Mahavir Jayanti fete at Greyslake temple

BY A STAFF WRITER

Mahavir Jayanti, also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, is the most auspicious and an annually celebrated event among Jains and the community in Lake County came together with all the devotional fervor to celebrate the 2613th birthday of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar from the line of Lord Adinath in Jainism, on April 26 at the Hindu Mandir of Lake County.

Beautifully decked and spiritual devotees flocked the temple to offer their reverential prayers. The Mahavir Mahila Mandal of Bartlett, Illinois led by Rashmi Shah and Sudha Shah started Bhagvan Mahavir’s birthday celebration with Maha Abhishekam with sponsor families by melodious chanting of mantras and stavans.

Mahila Mandal ladies sang many devotional, ceremonial, pleasant Bhajans and filled the temple shrine with spirituality and holy spirit. More than 150 devotees attended the program with some of them dancing with religious zeal.

On the occasion, the Jain community devotees honored Manu Doshi, a 93-year-old, well-known scholar and publisher of a Jain monthly newsletter, ‘Jain Darshan’. Pandit Anil Joshi Ji and Pt. Ganesh Ji proudly offered tilakam, uttariya and phalpushpma to Doshi.

Doshi also chanted hymns melodiously and made everyone feel proud at his spiritual devotion and divine attachment to Lord Mahavir. Maha Mangalarati was followed by mouthwatering Maha Prasadam sponsored by Parikh and Taswala families. All devotees enjoyed Prasadam prepared by Jain Temple of Bartlett, Illinois.

The Mandir’s dedicated devotee and celebrated singer Vasu Choksi anchored the program very meticulously. The whole event of the birth anniversary of Bhagvan Mahavir was brilliantly organized by Umesh and Vasu Choksi as well as Nitish Shah.

Temple president Harsh Kumar, who thanked all the Jain devotees for making this event a grand success, said that Mahavir Jayanti reminded and inspired Jains to respect and practice non-violence and compassion.