Pujya Tai Ma’s 89th Birthday: A Memorable Celebration at Veerayatan Kutch!
The Kutch campuses were heaving and everywhere your eyes turned there were beautiful decorations with colourful flags, banners and dazzling lights, the air filled with the sweet fragrance of friendship, everyone eagerly waiting to be showered with love by Pujya Tai Ma. Yes, the three-day celebrations had indeed started and with great exuberance!
The celebrations commenced with beautiful devotional bhakti by Mumbai’s renowned musical group ‘Tanariri’. The melodious bhajans by Sadhvi Shri Sanghamitraji deeply moved the audience and made everyone feel they had ascended to heaven. The evening of bhakti was truly uplifting for all present.
The following day, the enchanting and vibrant cultural programme delivered by the talented school and college students studying at Veerayatan Kutch, captivated the audience with their outstanding performances! The little children performed a delightful dance in which they humbly expressed their joy and said "You are our world, Tai Ma; From our hearts, we say Happy Birthday to you..." The entire gathering joined together in singing "Happy Birthday, Tai Ma", with a shared heartfelt wish—that our beloved, revered Pujya Tai Ma lives a long life and that her blessings always shower upon us.
On Pujya Tai Ma’s birthday, the most awaited moment was Pujya Tai Ma’s spiritual discourse in which she blessed everyone, emphasising the principle of ‘Maitri’ (universal friendship) as taught by Tirthankar Mahavir. She highlighted that education is the only true path to world peace. Expressing deep gratitude for the support and
tireless efforts of all in creating Veerayatan and developing it into the magnanimous tree it
is today, she blessed everyone and encouraged them to continue their noble efforts in the future.
The celebrations were graced with the presence of national and international members of the Veerayatan family. Everyone was mesmerised by the exceptional and well-coordinated arrangements which were planned and executed so beautifully and perfectly by Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji and by the warm hospitality extended to them.
The presence of Shri Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal's spiritual leader, Pujya Bhai Shri, on the beautiful occasion of Pujya Tai Ma’s birthday celebrations, was humbling and added immensely to the grandeur of the events.
Pujya Bhai Shri is a living encyclopaedia of truth and wisdom, who has mastered the art of integrating spirituality with social welfare, making profound scriptures accessible and relevant to daily life in a simple yet deeply meaningful manner. A staunch supporter of Pujya Tai Ma’s journey of selfless service, his presence was warmly welcomed by all, and the long association between these two elevated souls was evident in the affection and respect they showed for each other as they sat and conversed side by side at the various events. Extending his heartfelt wishes, Pujya Bhai Shri openly praised Pujya Tai Ma’s progressive vision, describing her as a precious jewel of the spiritual community.
Tai Ma is like my elder sister. I find inspiration in everything she does. In every noble initiative she undertakes, I stand by her, always.
The entire audience was deeply moved by his generous and affectionate words, and they wholeheartedly applauded his noble sentiments toward Pujya Tai Ma.
Diksha Ceremony of Kumari Manvi Jain
The life of a renunciant transcends all boundaries and becomes infinite—the entire world becomes the family of a spiritual seeker. (Pujya Tai Ma)
With these intentions and with the divine grace and guidance of Pujya Tai Ma, Kumari Manvi Jain, full of inspiration and excitement and ready to embrace this golden path, renounced her life and took diksha. This marked the 16th diksha that Pujya Tai Ma has conducted, inspiring each Sadhvi to walk on the path of self-realisation and spiritual awakening.
The night before her Diksha, there was a special presentation, which left everyone in awe. From the 10 chapters of Tattvartha Sutra, random sutras were chosen, and Diksharthi Manvi fluently and flawlessly recited the verses without hesitation, faster than a computer! Her impeccable memory and precision won her immense admiration from all.
During the Diksha ceremony Diksharthi Manvi expressed her heartfelt emotions in an incredibly touching and inspiring speech. As she embarked on the divine path of renunciation, she also announced her decision to donate her hair to cancer patients. This profound act of compassion and sacrifice moved the entire gathering to tears, and the stage resonated with thunderous applause and chants of "Jai Jai!"
