Adherents of
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 ...
first arrived in the United States in the 20th century.
Jain
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 being ...
immigration began in earnest in the late 1960s and continues to the present day.
History
![Virchand Gandhi poster](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Virchand_Gandhi_poster.jpg)
In 1893,
Virachand Gandhi
Virachand Raghavji Gandhi (25 August 1864 – 7 August 1901) was a Jain scholar who represented Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions in 1893. A barrister by profession, he worked to defend the rights of Jains, and wrote and lecture ...
became the first Jain delegate to visit the United States, representing Jainism in the first ever
Parliament of World Religions
There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World's Religions, the first being the World's Parliament of Religions of 1893, which was an attempt to create a global dialogue of faiths. The event was celebrated by another c ...
. As the first practicing Jain to speak publicly in the United States on Jainism, he is a key figure in the history of American Jainism.
[ The first ]St. Louis Jain temple
The 1904 St. Louis Jain temple is a historic structure that was constructed for the 1904 St. Louis World's fairs, termed "Louisiana Purchase Exposition". It was the first building in the United States designated as a Jain temple, since it was a te ...
in the United States was built for the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. After the fair, the temple moved to Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
and later to Los Angeles. It is now owned by the Jain Center of Southern California. Adherents of Jainism first arrived in the United States in 1944. Jain immigration began in earnest in the late 1960s after the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965. The United States has since become a center of the Jain diaspora.
The first former Jain monastic to travel to the United States, Chitrabhanu, arrived in 1971. He gave several lectures about Jainism at Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
and established a Jain center in New York City. The first monk who traveled outside India by use of mechanical means was Acharya Sushil Kumar who arrived in the United States in 1975. He established multiple Jain centers, including International Mahavira Jain Mission popularly known as Siddhachalam. In the 1980s, he and Chitrabhanu inspired the founding of Federation of Jain Associations in North America
JAINA is an acronym for the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, an umbrella organizations to preserve, practice, and promote Jainism in USA and Canada. It was founded in 1981 and formalized in 1983. Among Jain organization it is ...
to support the Jain community
The Jains in India are the last direct representatives of the ancient Shramana tradition. People who practice Jainism, an ancient religion of the Indian subcontinent, are collectively referred to as Jains.
Sangha
Jainism has a fourfold orde ...
in the United States and Canada.[
As of 2010 the United States contained the most ]Jain temple
A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings gen ...
s of any country in the Jain diaspora.[ At least one third of the Jains living outside India live in the United States, numbering close to 150,000.] Jain temples in the United States, which numbered 26 as of 2006, frequently incorporate marble and arches in a style reminiscent of Rajasthan architecture.[ There are almost 100 distinct Jain congregations in the United States.][
Many Jains in the United States are professionals.] They also frequently volunteer at animal welfare organizations.[ Many Jains also attend Hindu temples and Hindu events.
]
Jain sects
According to The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
, "Most American Jains agree that the sectarian streams of Jainism that have been significant in India for 2,000 years are fast losing their currency in 20th century America...The sectarian divisions of the Jain tradition have been left behind as Jain Americans concentrate on the difficult task of appropriating the tradition in a new environment." As noted below, many Jain temples in the United States contain images from both the Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being '' Śvētāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing ...
and Śvētāmbara
The Śvētāmbara (; ''śvētapaṭa''; also spelled ''Shwethambara'', ''Svetambar'', ''Shvetambara'' or ''Swetambar'') is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the ''Digambara''. Śvētāmbara means "white-clad", and refers ...
traditions. Jain conventions and gatherings in America feature teachings from both sects.
Federation of Jain Associations in North America and Siddhachalam
216px, Main temple at _Jain_center_at_New_Jersey">Siddhachalam_Jain_center_at_New_Jersey._Images_of_the_tirthankaras_Mahavira.html" ;"title="New_Jersey.html" ;"title="Siddhachalam Jain center at New Jersey">Siddhachalam Jain center at New Jersey. Images of the tirthankaras Mahavira">New_Jersey.html" ;"title="Siddhachalam Jain center at New Jersey">Siddhachalam Jain center at New Jersey. Images of the tirthankaras Mahavira, Chandraprabha, Rishabha, Shantinatha and Parshvanatha.
