Pathshala

Our pathshalas play the most important role in making our center one of the most vibrant Jain Centeres outside of India. Followings are the main objectives / goals of our pathshalas:

  • Teach Jainism / Jain Religion principles, values and culture based on Jain scriptures
  • To introduce children to Tirthankars, Ganadharas, Five Parmesthis and other great Jain souls and learn from their lives and teachings
  • To introduce children to Chaturvidh Sangh (Sadhu, Sadhvi, Shravak and Shravika) established by Lord Mahavir and their Jain way of life
  • To teach Jain Sootras, stutis, stavans, and processes / vidhi of Darshan, Vandan, Pujan, Samayik, Pratikraman, etc. so they can do Guru Vandan, Chaitya Vandan, Samayik, Aarti, Mangal Divo, Nav Ang Puja, Ashta Prakari Puja, etc.
  • To introduce children to Karma Theory, Cosmic Order, Soul and Moksh (liberation of soul)
  • To teach importance of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct
  • To introduce children to Jain Pilgrimages, Jain History, Jain Stories, Jain food habits, Tirthankars & their Symbols, Jain festivals, Karma theory, etc.

JCNJ has given lots of importance to our pathshalas which is evident from the following very rich history of our pathshalas:

  • 1983 – we started our first pathshala i.e. Caldwell Pathshala
  • 1993 – we started South Brunswick Pathshala
  • 2002 – we started Edison Pathshala
  • 2004 – we started Hudson County pathshala
  • 2004 – we started Gujarati Pathshala
  • 2009 - we started Digambar Pathshala
  • 2012 - Edison Pathshala and South Brunswick pathshala got merged into a new single pathshala named Franklin Township Pathshala
  • 2014 - we started Sthanakwasi Pathshala
  • 2018 – we started Adult Pathshala

Registration for most of our pathshalas starts in the month of August / September around paryushan time.

JCNJ Pathshalas

Address:Vrajdham, 120 Littleton Rd E, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ 07054

Caldwell Pathshala is one of the oldest pathshalas in entire North America. It was started in 1983. On average 125 students, aged from 3 years old to students in 12th Grade in school, attend this pathshala every year. It has more than 30 teachers. It has 7 different pathshala levels / grades, including two levels / grades for JAB students. In addition to regular pathshala classes, it also has Gujarati and Adult pathshala classes. It has two hour bi-weekly classes on Sundays between September and June. It mainly teaches Shwetambar Deravasi values to students. Along with curriculum, many other activities are done such as:

  • On each pathshala session, taking a group of students to derasar in puja cloth and performing Ashta Prakari Puja with them so that they get the practical knowledge of it
  • Take part in Cultural programs during Mahavir Janma Kalyanak Celebrations
  • Do Gnan Pancham Aradhana including Khamasana
  • Diwali Program
  • Annual Graduation program

Click here for more information
Click here for online Registration

Contact

  • Bipin Shah: (973)-584-6770
  • Jeegnesh Kothari: (973)-216-6166
Franklin Township Pathshala (FT Pathshala)

Address:Shree Munisuvratswami Jinalay, 111 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset

FT Pathshala has roots from Edison pathshala (started in 1997) and Dayton pathshala (1994). Currently it has enrollment of over 300 students from Pre-K (age 3 years) to 12th grade. Students are clustered by grade levels in 10 different groups taught by over 40 teachers.
Pathshala goal is to teach Shwetambar Deravasi Sutra, Stuti, Stavan & Vidhi (steps, associated items & postures) so students can do Guru Vandan, Chaitya Vandan, Samayik, Aarti, Mangal Divo, Nav Ang Puja, Ashta Prakari Puja, etc. Students are also taught about many other things like Jain Stories, Jain food habits, Tirthankars & their Symbols, Jain festivals, Jain history, Karma theory, Jain Principles, etc.
Students gets opportunity to participate for volunteering in JCNJ programs, Mahavir Janma Kalyanak celebration cultural programs, Jain Academic Bowl, etc.
Students with family participate in Gyan Pacham Aaradhana and graduation.
Many parents helps in food preparation, serving and sponsoring the lunch after pathshala class. This has helped them to get connected and build a strong bond with other parents.

Click here for information on curriculum, class dates, registration, etc.