Pujya Tai Ma ceremoniously conferred upon Manvi the revered Bhagwati Diksha. With new attire and a new path, Pujya Tai Ma gave her a new name—Sadhvi Praveditaji, meaning Bhagwan’s command. All the devotees and attendees had the sacred opportunity to participate in the first alms offering to Sadhvi Shri Praveditaji and the Diksha ceremony concluded successfully, filled with love, reverence, and pure spiritual emotions.
We pray that Sadhvi Shri Praveditaji’s life progresses beautifully on this spiritual path and fulfils her wish of extending a loving hand to all those in need.
Foundation laying ceremony for the Samosaran project
The glorious sun shone with extraordinary radiance on the morning of 26 January, spreading its golden rays across the sky to announce the arrival of Pujya Tai Ma’s birthday and the nation’s Republic Day! Every corner of Veerayatan resonated with joy and enthusiasm on the 89th birth anniversary of Pujya Tai Ma and to mark the laying of the foundation stone for her beloved and inspirational project, ‘Samosaran – The World of Harmony’.
All the devotees actively participated in the foundation-laying ceremony and wished to contribute to Pujya Tai Ma’s new project, Samosaran, as they firmly believed that whatever Pujya Tai Ma envisioned would be extraordinary. With the heartfelt sentiment of "Let me also be a part of this incredible creation," everyone announced their contributions according to their capacity.
The Samosaran Project aims to bring the spiritual journey and teachings of the revered tirthankaras to life in a unique and captivating manner, transporting people back in time. Blending spirituality with creativity in a way that inspires all and using the latest technology, the eternal messages of the tirthankaras such as building harmonious relationships, compassion for all living beings and preserving nature and the environment, will be experienced by the audience as they are transported back in time as if they are present in the real Samosaran!
Pujya Tai Ma is not only a visionary, but also an artist and her artwork at The Shri Brahmi Kala Mandiram in Veerayatan Rajgir, has left visitors awestruck, exclaiming, "Unparalleled! Extraordinary! Unimaginable!" Now, with her divine artistic vision, Samosaran will take shape—its architectural design personally conceptualised by her. Work on the project will commence soon to bring Pujya Tai Ma’s vision to reality.
Watch the foundation laying ceremony:
Launch of Uttaradhyayan Sutra Composition
Pujya Tai Ma is always envisaging how to impart Tirthankar Mahavir’s teaching to all in an
inspirational and accessible form which can, in turn, be life transforming. Whilst in Pune for
her Chaturmas (4 months of rainy season), the reading of the last discourse of Tirthankar
Mahavir, Uttaradhyayan Sutra, resonated in Pujya Tai Ma’s mind and she visualised the
beauty of the words radiating through musical composition to the delight of our ears.
And within a short time, Pujya Tai Ma’s birthday celebrations became the occasion of the
launch of ‘Veerayatan Radio’. Each verse of the Uttaradhyayan, has been beautifully sung
with both music and rhythm crafted by Sadhvi Shri Sanghamitraji, touching our innermost
chords and making it a matter of pride for the entire Jain community. This initiative will
allow thousands of people to listen to the divine words of Bhagwan Mahavir in an enriching
and accessible manner. The project was made possible due to the tireless support of Shri
Jayant Bhai Shah from Pune, whose dedication and sincere efforts led to the creation of this
wonderful radio platform.
Veerayatan Volunteering Programme 2025
With the blessings of Pujya Tai Ma, we are pleased to announce our latest Volunteer Programme trip will be taking place from 28 July to 9 August 2025. For those aged 14-22, this is an excellent opportunity to go to India and do voluntary work in Kutch with Veerayatan, to aid self-development and make a difference to those in need. The perfect way to spend part of your summer break!
We congratulate Shree Chandana Vidyapeeth, Nairobi who have taken up the task of planning and organising this year’s eagerly awaited Veerayatan Volunteering Programme. Please see the flier for dates and more detail. If you are interested in sending your child do contact the following to get information as places are limited.
