Rattibha

🪷JR

10 Tweets 141 reads Dec 03, 2021

KOBE #JAIN TEMPLE IN KITANO-CHO, #JAPAN
On June 1, 1985 the formal opening ceremony of this temple was performed. Prior to that in 1984, the Moolnayak pratima of Bhagwan Mahaveer was specially flown from #Mumbai, India & the Panch Kalyanak Pratistha was held in April.
#Thread

The temple has been built with the funds contributed by the #Jain community of #Japan. The temple is fully buit in marble and the architectural details are eye catching. At present, there are 3 Jain temples in Japan, with Kobe Jain temple being the most popular.

Buddhism, another Indian origin religion has the 2nd highest number of followers after Shintoism in Japan. Jainism, unlike the closely-related Buddhism is a minority religion in Japan, but growing. More than 5,000 ethnic Japanese families in Japan have taken up #Jainism

In the early 1950s, 40 Japanese students were sponsored by the Government of India to live & study in #India. Some of them studied at Navinaya in #Varanasi and #Gujarat, which led to new interest in the study of #Jainism in #Japan.

A traveller named Churushi Miyazawa came to India in 2005 & in her first meeting with Jain Acharya Jayantsen Suriswarji, was inspired by the tenets of #Jainism. With that she decided to shed her past,lead a minimalistic life,give up her comforts & vowed to live like a #Jain.

Churushi, who has changed her name to Tulsi wanted to take Diksha/renunciation. She said “My guru entrusted me with a bigger task: To spread Jainism across #Japan. Since then I have been travelling to India 4-5 times a year with 100s of Japanese who are ready to embrace #Jainism"

The appeal of Ahimsa or non-violence in #Jainism has found a connection with the Japanese. They follow the 8 days holy festival of #Pajjusan too. They fast for 8 days (atthai) by merely consuming warm water. Even children follow #ParyushanParva & keep fasts for a day or two.

In a new wave of religious tourism, 1000s of Japanese have travelled to India & adopted #Jainism. They live like astute #Jains - They wrap themselves in white loin cloth, follow Jain diet, wake up with the sun, consume only boiled water, meditate in derasar & dine before sunset.

The town of Naganoken, home to the 7th century Zenko-Ji temple with a hidden Buddha, sees 100s of Japanese nationals travel to Palitana & Shankheshwar in #Gujarat to embrace Jainism every year. After Naganoken, the popularity of #Jainism is spreading in #osaka and #Tokyo too.