Contact

  • pathshala-admin@googlegroups.com
Hudson County Pathshala

Address:Yogi Hall 3280 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ

Hudson County Pathshala was started in 2004. On average 30 students attend this pathshala every year. It has 2-3 teachers. It has 2 different pathshala levels / grades. It has two hour bi-weekly classes on Sundays between September and June. It mainly teaches Shwetambar Deravasi values to students. Along with curriculum, other activities like take part in Cultural programs during Mahavir Janma Kalyanak Celebrations is also done.

Contact

  • Priti Shah: 201-214-6666
Sthanakwasi Pathshala

Address:Shree Munisuvratswami Jinalay 111 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset

Sthanakwasi Pathshala was started in 2014. On average 50 plus students attend this pathshala every year. It has 10 teachers. It has 5 different pathshala levels / grades. It has bi-weekly classes.
Our curriculum includes knowledge-based exams at the end of the class year after which we have a graduation ceremony for all our students. The classes are designed to keep all students engaged through active participation and dialogue. It is run by the Sthanakwasi Sangh of NJ and aims to instruct students of all ages (from age 4 and onwards) about the fundamental principles and building blocks of Jainism. Whether it is teaching the Samayik or Pratikraman sutras or the elements that make up Tattva Gyan, the Sthanak Pathshala attempts to relate universal Jain concepts to today's modern lifestyles. We have covered topics in detail from all aspects of Jainism, such as the thirty-five bols, the eighteen papasthanak, and countless stories from the Agam. We are proud to see that most of our students, which includes children and adults, have fully learned both Samayik and Pratikraman sutras and continue to make progress in their spiritual journeys. The Sthanak Pathshala classes run throughout the year, and we are always looking for shravaks and shravikas who are curious and interested in learning more about Jainism.

Click here for online Registration

Contact

  • Jainesh Shah: 973-517-3595
  • Chirag Gandhi: 646-250-9195
Digamber Pathshala

Address:Shree Munisuvratswami Jinalay, 111 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ

Digamber Pathshala was started in 2009. On average 30 plus students attend this pathshala every year. It has 10 teachers. It has 4 different pathshala levels / grades. It has bi-weekly classes on Sundays between September and June. It mainly teaches Digamber values to students. Along with curriculum, other activities like Annual Graduation program also takes place. Digamber Pathshala is open for kids from pre-K to high school grades and they are distributed into 4 levels based on their school grades. Digamber Pathshala instructs students about the basics of Jainism in English by attending classes. What to do, and not to do, when we go to a Jain temple. Namokar Mantra, Chattari Manglam, twenty-four tirthankaras’ name and their symbol, Jain symbols. Essence of Jainism, Jain stories, coloring activities, living and non-living things, five senses, vegetarianism. Jain alphabet, color science of Namokar mantra, explanation of mala (rosary) and beads and how to observe Jainism in daily life. Along with the curriculum, many other activities are done such as:

  • They participate and learn about the Dev Shashtra Guru Pooja. Also, at the end of each year, a graduation is held to celebrate everyone’s hard work and kids complete an end of year project based on their level. Digamber Pathshala provides required books to kids.
  • Dev Darshan Stuti, Panch Paramesthi, pooja dravyas, explanation of Panch kalyanak. Paryushan days and its significance, sixteen dreams of Mata Trishaladevi, Meri Bhavana. Dev Shashtra Guru Pooja

Click here for online Registration

Contact

  • Dharmesh Shah: 732-619-9631
Gujarati Pathshala

Address:Shree Munisuvratswami Jinalay, 111 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ

Focused on Gujarati Language, it has 9 different pathshala levels / grades. It teaches Gujarati language to students. There is a special class for higher grade students who do not know Gujarati at all. We also have virtual Gujarati Language classes for far away kids. Classes are conducted every alternate Sundays (2 Sundays in a month) from September to June.

Click here to Register for Gujarati pathshala

Contact

  • Kiran Sangoi: 732-993-9569
  • Email: JCNJGujaratiPathshala@gmail.com
Adult Pathshala

Address:Shree Munisuvratswami Jinalay, 111 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ

Adult Pathshala was started in 2018. On average 20 plus adults attend this pathshala every year. It has 3 teachers.

Contact

  • Mayuri Doshi: 732-986-5251