Watch the video from our most recent 2024 trip to get a flavour of this valuable experience:
Mere Devdoot Story
A heartfelt conversation
Mere Devdoot (My Angels) is a book written by Pujya Tai Ma in which she remembers and reflects, with gratitude, on everyone who has been instrumental in shaping her life. We have been publishing these stories regularly in this newsletter.
In this story, Pujya Tai Ma recalls an incident in which she reflected that, just as we feel the emotions of animals, in the same way animals can also feel our warmth. This shared sense of connection is the true lifeline of the living world…..
Each year, for Pujya Tai Ma’s birthday, a mega eye-camp is organised in Rajgir, Bihar. This year was no exception! The eye-camp ran over 6 days and carried out free cataract surgeries for about 450 patients. A colossal task, with doctors and staff working selflessly day and night, providing excellent care to these anxious patients, always with compassion.
The occasion this year was graced with the presence of a group of 160 members of
Singapore Jain Religious Society as part of their wonderful two-day visit to Veerayatan Bihar
to see, experience and participate close hand in the humanitarian work being undertaken by
Veerayatan. The group’s visit filled the campus with energy and the various events
organised for them included witnessing the mega eye camp and participating in the mass
clothes distribution to patients.
Patients are not only given the gift of vision, they are also given the inspiration to lead a non-violent and alcohol-free life by the Veerayatan Sadhvis.
Pujya Tai Ma had recognised that eye ailments were significant when she first arrived in Bihar in 1973. The local people, who were illiterate, accepted their fate of losing eyesight and used to say that it was God’s will. With education and understanding, these very people’s lives have been transformed with the excellent care provided by Veerayatan’s eye hospital, Netra Jyoti Seva Mandiram since 1987. To date over 4 million patients have been treated and
400,000 eye surgeries undertaken. Really well done to all the staff!
Be inspired:
Flag changing ceremony at Parshva Jinalay 2025
It has been 9 years since the magnificent opening of the Parshva Jinalay, a beautiful and
serene place of worship within the peaceful setting of the Rajgir campus. The Parshva
Jinalay is an abode for not only paying respect to God but also for both young and old to
learn the prayers and recite these with amazing feeling every single day, both morning and
evening and to show our deepest reverence to Parshvanath Bhagwan, Mahavir Bhagwan,
and Rishabhadev Bhagwan.
Each year, a special flag (dhaja) changing ceremony takes place and 2025 was no exception,
with the auspicious ceremony being carried out by Shrimati Shobhaji Rasiklal Dhariwal and
family in the presence other honourable guests.
Sporting excellence
Veerayatan schools excel not only in academic education, but their students are trained and encouraged to develop other skills including participating in various sports activities. The students of Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, Pawapuri, took part in and competed against other schools in the Nalanda district in Wushu, Judo Karate and Kabaddi competitions during the 3-day festival in Rajgir organised by the local government. It is with great pleasure that we announce that the girls’ and boys’ teams did extremely well and received gold medals in Wushu and the Judo Karate competitions. In the Kabaddi competition, one of the students has been shortlisted to represent the Nalanda district for interstate competitions.
Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, Pawapuri had also organised a two-day annual sports competition. At this occasion, Sadhvi Shri Sampragyaji addressed the students and emphasised the importance of sports in promoting sportsmanship, teamwork, decision-making skills, physical and mental development and fostering healthy competition among students. Various sports activities and competitions including running, shot putt, long jump, kho-kho were held. Teachers and school staff played a crucial role in organising the event and ensuring its amazing success.
Many congratulations to all the students who participated and the teachers for all their hard work!
Veerayatan Palitana
First Annual Day Celebrations
Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir (TMVM), Palitana, hosted its first-ever Annual Day on 1st February 2025, marking a significant milestone for the school. The event saw enthusiastic participation from more than 200 students, who showcased their school, their learning and their immense talents in front of a large audience of children’s families and dignitaries, including heads of various government organisations, the local member of the legislative assembly, and the Deputy Superintendent of Police, which all added to the grandeur of the occasion.
