Keri (Goa), April 25, 2012: The coming weekend will see the otherwise reticent Jain community in Goa celebrate the silver jubilee of its religious leader Hiteshchandra Vijayji’s stepping into asceticism.
In a rare appearance in the state, Vijayji is in Margao as part of his journey to South India. He told, “We want to change the image of Goa from a land of fun, frolic and material enjoyment to a holy land of yoga and human values.”
To celebrate their spiritual leader, the Digambar and Shwetambar Jain sects have come together to organize cultural and religious activities at the Shri Sumatinath Jain Mandir at Pajifond, Margao.
Chandrakant Bhoje Patil of Ponda said, “We want to make Goa a model state with Swamiji’s blessings.”
Bharat Goda added, “We have already initiated the R N Vekriwala Jain Clinic at Pajifond where free medical check-ups are carried out irrespective of religion and caste. We want to continue such humanitarian work.”
Patil stressed the need to also preserve the historic Jain shrines and sculptures in Goa for posterity. – News Courtesy: Rajendra P Kerkar, Times of India