The Federation of Jain Associations in North America is an umbrella organization of local American and Canadian Jain congregations to preserve, practice, and promote Jainism and the Jain way of life. Siddhachalam in New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
is the first pilgrimage site for Jains outside India, bringing together all Jains in one place for worship, study and reflection.
Jain symbols
The Federation of Jain Associations in North America uses a modified version of the standard Jain symbol, the Jain emblem. It replaces the swastika with an '' om'' because the former is not considered a pious symbol in the western world.
Jain studies
Florida International University
Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university with its main campus in Miami-Dade County. Founded in 1965, the school opened its doors to students in 1972. FIU has grown to become the third-largest university in Florid ...
hosts the Bhagwan Mahavir Professorship in Jain Studies, the first Jain Studies chair at a North American university. In 2016, the Jain Society and Rice University
William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a private research university in Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranked among the top universities ...
signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a post-doctoral fellowship in Jain studies.
American Jain centers
:Jain temples in the United States
The Jain Center of America was the first Jain center in the United States. It opened in New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
in 1982. Since then, over 100 Jain centers and temples have opened in America. Most Jain centers are complexes that include a main temple housing Digambara and Śvētāmbara images, libraries, meeting rooms, guest rooms, and so forth.
Arizona
* Jain Center of Greater Phoenix
Jain Center of Greater Phoenix (JCGP) is a Jain temple in Phoenix, Arizona. It was established in 2008. It represents about 150 families in the Phoenix metro area.
History
Of the total Jain population in Phoenix, about half live in the East Val ...
California
* Jain Center of Northern California
* Jain Center of Southern California
Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) is a leading Jain Center in America. It was founded on September 15, 1979. JCSC played a major role in founding of JAINA, the umbrella Jain organization of North America and hosted the first Jaina conven ...
* Jain Center of Greater Sacramento
* Jain Society of San Diego
* Jain Center Of Los Angeles
Colorado
* Jain Samaj of Colorado, Denver
Connecticut
* Jain Center of Connecticut
Florida
* Jain Vishwa Bharati of USA, Orlando, Florida
* Jain Society Inc. of Tampa Bay
* Jain Society of Central Florida, Inc.
* Jain Center of South Florida
* Jain Association of North East Florida
Georgia
* Augusta Jain Community
* Jain Society of Greater Atlanta
Illinois
* Jain Society of Metro Chicago
Indiana
* Jain Center of Central Indiana
Kansas
* Kansas City Jain Sangh
Louisiana
* Jain Center of Northwest Louisiana
Maryland
* Jain Society of Metro Washington
Massachusetts
* Jain Sangh of New England, Burlington, Massachusetts
* Jain Center of Greater Boston, Norwood, Massachusetts
Michigan
* Jain Society of Greater Detroit, Inc.
* Jain Society of Greater Lansing
Minnesota
* Jain Center of Minnesota
Missouri
* Jain Center of Greater St. Louis
Nevada
* Jain Center of Las Vegas
New Jersey
* Jain Center of New Jersey
* Jain Sangh of Atlantic City - NJ
* The Jain Sangh Inc. NJ (Cherry Hill Jain Sangh)
* Jain Vishwa Bharti, Iselin, New Jersey
* Siddhachalam, New Jersey
New York
* Jain Center of America
* Jain Community of Buffalo
* Jain Sangh of Hudson Valley
* Jain Society of Capitol District-Albany
* Jain Samaj of Long Island, NY
* Jain Temple of New York
North Carolina
* Jain Center of Greater Charlotte
* Jain Study Center of N. Carolina
Ohio
* Jain Center of Central Ohio, Columbus
* Jain Center of Cincinnati/Dayton
* Jain Society of Greater Cleveland
* Jain Society of Toledo
Oklahoma
* Tulsa Jain Sangh
Pennsylvania
* Jain Center of Allentown
* Jain Samaj of South Central PA
* Jain Society of Pittsburgh
* Samarpan Jain Sangh Philadelphia
Tennessee
* Jain Society of Middle Tennessee
Texas
* Jain Society of Houston
* Jain Society of N. Texas/Dallas
* Jain Sangh of Greater Austin TX
* Siddhayatan
Siddhayatan, is a Jain-Hindu Tirth (pilgrimage site) in North America founded in 2008 by Acharya Shree Yogeesh. It is located on a site at Windom near Dallas, Texas, United States. Siddhayatan currently has miniatured versions of pilgrimage site ...
