Veerayatan Newsletter,
August 2022, Edition-36

Pujya Tai Ma’s felicitations for receiving the Padma Shri award continue….

The Padma Shri award bestowed upon Pujya Tai Ma by the Government of India has created exhilaration everywhere, not only in India but also worldwide. Pujya Tai Ma’s unbound compassion and friendship with all has touched and transformed millions of lives worldwide. Her magnanimous achievements are being celebrated in many different ways, ranging from:

All have felicitated Pujya Tai Ma and honoured her achievements in recent months. Watch the celebratory video to have a glimpse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQSys436tDc

With her utmost humility, Pujya Tai Ma says that this award is for all her disciples and others who have wholeheartedly supported the cause of Veerayatan for the past fifty years.

Independence Day celebrations

Seventy-Five years of Independence Day was celebrated with passion and enthusiasm by all the children and staff of Veerayatan centres. Colourful performances took place with great pride.

The flag raising ceremony was performed by Pujya Tai Ma with the youngest children of Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, Palitana. Pujya Tai Ma spoke about how important it is to remember our forefathers for all the struggles to get independence. She told everyone how life was difficult at that time and how scary it was to even go to school each day. Due to the efforts and struggles of Mahatma Gandhiji together with so many people including our forefathers, we have this peaceful life where we have no fear.

Pujya Tai Ma ended by saying that now we must move forward by protecting our community, our state, our country and this world through developing friendships, respect and supporting one another and also looking after nature.

Pujya Tai Ma’s thoughts on our passions and the importance of discipline

Pujya Tai Ma’s thoughts on our passions and the importance of discipline

Pujya Tai Ma has been talking about passions (kashaya), our Anger, Greed, Ego and Deceit. She says that Kashaya is an integral part of our life. Without the existence of kashaya, would life exist? No, says Pujya Tai Ma. Pujya Tai Ma continues by saying that we need gas in the kitchen for us to cook, we need a small amount of light to brighten up the room in the dark. In the same way, in all our daily actions through mind, speech and body, kashaya are necessary.

To read further...
Mere Devdoot Story
Mere Devdoot Story

Transformation

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.

Tirthankar Mahavir’s principles of forgiveness and friendship are a precious gift for humanity. They are amazing qualities, which cannot only change one’s attitude, thinking and behaviour but, in the process, transform life itself. The inspirational story published in this edition teaches us how the power of forgiveness and friendship can transform lives of people who have acted destructively.

To read the story, click here

Veerayatan Palitana

Our children excel in Sanskrit

It is our great pleasure to announce that four children from Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir (TMVM) have excelled in a Sanskrit competition which took place in Palitana. All the schools and colleges in and around Palitana took part in this competition in which the students contested in various categories. Five children from TMVM were chosen to take part and 4 of them were awarded prizes. Darshan Parmar aged 13 came first in transcribing what was being said; Vinshi Awadi, aged 13 came first in reading; Dhruvi Vagela aged 15 came first in composition; and, Pragati Parma aged 15 came second in the drawing competition where children had to draw something related to Sanskrit. Pujya Tai Ma congratulated all the children and presented each with a gift.

Celebrating Raksha Bandhan

At Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, all 350 students celebrated Raksha Bandhan with such excitement and zeal. All beautifully dressed and with huge smiles, the girls tied a rakhee to the boys and the boys gave the girls a chocolate. Pujya Tai Ma told the children that tying the rakhee is not just an external action but there is deeper meaning behind this. She went on to say that it is not just about protecting, respecting and loving each other but it is also about spreading these feelings to the whole world. And the smart children with confidence mentioned everyone and everything they would like to protect. In the presence of Pujya Tai Ma, they took the following resolve - That they will always look after each other, their parents and the whole family, the cows and other animals, nature including trees, other plants, birds, air and water and the whole country and the world!

What a wonderful way to celebrate Raksha Bandha with so much positive energies spread everywhere!

