Frequently Asked Questions
All details are here: https://www.jsmw.org/shilanyas/shilanyas-event-details
Parking for each day will be at BAPS Temple lower parking lot.
Drop-off for senior citizens and anyone needing assistance will be located on Ammendale Rd entrance. Entry to the site from Lincoln Ave will not be open for guests.
Transportation via mini-van shuttles between BAPS parking lot and our temple site will be available.
- To ensure safety, please ensure you are following all instructions provided when crossing Ammendale Rd on foot.
Please follow current instructions provided by volunteers.
BAPS Temple address:
4320 Amendale Road, Beltsville, MD
Saturday, 10/5
- Ayambil: Jain Center @ Briggs Chaney Road , 11 am to 12:30 pm
- Lunch: BAPS Temple, 11 am to 12:30 pm
- Dinner: BAPS Temple, 5 pm to 6:30 pm (sunset at 6:44pm)
Sunday, 10/6
- Ayambil: Jain Center @ Briggs Chaney Road , 12 pm to 2 pm
- Lunch: BAPS Temple, 12 pm to 2 pm
Please follow directions provided by volunteers.
BAPS Temple address:
4320 Amendale Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Jain Center Address:
1021 Briggs Chaney Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20905
New Temple site is under active construction. Wearing socks are recommended foot safety. Please walk on designated covered flooring areas only as much as possible.
First Aid services will be made available on our new temple site.
Please reach out to any visible volunteer for help.
All details are here: https://www.jsmw.org/shilanyas/shilanyas-event-details/
We have several entertainment and religious activities planned for the Shilanyas Mahotsav.
- Friday, 10/4: Raas- Garba Dance Night from 7:30 pm to 10 pm
More details and RSVP here.
- Saturday, 10/5 – Full-day of activities
- 12:39 pm Ashtaprakari Poojan and Shila Abhishek
- 7:30 pm Cultural Program
- Sunday, 10/6 – 7:30 am onwards
- Shilanyas Vidhi (placing of Shilas at the exact location of various Bhagwans, Chovisi, Sthank, Upashray, Dev-Devis, Pathshala areas.
Yes, you heard it right. We are organizing a Raas-Garba dance night to kick-off the festivities of our Shilanyas Mahotsav! It will be on Friday, 10/4 from 7:30 pm to 10pm at Rockville Sportsplex, 60 Southlawn Ct, Rockville, MD 20850.
You can register at the following link:
https://www.jsmw.org/event/save-the-date-shilanyas-mohatsav-garba-dandiya-night
On Saturday, we will be doing Ashtaprakari Poojan and Shila Abhishek during the daytime on our new Temple Site.
The Poojan will have up to 2 labharthi families doing Poojan on Shilas.
Throughout the Pooja Ceremony, various Gheebolis will be performed for the Shilanyas Labhs (placement of the actual shilas) which will be done on the next day.
Then evening will be cultural program for all to enjoy!
Of course, we will be serving delicious Lunch and Dinner.
Don’t forget to RSVP here.
Shilanyas Vidhi will be done on Sunday.
This is the auspicious ceremony of laying the Shilas at the exact location of various Bhagwans, Chovisi, Sthank, Upashray, Dev-Devis, Pathshala areas 10 feet underground.
Shilanyas Vidhi will be done on by Vidhikar Narendrabhai Nandu & Group.
Namaskar mahamantra aradhak Shri Narendrabhai Nandu is a successful Jain Vidhikar, fundraiser, pravachankar. He is blessed by Panyas Chandrashekar Vijayji, Acharya Gunodaysagar Surishwarji Maharajsaheb.
He has been doing varshitap aradhana for past 22 years and has completed sava karod (12,500,000) navkar jaap. He has been performing Jain poojans, anjanshalakas, pratishtha mahotsav, diksha mahotsav, bhavyatras for past 28 years.
Narendrabhai has conducted more then 100 anjanshalaka and 200 pratishthas all over the world, including Detroit, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, New Jersey, New York, Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Chicago, Charlotte, Cleveland, London (UK), Antwerpen (Belgium), and Kampala (Uganda). He is accompanied by his son Kayvan Nandu and nephew Meghkumar Nandu.
