The Jain Center of Cincinnati Dayton is the the First Jain Temple in Ohio. An Ohio Historical Marker was placed on the temple ground in 2003.

Side A : "First Jain Temple in Ohio - "Souls render service to one another"

The Jain Center of Cincinnati and Dayton was established on April 22, 1979 as a non-profit tax-exempt organization under the laws of the Unite d States and th e State of Ohio. The foundation stone of the Jain temple, the first of its kind in Ohio, was laid down on August 21-22, 1994. The temple was dedicated on September 2 - 4, 1995 when more than one thousand people from all over Ohio and many other states participated in holy rituals to install three idols of Jinas (Gods). The Jain Center is a place for the teaching of non-violence, reverence f or life, and compassion for all beings. The cente r was the home of the twelfth biennial convention for the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, which was held on July 3 - 6, 2003. (Continued on the other side)

Side B : "History of Janism in Ohio - "Ahimsa Parmodharma-Non injury to all living beings"

Shri Virchand R aghavji Gandhi, a disciple of Acharya Vijayanandsuriji (Atmaramji) Maharaj, introduced the Jain religion to North America during the Parliament of the World's Religions, which was held in Chicago on September 11-27, 1893. A year later, on September 18, 1894, he introduced Jainism to Ohio during a visit to Cleveland. The Jain religion and its teachings of universal love are eternal and the faith recognizes twenty-four Tirthankaras (prophets) during the present era. The twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara was Lord Mahavira (599 - 527 BCE). Lord Mahavira once said, "In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own." Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (chastity), and Aparigraha (non-materialism) are the basic principles of Jainism. Its motto is "live and let live and help others to live."