44 Jain Diksha at Surat, India

44 Jain Dikshas will set a new record in 500 years The Jain community of India will witness a record breaking 44 dikshas at Surat on 1st December, 2014, unseen in past 500 years’ history of Jainism. Precisely 522 years ago, Jainacharya Hemvimalsuriji initiated 500 male and female in Jain monkshood. Now under the holy presence of all the principle Aacharya Bhagvants residing at Surt, a diamond city of Gujarat, 44 Mumuxu from 12 to 59 years of age will renounce the worldly pleasures and embrace Jain Diksha. The historic ceremony will be attended by about one million Jains. There are various Monk orders in Jainism. The Vijay Ramchandrasuriji Order is the biggest of them on today. Aacharyashri Vijay Ramchandrasuriji made a record by giving 26 Dikshas in 1977 A.D. This record was broken by Aacharyashri Vijay Gunratnasuriji when he gave Diksha to 38 males and females at Palitana, Gujarat. Now with the blessings of Aacharyashri Vijay Jinchandrasuriji, who is the last Pattadhar of late Aacharya Vijay Shantichandrasuriji, 44 male and female will become Jain monks and nuns at Surat, most of them inspired by hearing religious discourses of Aacharyashri Vijay Yogtilaksuriji, who is a disciple of late Aacharyashri Vijay Samyamratnasuriji. The mass diksha ceremony at Surat will be presided by Aacharyashri Vijay Jinchandrasuriji, Aacharyashri Vijay Yogtilaksuriji, Aacharyashri Vijay Mahabalsuriji, Gachchhadhipatishri Vijay Punyapalsuriji and Aacharyashri Vijay Kulchandrasuriji. The organizers of mass diksha ceremony, “Samyam Suvas Parivar” visited Delhi on 25th October, 2014 to invite the President and Prime Minister of India to grace the historic occasion at Surat, accompanied by as many as 65 Mumuxus, who are going to take diksha in near future. The Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi greeted them at his 7, Racecourse Road residence. Mr. Modi told the Mumuxus, “Now I am blessing you, but after taking diksha, please give me blessings that I may be able to serve the nation by spreading moral values in people of India.” The president of India Mr. Pranav Mukherji threw high tea for them in the Banquet Hall where only Jain food was served. It a spiritual miracle in the age of TV and internet that as many as 44 educated, intelligent and well to do males and females are ready to abandon all worldly pleasures and embrace diksha. One of the Mumuxus had just passed sixth semester from LD Engineering college, Ahmedabad and was planning to go abroad to make a career. He happened to listen to the spiritual lectures of Aacharyashri Vijay Yogtilaksuriji and changed his mind to pursue a career in the religious world. One young lady had married only 30 months ago, but realized that nun-hood is much preferable than marriage life. Her husband has willingly given her permission to become nun in Jainism order. 3 married couples are going to embrace diksha at Surat mass diksha ceremony. Two young daughters of a wealthy diamond merchant will also embrace diksha at Surat. One gentleman will embrace diksha along with his two young sons. As many as five pairs of Brother-brother or brother-sister will also renounce the world together. The diamond city of Surat is getting ready to witness a historic 8 days religious ceremony to be held at Balar Farm House, Piplod, near SVNIT college, on a ground sprawling to some 10 acres. A temporary Jain temple will be created at the venue to perform religious Puja and functions. A big dome will be erected in an area of about 1.50 lakh sq. feet, that can accommodate 50,000 spectators. The dinning hall can serve pure Jain food to some 5,000 devotees in single round. There will not be any buffet system, but all the guests will be made to sit comfortably and served delicious Jain food. There will be an exhibition of past Jain Child Sanyasis with live commentary by child artists. The 8 days religious ceremony will begin with Birth Celebration of Jain Lords. The God idols, Guru Bhagvants and Mumuxus will take entry on 3rd day. On 4th day, all Jain Sanghs of Surat will felicitate all Mumuxus and their family members. On fifth day, various artists from all over India will perform with different musical instruments. On the evening of fifth day, a spiritual performance “Bhavprapanch” will be enacted by Manoj Shah, a famous stage director from Mumbai. On sixth day, the Mumuxus will be given a farewell from Sansar and they will express their feelings in response. On seventh day, a grand procession of 44 Mumuxus will be held on the roads of Surat city. On the seventh night, folk singer Osman Mir will sing religious songs in a musical night. On the last day, all the Mumuxus will take diksha enter in the religious order of monks and nuns. On last two days, as many as 50,000 people will be served Jain food at the venue.

Venue: Infront of SVNIT, Surat, India

Date : 01.12.2014