Skip to main content

A Journey Inwards through this Jain Museum, 50 km from Pune

 



By Namrata Kohli 

Have you been to a museum which only talks about thought over things, spirituality over materialism, intangible rather than tangible, and is all about philosophy rather than artefacts. I am referring to the just opened country’s largest museum dedicated to Jain philosophy which is 50 km from Pune. 

A visit to Abhay Prabhavana Museum in Pune, spread over 50 acres with a built up area of 3.5 lakh sq ft, is a journey inwards rather than outwards. After all, every trip need not be about going to Goa or Bali. Travel should also allow us space for spiritual growth and development. Located along the scenic banks of the Indrayani River, in the historic lands of Pune, near the ancient 2,200 years old Pale Jain caves, the Abhay Prabhavana Museum is poised to become a global cultural landmark, which will give the visitors a sense of profound Indian values, as seen through the teachings of Jainism. Just as art lovers plan special trips to The Louvre in Paris or the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, seekers of spiritual knowledge must plan special trips here and budget for spending a day or two here. 

This “Museum of Ideas” or knowledge centre dedicated to Jain philosophy is replete with hi-tech audio-visuals, animations, virtual reality, immersive experiences, interactive systems and specially created 350+ artworks, sculptures and grand replicas to explain complex philosophical and spiritual concepts in a modern, and easy manner. 



Established by Abhay Firodia, Chairman of the Amar Prerana Trust, and founder of Force Motors, the Museum represents a significant milestone in preserving and promoting India’s spiritual legacy. “The project took 10 years from germination to inauguration and around 200 people have been working on it for a decade now,” says Abhay Firodia. The museum was officially launched on his 80th birthday on 5th November by Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, alongside Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister and Maharaja of Gwalior, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, International Court of Justice, The Hague, and Maharaj Kumar Lakshyaraj Singh of Mewar along with other dignitaries and spiritual leaders.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind the Museum, Abhay Firodia shared, “Abhay Prabhavana stands as a tribute to the profound values of the Shraman and Jain tradition, which form the core of India’s ethical and cultural ethos, since millennia. This Museum reflects the principles of Education, Enterprise and Ethics— not just as concepts, but as the real societal values that guide individuals toward a balanced and purposeful life. Our hope is that this center will inspire people to explore and connect with the ten ideals of Indian civilization, expressed through Jainism: Asi (tools and weapons), Masi (ink and communication), Kasi (agriculture and animal husbandry), Vanijya (trade and commerce), Shilp (professional skills), Vidya (knowledge (mathematics, cosmology, medical sciences etc.), Ahimsa (Non-violence and non-injury through thought, speech and actions).”

This knowledge centre is a repository of timeless Jain values such as Aparigrah or non-possessiveness, Anekantvad or non-absolutism of truth, and acceptance of others’ viewpoints as equally valid and Kshama or seeking and offering forgiveness. The museum encourages a quest for truth and personal reflection and is rooted in the Jain principle of “Panna Samikhaye Dhammam.” Overall, a place for reflection, inspiration and imbibing some of the ancient wisdom of Jainism and its timeless values. 

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Telemedicine to the aid of home-bound patients in the time of Covid-19

Telemedicine in covid-19 times: You can get to the doctor almost anytime, anywhere, be it on your screen, via voice or plain text for a lower price than in-person consult Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Telehealth is bridging the gap between patient and physicians. The physician can now virtually visit the stay-at-home patient and heal from a distance Telemedicine in covid-19 times:  When 37-year-old Priyanka was down with fever and dry cough, she decided to consult a doctor over a WhatsApp call before giving her blood sample for an RT-PCR test. Based on her symptoms, the physician alerted her that it wasn't a mild Covid infection but a moderate one. His diagnosis was confirmed when the test report showed a viral load count of 20. “The massive benefits of telemedicine became evident during the pandemic,” says Priyanka’s doctor, New Delhi-based consultant physician Dr Arvind Kumar. “Everything is about time and if my patients have complications late at ni...
29 comments
Read more

Why The Heck Not? DLF’s KP Singh Book Sharing His Blueprint For Success

  By Namrata Kohli “Before KP took over an almost dormant DLF at the behest of his wife Indira and sister-in-law Prem, he knew nothing about real estate – zero!” This may sound unbelievable but that’s the absolute truth about a man who is credited with turnaround of Gurugram and setting the gold standard for luxury real estate in India. K.P. Singh’s book “Why the heck not?” is an interesting account of his life’s journey where co-author Aparna Jain variously describes him as “a forever learner”, a “one man army”. His blueprint for success? Shares KP  Singh- "I believe every opportunity is like a train standing on a platform. The train’s door opens for a short while, either you get in or when the door closes the train leaves. Opportunity comes to every human being, it is your smartness how to quickly find out yes or no and then grab it before somebody else grabs it.  Every person should know when opportunity comes. T herefore I say, why the heck not?" Co-author Aparna ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Riders on the storm: Indian biking comes into its own

  With the advent of a slew of foreign makes, Indian bikers are now spoilt for choice, and the growing numbers of riders point to the emergence of a proper riding culture in the country      Namrata Kohli   New Delhi       “Biking teaches us to be a better human. Riding a motorcycle connects you directly to the road, the wind, and the environment in a way that feels thrilling and immersive. We all live in such a selfish world but when biking, you let people into your world .  As soon as I sit on a motorbike and put on the helmet it is my time with myself, and I drop all my worries on the highway and move on, ” says c elebrity motorbiker Dr. Maral  Yazarloo -Pattrick   Indeed, motorcycle-riding has come a long way in India. Until recently something that you saw in American movies, riding now has a clutch of clubs and a dedicated fan base among Indian riders, cutting a cross regions and classes.    Naturally, a hard-core bik...
Post a Comment
Read more