Narendrabhai has been associated with JSMW and the New Temple project for a long time. Narendrabhai led the New Temple Fundraising Gala, Bhoomi Poojan, Khanan Vidhi, and now Shilanyas Mahotasav!
Our current temple was founded in 1989. We are on the path to build a new Shikharbandhi temple for JSMW.
Shilanyas is an important ritual performed prior to starting construction of our new Shikharbandhi Jain Temple.
Shilas (marble slabs) will be placed in Swetambar, Sthanak and Digambar sections of the new temple.
The most important Shilas are the eight directional Shilas and the main (Dharni/Kurmi) Shila under the Moolnayak Bhagwan in each temple. These 9 Shilas will form the foundation of the Ghabara where our Bhagwans will be and are described by the corner of the direction they are in (E, W, N, S, NW, NE, SW, SE).
Shilas will be placed specifically in each Ghabhara, Sthanak, Upashray and other Murtis along with pooja and chanting of holy mantras to invoke divine blessings of all celestial beings. This ritual is performed to form a solid foundation base for our new temple without any hindrance or evil influence.
No, they are different. Shilanyas is the final step before the construction of our new temple starts. Pratishtha, as the name may suggest, is when our temple is built and ready for Bhagwan to be seated.
Labh means the opportunity to perform an activity for a religious ceremony.
The monetary donation for a Labh may be made as a Nakro (fixed amount) or Gheeboli (bidding).
Shilanyas Mahotsav has many labh opportunities. Details and booking for all available labhs is made available from our website at www.www.jsmw.org/shilanyas/labhs/
Gheeboli for many labhs were commenced from Swapna Ceremony and some of them have been finalized.
www.www.jsmw.org/shilanyas/labhs/ shows the current status of all available labhs.
Gheeboli for all remaining labhs will be performed by Shri Narendrabhai Nandu on Saturday, October 5th.
Don’t miss that opportunity if you plan on taking a labh!
Special labh is available for Pathshala clasoroms for Kids – Register Here
Payment for your labhs can be made in several ways:
- Online via Paypal from www.jsmw.org/supportjsmw – be sure to enter your labh name in memo
- In-person check payment
- Mail your check
- Transfer from your general fund
Payment for Nakro items is requested within 5 business days.
Payment of Gheebolis is requested per the labharthi’s personal commitment and highly encouraged within 6 months.
Ample amount of planning has been done behind the scenes to ensure that Shilanyas ceremonies are a smooth, safe and spiritually enriching experience for you and your loved ones.
Specifically:
- Beautifully customized Pooja kits have been pre-assembled keeping in mind
every detail needed for poojans. Labharthis will be given their Pooja kits upon checking in at the registration desk on Saturday and Sunday.
- Pooja clothes are recommended, but not required, for the ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday. Clean clothes are required.
What is needed from you:
- Make every effort to arrive on time to ensure that the event can run on schedule
- Adhere to various instructions and guidance provided throughout the event by Shilanyas volunteers or our Vidhikaar team members
- Be patient and bring your positive energy and vibes to our new Temple site
- Lend a helping hand wherever needed
This is your Sangh! We would love to have your help and leadership.
We are looking for help with Registration Desk, Outreach and in-person invitations, Accommodation and Outside Sangh hospitality, Transportation, Parking and Venue Clean-up.
Please reach out to Shilanyas leads Pragnesh Shah (301-305-4261) or Sandeep Mehta (301-775-7820, or our Director of Volunteers, Swetal Shah (443-983-2006) and Co-Director of Volunteers, Vaishali Chheda (410- 564-4758).
You can email us at shilanyas@jainsocietydc.org or volunteer@jainsocietydc.org.
Watch out for more opportunities in the weekly email updates and JSMW official WhatsApp group (Join via Link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GDNtDuY4CIxE6Nemv9Cmg9)
We have a special group rate nearby Hampton Inn for the Shilanyas event. Please use the code listed below when you make a reservation.
- Hampton Inn College Park
Book online with Group Rate code “SHP” or call in and say “Shilanyas Program”
https://hamptoninn3.hilton.
Alternate nearby hotels (no special group rate):
- Comfort Inn: https://www.
choicehotels.com/maryland/ beltsville/comfort-inn-hotels/ md614 - Sheraton College Park: https://www.marriott.
com/hotels/travel/wasbv- sheraton-college-park-north- hotel/