JAINA is an acronym for the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, an umbrella organizations to preserve, practice, and promote

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...

in USA and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

. It was founded in 1981 and formalized in 1983. Among Jain organization it is unique in that it represents Jains of all sects, and thus effectively represents the entire Jain community in USA and Canada.

History

The Jain Center of Southern California was founded in 1979. Lalit Shah, its Vice President in 1980, suggested establishment of an umbrella organization of all the Jain organizations in North America. At that time about 15 Jain organizations were in existence, including the Jain Center of America, Jain Meditation International Center founded by

Chitrabhanu Chitrabhanu (July 26, 1922 – April 19, 2019) was a prominent figure in American Jainism. He was one of the co-founders of JAINA. Personal life He was born as Rup-Rajendra Shah on July 26, 1922 in a small town Takhatgarh in Pali district of ...

, International Mahavir Jain Mission founded by

Sushil Kumar Sushil Kumar Solanki (born 26 May 1983) is a former Indian wrestler. He carried the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of 2012 London Olympics. His 2008 Olympic medal was second for India in wrestling, and the first since Khashaba Dadasaheb J ...

, and Jain centers in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

and Chicago. The plan for JAINA was conceptualized at the first Jain Convention held in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

in 1981, and formalized at the second Jain Convention in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

in 1983, with the advice and approval of Chitrabhanu and Sushil Kumar. JAINA2017Stage

The conventions are now termed JAINA Conventions, and have been held biennially in Los Angeles, New York,

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, Chicago, Toronto,

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

, Chicago,

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 ...

, Detroit, Atlanta, New Jersey & Los Angeles. JAINA also publishes textbooks on Jainism, a calendar, and a monthly magazine, and operates an online Jain library.

Overview

There are over 70 organizations that are part of JAINA. JAINA represents over 160,000 Jains in USA and Canada. It also has 32 subcommittees involved in different activities, including Young Jains of America(YJA), for ages 14-29.

JAINA Symbol

The Federation of Jain Associations in North America uses a modified version of the standard Jain symbol, the Jain Prateek Chihna. It replaces the

swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. I ...

with an Jain Aum because of the negative connotations associated with the swastika in the western world.

Conventions

JAINA conventions draw thousands of representatives from Jain communities in the USA and Canada.

JAINA Committees

There are over 30 JAINA committees. Based on the needs, these committees are more or less active and are at times retired. *YJA (Young Jains of America) *Award Committee Standing *Election Committee Standing *Fund Raising Committee Standing *JAINA Constitution & By-Laws as of January 15, 2009 18 *Interfaith Activities Committee Standing *Jiv Daya Committee Standing *Long Term Planning Committee Standing - Dipak Doshi(Chairman), Yogendra Jain (Immediate Past Chair) *Publications Committee Standing *Tirthoddhar Committee Standing *Veerchand Raghavji Gandhi Scholarship *Fund Committee Standing *World Community Service Committee Standing *Book Store Committee Operational *Calendar Committee Operational *Education Committee Operational *Governmental & International *Relations Committee Operational *Jain Digest Membership Committee Operational *Jain Networking Forum (JNF) Operational *Marriage Information Services Committee Operational *Membership Committee Operational *Library Committee Operational *Legal Advisory Committee Operational *Media/Public Relations Committee Operational *Media Production Committee Operational *Patron Program Committee Operational *Pilgrimage Committee Operational *Public Affairs Council Operational *Scholar Visitation Committee Operational *Technology Committee Operational *Web Site Committee Operational *Academic Liaison Committee Ad Hoc *Adhyatmic Committee Ad Hoc *Assistance Program Committee Ad Hoc *Constitution Review Committee Ad Hoc *Exhibition Committee Ad Hoc *Jain Centers Resources Committee Ad Hoc *Jain Milan Committee Ad Hoc *Jain Rituals Committee Ad Hoc *North American Jain Families *Assistance Program Committee Ad Hoc *North American Jains History Committee Ad Hoc *Senior Housing Committee Ad Hoc

Interfaith and Relief Actions

JAINA has been involved in several interfaith actions. It also organizes relief activities.

JAINA Ratna Award

The JAINA Ratna Award is the highest recognition awarded by the North American Jain community for major long term contributions. The first one was given in 1989 to Prof. Duli Chandra Jain for his pioneering editing and publication "Jain Study Circle" It is awarded irregularly after 2-6 years. So far nine JAINA Ratna Awards have been given. The JAINA Ratna award is distinct from the 26 Jain Ratna awards given by the Prime Minister of India

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Atal Bihari Vajpayee (; 25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was an Indian politician who served three terms as the 10th prime minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months fr ...

on the occasion of

Lord Mahavira Mahavira (Sanskrit: महावीर) also known as Vardhaman, was the 24th ''tirthankara'' (supreme preacher) of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of the 23rd ''tirthankara'' Parshvanatha. Mahavira was born in the early part of the 6t ...

's 2600th birth anniversary celebrations.

Young Jains of America (YJA)

Young Jains of America (YJA) is the youth arm of the Federation of the Jain Associations in North America (JAINA), a non-profit religious organization. YJA serves Jain youth from ages 14-29. YJA was first established in 1991, and held its first biennial youth convention in 1994, and having biennial conventions there on after.

References

{{authority control 1981 establishments in California Jain organisations Religious organizations established in 1981 Religious organizations based in the United States