Shri Adinath Netralay

Shri Adinath Netralay, the ultra-modern eye hospital, an initiative of Veerayatan Palitana, is doing excellent work. On a recent visit we were stunned by their systems of work; the seamless treatment of patients from when they are first seen in the outpatient clinic to having treatment and the post care was overwhelmingly impressive. The space, the cleanliness and the welcome given by all the staff is notable.

It was great to hear that all staff members are trained either in-house or at L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad so that high quality care is given to all patients. Patients receive subsidised treatments include either medical or surgical treatments or obtaining spectacles. Even specialised retina treatments are available in this rural hospital.

What is most admirable is that the hospital is paperless! And the information recorded for audit trail by the computer system is incredible such that it records everything from when the patient first came to the hospital, how long they had to wait before been seen by the doctors, to receiving the treatment itself and the post care received. The video of the doctors performing the surgical intervention is also stored for clinical audit purposes.

With the vision and blessings of Pujya Tai Ma and the hard work of Sadhvi Sanghamitraji and Sadhvi Chetnaji, the people of Palitana and the surrounding areas are receiving excellent eye care treatments

Free Eye Check-up Camp

Shri Adinath Netralay, organised a free eye check-up camp in Palitana town centre in association with Sir Mansighji Government Hospital who gave the premises to Veerayatan to conduct the camp. In total 111 patients were seen who were diagnosed with various eye problems including cataract, glaucoma, eye infections etc. Medicines, if required, were given free of any cost. Twenty-three patients have been identified for further evaluation for surgical interventions which will be conducted at Shri Adinath Netralay. Further management of these patients will also be free of any cost.

Well done to the whole team! The plan is to organise such eye camps regularly, so as to make the services accessible to as many patients as possible.

Veerayatan Kutch

Shri Gautam Adani visits Veerayatan Kutch campus

The well-known industrialist, Shri Gautam Adaniji, with his 5 brothers and 22 members of his family visited Veerayatan Kutch to pay respect to Pujya Tai Ma and seek blessings on the occasion of Shri Gautambhai’s 60th birthday. They were delighted to see the newly built Adani Auditorium and the beautiful campus of Veerayatan Kutch. He was overwhelmed to see the magnificent facilities and good work of Veerayatan Kutch and expressed that he would have regretted if he missed an opportunity to visit such a lively, beautiful and clean campus.

With the blessings and benevolent presence of Pujya Tai Ma and the revered Sadhvijis and in the presence of the Veerayatan committee, a plaque was also unveiled for the magnanimous contribution made by Shri Abhay Firodia, Veerayatan President, to Veerayatan Kutch. A 16-seater mini traveller was donated by him in the memory of his father, Shri Navalmalji Firodia.

Students pass with flying colours

Although there has been a lot of disruption in students’ studies due to COVID 19, with the blessings of Pujya Tai Ma and tireless efforts of revered Sadhvijis, all the students at Veerayatan, Kutch have done extremely well in their exam results.

At the end of the last academic year, standard 10 result was 85%, standard 12 result was 90% whilst all the final year Engineering (Mechanical) students passed their exams. 80% of these undergraduates got 10/10 semester performance index which means that these students did extremely well in all the various courses within the semester.

Other news from Kutch

  • It is a pleasure to announce that an ISO (International Organisation of Standardisation) certificate has been given to Veerayatan Engineering and Veerayatan Polytechnic College by Eurocert International Organization. ISO is a quality procedure which is followed by the institutions for quality education and students' satisfaction and to ensure a robust management system is implemented.
  • With the blessings of Pujya Tai Ma, the renowned leading industry Adani Power has selected lecturers from Veerayatan Institute of Engineering to teach 200 Graduate Engineer Trainees recently appointed by them. This is a pilot activity initiated by the Adani group and will later act as a catalyst to build strong relationships not only with the Adani group but also with other established industries of Kutch.
  • International Yoga Day was celebrated in all the Veerayatan Kutch institutes on 21 June. The theme for International Yoga Day selected was ‘Yoga for Humanity’, with the aim of bringing light to the physical, mental, and emotional state of people and inspiring the yoga community for global development.
  • Industrial visits are an important part of the curriculum. These help students to get an overview of emerging technologies, understand how they are implemented in the industry and the career options available for them. Veerayatan organises regular industrial visits for the college students enriching them with information regarding the various departments, the roles and responsibilities of various key people, the process of manufacturing, the equipment and the chemicals used etc. The most recent visit was made by pharmacy students to Naveen Saxena Research and Technology Ltd. and Quantys Clinical Pvt. Ltd., Kandla, Gandhidham.