Virginia
* Jain Society of Central Virginia - Richmond
* Jain Temple of Virginia
Washington
* Jain Society of Seattle
* Jain Center of Washington
Wisconsin
* Jain Religion Center of Wisconsin[http://www.jainwi.org/]
Gallery
File:Jain Center of Central Ohio Columbus Ohio USA.jpg, Jain Center of Central Ohio in Columbus, Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
File:Greater Baltimore Hindu-Jain Temple 05.jpg, Greater Baltimore Jain Temple
File:Siddhachalam1.jpg, Main shrine at Siddhachalam Jain center, New Jersey
File:NY temple2.jpg, Jain Center of America in New York City with images of Tirthankaras.
File:Jain Temple -01 by Jain Center of Greater Phoenix (JCGP).jpg, Manastambha at Jain Center of Greater Phoenix
Jain Center of Greater Phoenix (JCGP) is a Jain temple in Phoenix, Arizona. It was established in 2008. It represents about 150 families in the Phoenix metro area.
History
Of the total Jain population in Phoenix, about half live in the East Val ...
File:JCGP Temple (2).png, Rishabhantha idol at Jain Center of Greater Phoenix
Jain Center of Greater Phoenix (JCGP) is a Jain temple in Phoenix, Arizona. It was established in 2008. It represents about 150 families in the Phoenix metro area.
History
Of the total Jain population in Phoenix, about half live in the East Val ...
File:JCGP Temple (1).png, Lord Mahaviraswami idol at Jain Center of Greater Phoenix
Jain Center of Greater Phoenix (JCGP) is a Jain temple in Phoenix, Arizona. It was established in 2008. It represents about 150 families in the Phoenix metro area.
History
Of the total Jain population in Phoenix, about half live in the East Val ...
File:Lord Adinath JCNJ.jpg, Lord Adinatha at Franklin Township derasar
File:Garbha Graha, JCNJ.jpg, Main vedi at Franklin Township derasar
File:Goddesss JCNJ.jpg, Idol of devi at Franklin Township Derasar
A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings gen ...
File:Namokar Mantra JCNJ.jpg, Namokar Mantra at Terapanti shrine of Franklin Township Derasar
A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings gen ...
See also
* Jainism in Canada
Adherents of Jainism first settled in Canada in small numbers in the late 19th century. The number of Jains in Canada later increased, leading to the establishment of Jain temples in Canada. The type of Jainism in Canada later exhibited severa ...
* Jainism in Europe
The credit for introducing Jainism to the West goes to a German scholar, Hermann Jacobi, who translated some Jain literature and published it in the series 'Sacred Books of East' in 1884.
In Europe, the largest Jain populations are in Britain ...
* Jainism in Hong Kong
There are about 500 Jain families in Hong Kong, who immigrated to Hong Kong later than most other Indian groups. They originate mostly from the Indian state of Rajasthan, Gujarat,and other parts of India. Some Jains belong to Hong Kong orig ...
* Jainism in Singapore
The Jain community celebrated a presence of 100 years in Singapore marking the occasion by rededicating the "Stanak" and consecrating the idol of Mahavira. This brings together the two main sects of Jains - Svetambara and Digambara. The Singap ...
*Jain Center of Southern California
Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) is a leading Jain Center in America. It was founded on September 15, 1979. JCSC played a major role in founding of JAINA, the umbrella Jain organization of North America and hosted the first Jaina conven ...
References
Further reading
* ''Jainism in America'' Bhuvanendra Kumar. Benaras, Jain Humanities Press, 1996
* The Western Order of Jainism by Nathubhai Shah of London (Jain Journal Vol XXX1, No 1 July 1996)
* Jains and Their Religion in America: A Social Survey by Dr. Bhuvannendra Kumar (Jain Journal Vol XXX1, No 1 July 1996)
JAIN eLibrary
attempts to provide an increasingly complete digitized collection of Jain Scriptures, dictionaries, encyclopedias, articles, commentaries, photographs, and other materials related to Jain life.
External links
Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jainism In The United States
Jain communities
Asian-American society