The Annual Day was a vibrant display of creativity, discipline, and cultural awareness. The celebrations included a wide range of beautifully choreographed performances such as dance, the jaw-dropping karate demonstrations, poetry recitals, and thematic social skits such as saving trees, awareness of tribal culture, and the importance of education, all delivering powerful messages through their acts and highlighting the all-rounded education which students receive. Parents and visitors applauded the students' efforts and confidence.
Parents spoke about their gratitude to Pujya Tai Ma, Sadhvi Shri Sanghamitraji and Dr. Sadhvi Shri Chetanaji for their vision and untiring efforts to not only impart quality academic education to the children of Palitana but also imbibe them with qualities and values which will shape a better future for the children and transform their lives and turn them into tomorrow’s leaders. The success of this celebration has set a strong foundation for future events, fostering a spirit of confidence, teamwork, and learning among students. Heartiest congratulations to everyone involved in organising and taking part in this special event.
Student Trip to Statue of Unity, Vadodara
In pursuance of Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, Palitana’s ethos of opening up new horizons and experiences to its students, 68 students from the school enjoyed an exciting two-day trip to the Statue of Unity in Vadodara, accompanied by Dr Sadhvi Shri
Chetanaji. The trip was filled with enriching and fun-filled moments which included visits to:
the Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world. The students were amazed by its immense height and grandeur and visited the observation deck, where they enjoyed stunning views of the Narmada River and the surrounding landscape.
a nearby zoo, where they had the chance to see various animals followed by a captivating laser show that showcased the inspiring story of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his contributions to the Indian nation.
the beautiful Poicha Swaminarayan Temple and the Narmada Aarti, a mesmerizing ceremony by the river, both of which left everyone feeling spiritually uplifted.
The two-day trip organised by the teachers of TMVM, who also accompanied the students, was a perfect blend of education, culture, and enjoyment, leaving the students and teachers with unforgettable memories.
Sporting Excellence in Palitana
Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, Palitana, prides itself on delivering quality academic and value based education to its students. Alongside this, sporting activities are also encouraged and we are pleased to announce that Jeni Parghia, a very talented student, achieved the remarkable milestone of securing second place in the highly competitive 500-meter skating event in the Khel Mahakumbh (a prestigious sports event organised by the Government of Gujarat). TMVM is very proud of Jeni, who displayed exceptional skill, determination, and perseverance and has earned a well-deserved spot in the forthcoming State Championship, where she will represent TMVM and continue her journey towards greater achievements.
Veerayatan Meerut
With the blessings of Pujya Tai Ma, Veerayatan Meerut have been successfully organising feeding programmes on a monthly basis. In the month of December, without any exception, Veerayatan Meerut fed around 900 adults and children with the offering of rice with pulses. Many congratulations to all for this excellent compassionate programme!
Veerayatan Kenya
SCVP Kenya celebrates Pujya Tai Ma’s Birthday
Students, teachers, parents and adult class members of Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth (SCVP), celebrated Pujya Tai Ma’s 89th birthday in a beautiful and vibrant manner in front of an audience of over 200 by depicting stories from Mere Devdoot, My Angels, a book in which Pujya Tai Ma has written fondly of all those who have shaped her life, whether humans, birds or animals.
The students, aged 5-15 years, delivered the stories and the messages in a novel and engaging manner, highlighting lessons which we can all take from Pujya Tai Ma. All in the audience learnt about and were mesmerised by Pujya Tai Ma’s incredible sense of compassion and kindness and her willingness to put everyone above herself. The youngest children recited a poem about 'their Tai Ma' and the eldest students spoke about Pujya Tai Ma's words of wisdom in the form of ‘poetical prescriptions’.
The students all came together spectacularly, working with and helping their teachers write scripts, design costumes, directing, managing the backstage chaos and even sound and lighting effects – all for the love of Pujya Tai Ma! The morning ended with the joyous singing of ‘Happy Birthday’ to Pujya Tai Ma.
Veerayatan UK
Pujya Tai Ma’s 89th birthday celebrations
Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth Jain school (SCVP) celebrated Pujya Tai Ma’s birthday, both in-person and online, in an interactive manner to bring awareness to all of Pujya Tai Ma’s amazing life and qualities. A food collection for those in need had also been arranged and parents and children generously donated a large quantity of food and other daily essentials which were given to a local charity called Gratitude for distribution.
