Jain Center of America

Jain Center of America
Malaiya · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	Jain Center of America
Location	Elmhurst, Queens, New York City
Established	1976

Jain Center of America is a prominent Jain temple and community institution located in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. It serves as a religious, cultural, and educational hub for followers of Jainism and connects with broader South Asian, interfaith, and civic networks across the United States. The center engages with national organizations, diasporic communities, and municipal institutions to promote Jain philosophy and practices.

History

The center was founded by a coalition of immigrant leaders and laypersons who traced origins to regions such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra and who coordinated with established diasporic organizations like the Federation of Indo-American Associations, Indian American Forum for Political Education, and Tandon Committee to secure a permanent site. Early benefactors included members active in associations comparable to the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Indo-American Cultural and Welfare League, and Sikh Cultural Society who negotiated with local authorities in Queens and representatives of the New York City Council, including interactions with offices of officials similar to members of the New York State Assembly and the United States House of Representatives to obtain approvals and zoning variances. The temple’s establishment paralleled the founding of other religious centers such as Hindu Temple Society of North America, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (New York), and organizations like the Zoroastrian Association of North America.

Construction and fundraising drew on networks including the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Gujarati Associations, and charitable models used by institutions like the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Red Cross for community drives. The center’s opening ceremonies connected with cultural events in New York such as the India Day Parade, performances at Lincoln Center, and collaborations with academic centers like the South Asia Institute and the Columbia University South Asian Studies Program.

Architecture and Facilities

The building’s design references classical Jain temple features seen at sites like the Dilwara Temples and the Shatrunjaya complex, while adapting to urban constraints similar to projects by architects of the Museum of Modern Art and parish retrofits comparable to those for the St. Patrick's Cathedral renovation. Facilities include a main sanctum (garbha griha) echoing motifs from the Adinath Temples of Girnar and decorative programs reminiscent of sculptural programs at Khajuraho and Srirangam.

The complex contains assembly halls used for events like symposiums modeled after gatherings at the Association for Asian Studies, multipurpose rooms comparable to those at the YMCA and Carnegie Hall educational spaces, a library with collections akin to holdings at the New York Public Library and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and kitchens operating under standards similar to those at the Food Bank For New York City. The center’s landscaping and parking plans were negotiated with Queens Community Board 4 and follow urban design principles discussed in commissions like the Regional Plan Association.

Religious Practices and Services

Worship at the center follows Jain liturgical traditions associated with sects tracing lineage to figures like Mahavira, Parshvanatha, and saints connected to orders such as Svetambara, Digambara, and contemporary movements like Shrimad Rajchandra followers. Rituals include daily puja, ritual recitation formats comparable to cantillation practices in institutions like the Jewish Theological Seminary or liturgies used at the Saint Joseph's Church (Bronx), and observances timed to calendars similar to celebrations of Paryushana and Mahavir Jayanti.

The center hosts discourses referencing canonical texts such as the Agamas and commentaries reminiscent of scholarship produced around works like the Tattvartha Sutra and engages with ethical discourses paralleling dialogues at the United Nations on nonviolence and animal welfare, similar to campaigns led by groups such as the Humane Society of the United States and the Vegetarian Society.

Community Programs and Education

Educational programming includes classes in languages and scriptures comparable to offerings at the Asia Society and the Consulate General of India in New York cultural outreach. Youth initiatives follow models used by the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA for community service, while adult education mirrors lecture series at institutions like the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations on topics of ethics, diaspora policy, and heritage preservation.

The center organizes cultural festivals coordinated with organizations similar to the Indian American Heritage Foundation, arts performances in venues like Queens Theatre and collaborations with universities including New York University, Columbia University, and Fordham University for internships and research. Social service programs align with practices at nonprofits such as City Harvest and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund for food drives, disaster relief partnerships with agencies like Federal Emergency Management Agency, and outreach to eldercare organizations akin to AARP.

Governance and Organization

The center is operated by a board of trustees and committees structured similarly to governance at institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and nonprofit legal frameworks under state entities like the New York State Department of Law and reporting norms resembling filings with the Internal Revenue Service. Leadership roles include a president, treasurer, and secretaries drawn from professional communities akin to members of the American Bar Association, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, and Association of Physicians of India in North America.

Advisory councils engage scholars from academic centers such as the Center for the Study of Religion and coordinate with interfaith networks like the Interfaith Alliance and civic coalitions including the Queens Civic Congress to manage zoning, cultural programming, and educational compliance with standards practiced by organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts.

Category:Jain temples in New York City