Martin Luther King Junior, led a delegation that toured India to mark the golden jubilee of his Nobel laureate father’s visit to India. King (Jr), who led an intensified struggle against segregation of the Blacks in the USA, visited India along with his wife Coretta at the invitation of prime minister Jawahralal Nehru in 1959. The life and contribution of King (Jr) has been described in a recent biography penned by Roger Bruns.
The book informs how the practice of segregation of the Blacks in schools, buses, theatres, hotels and parks continued in the USA right up to the late 1960s when that country was trying to reach the moon.
The biographer has narrated how King (Jr), a Baptist minister, was accidentally drawn into the anti-racism movement after a Black woman Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in a city bus so that a White passenger is saved from the insult of sitting with a Black American in the same row. King Junior’s call to his fellow community members to boycott the city buses in Montgomery proved most successful. The boycott was called off after 381 days when the US Supreme Court ruled segregation in the city buses as unlawful.
The book provides insight into the personal and social life of King (Jr), and the struggle of the Black Americans. The book will be especially inspirational for those people who are associated with the movement for the rights of marginalised and oppressed sections of society.
King (Jr), as Baptist minister, was influenced by Jesus Christ’s teaching of love even for the oppressor; he thus adopted non-violence as the means to seek an end to racism. The book has a sub-chapter on Mahatma Gandhi and non-violence. It mentions that when King (Jr) was assassinated, a torn and fading piece of paper was found in his wallet. It had a handwritten quote of the Mahatma: “In the midst of death, life persists..”
The Indian readers would have however appreciated if the book had more references on how Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence and satyagraha boosted King’s morale to keep the struggle peaceful. Otherwise, it is a valuable collection.