In the in-person event, all in the audience were touched by the love, compassion and humility Pujya Tai Ma personifies, as they viewed ‘Jugnu’, a documentary which explores all aspects of Pujya Tai Ma’s life and work:
This was followed by a quiz, with the audience working in teams to answer questions on Pujya Tai Ma. Everyone learnt something new: about Pujya Tai Ma’s life immediately after taking diksha, the struggles she encountered in creating the Rajgir centre, the thinking underpinning her mottos of ‘Make friendship your religion’ and ‘Your one lamp can light hundreds more’ and much more.
The event concluded with everyone singing happy birthday to Pujya Tai Ma and the reciting of Uvassagharam Stotra to pray that Pujya Tai Ma continues in good health to enable her to bring to fruition the many unique projects she is working on and transforming many more lives.
Heartfelt poems for Pujya Tai Ma
The eldest class students of SCVP Jain school wrote beautiful poems showing their love, gratefulness and respect for Pujya Tai Ma!
They tell me, They tell me,
They tell me about 1947 and all that
But Acharya Shri Chandanaji,
No, they never tell me about her.
Tai Ma
A Jain pioneer,
with vision
to make the world a better place.
And the first woman
of Jain religion,
across the world,
to spread her teachings
as the first and only female Acharya.
A miracle from heaven.
They tell me about Taj Mahal
and Shah Jahan.
But Acharya's inspiration to many lives;
No, they never tell me about that.
Tai Ma
Thrust into the face of danger,
despite people's many concerns,
she battled through; her unwavering resilience unmatched,
transforming the land of Bhagavan Mahavir.
A place of crime and violence
blossomed into a sanctuary of knowledge,
though her divine spirituality.
Tai Ma
A woman with vision.
Times may change,
but her compassion is eternal.
From giving pencils
to receiving the Padmashri Award,
through her commendable works,
in building schools, hospitals and colleges.
A beacon of hope
to thousands of souls.
They tell,
They tell me what they want to tell me.
But now I'm checking out Tai Ma's history,
immersing thousands to her identity.
By Aaryan, Piya, Siddh and Yashvi (15 years old)
Wisdom shines so bright
A beacon of compassion
Path of peace and light
Tai Ma, so revered, intelligent and loved by all
Fostering a sense of community, transforming the lives of thousands
From educating to inspiring to saving many
Thank you for everything you’ve done for us
Spreading the words and teachings of Jainism all around the world
From Asia to Europe to Africa and beyond
Tai Ma, you have touched the hearts of millions
Fostering a sense of kindness within all our souls
Your wisdom flows,
In faith, strength and solidarity
A light that uplifts
Janmadivasna Ghana Ghana Abhinandan, Tai Ma
By Aarav, Anoushri, Neil, Riya, Yuvraj (15 years old)
SCVP School Christmas Care Home Visit
SCVP Jain School celebrated Christmas with the true spirit of generosity and inclusivity by visiting a local Care Home for older people.
A Christmas Gift Collection was organised by our 15-year-old students for the residents at Birchwood Care Home in Kingsbury, London. Gifts for all the 120 or so residents and the staff, ranging from toiletries, socks, jumpers, jigsaw puzzles, blankets, chocolates and biscuits, were generously donated by the children and parents of the school.
The children, ranging from 9 to 15 years in age, entertained the residents by singing carols and playing nostalgic music. The children, with the residents, did some arts and crafts activities such as making and decorating cards and Christmas boxes. But the highlight was spending time with the residents as they all mingled and found out more about each other’s lives whilst doing the activities. The joy and affection of the residents was palpable and the energy of the children was infectious. The children, with compassion, understanding, respect and appreciation, learnt about the various challenges faced by older people. The three-hour visit concluded with the children personally giving the presents to each and every resident, bringing a smile to the faces of all.
A big thank you to everyone involved in the visit as well as the Care Home staff for accommodating us.