Veerayatan UK

Annual Samayik Event

Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth Jain School (SCVP) was started in 1995 for children and adults with the blessing and guidance of Pujya Tai Ma and with tireless efforts by Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji. We inculcate values as expounded by Tirthankar Mahavir, teach children prayers, the life stories of various Tirthankars and the Jain philosophy. To show and experience the importance of Samayik, each year SCVP organises a Samayik event where both children and adults do Samayik together. This year was no exception. This year’s theme was Parshvanath Bhagwan and we all learnt about the value of forgiveness and equanimity exemplified by Parshvanath Bhagwan through the stories recited by and acted by the children of SCVP. The children also recited and explained to everyone the meaning of each of the prayers and sutras. It was a very beautiful and peaceful experience for all 120 or so participants and the children’s enthusiasm and hard work was evident in all that they recited and performed.

Children learning the art of giving

Children aged 12 and 13 at SCVP decided at the start of the school year to adopt a charity, Woodland Trust, whose priority is to grow trees and look after habitats. They made a plan to plant trees, teach younger children the importance of planting trees and looking after trees and do a fundraising activity for the Woodland Trust. We are pleased to announce that the children took this responsibility seriously and achieved all their three objectives with enthusiasm and a smile. They planted 250 trees, educated around 50 children aged 5-11 years and they organised a sponsored walk in which they raised over £2700. What fantastic work from these young children, our future!

Veerayatan Kenya

A Bake Sale organized by SCVP Children

A bake sale was held one Saturday morning by the 11year old childrens’ class to raise funds for Kenya Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a choice made by children themselves as they put their learning into practice. It was heartwarming to see the parents and children working together and bringing so many delicious cakes and other sweets to sell. Well done to all the children for making a difference!

Inspiring minds: An overview of SCVP Nairobi

With the blessings of Pujya Tai Ma and the guidance of the Veerayatan Sadhvijis, Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth (SCVP) continues expounding the Jain philosophy together with preparing the children and adults who attend to become responsible Global citizens.

Our responsibility lies in ensuring that students who go through SCVP Nairobi are an inspiration to others through responsibly carrying out works of charity and giving.

Read further to see what activities are taking place…

Upcoming Events

SCVP Pratikraman in English during Paryushan: 24 August to 31 August 2022

SCVP Pratikraman in English during Paryushan: 24 August to 31 August 2022

Paryushan is one of the most important festivals in the Jain calendar and indeed a celebration of the Self. In current times, it has become ever more crucial to understand the interdependence of all living things and for us all to harness our positivity towards one and all. SCVP London is pleased to announce that this year during Paryushan, we have organised Pratikraman in English for all 8 days and will be conducting it in person and streamed live online. The sutras will be recited in English as well as the original language and with appropriate explanations with the primary objective being to unlock our compassion and positivity.

Paryushan for Kids: 27 August to 29 August

Paryushan for Kids: 27 August to 29 August

SCVP Jain School, UK, has organised 3 days of virtual classes for children aged 5-10 years from 27-29 August, 9-10am. Children will learn about Mahavir Bhagwan and his beautiful values in a fun and interactive way. Please see the poster for more information and register if you would like to attend. We strongly recommend that children come for all 3 days.

To register, click: http://tinyurl.com/paryushan4kids