The Tīrthaṅkara Śreyāṃśanātha Endowment marks a major milestone for Arihanta Institute and supports compassionate scholarship rooted in Jain values.
(PRUnderground) May 15th, 2026
Arihanta Institute has announced the establishment of the Tīrthaṅkara Śreyāṃśanātha Endowment for Professorship in Vegan and Animal Advocacy Studies, made possible through a generous $1 million contribution from Drs. Jasvant and Meera Modi, along with Dr. Namrata Patel. The endowment represents a significant milestone for the Institute and reinforces a shared commitment to advancing Jain education, vegan studies, and animal advocacy through the principles of compassion and non-violence.
The newly established endowment will support a professorship in Vegan and Animal Advocacy Studies at Arihanta Institute, strengthening the Institute’s academic leadership in an area that reflects both timeless Jain values and growing global interest in ethical living. It also marks the first-ever endowed professorship at Arihanta Institute, underscoring the organization’s continued growth and vision for engaged Jain studies.
Arihanta Institute’s Vegan Studies Initiative (VSI) serves as a cornerstone of this work, promoting veganism and animal advocacy as meaningful expressions of kindness, compassion, and ahimsā. Through education and scholarship, the program encourages individuals to apply these values in everyday life and to consider how ancient Jain teachings can help address modern challenges.
“The VSI empowers individuals with the wisdom to embody empathy in everyday life for all living beings who share our planet,” said Dr. Jasvant Modi. “We are honored to support this visionary initiative that uplifts two causes very close to our hearts: the promotion of a vegan lifestyle and the advancement of Jain education.”
The endowment reflects Dr. Modi’s ongoing dedication to supporting programs that preserve and expand the reach of Jain philosophy in meaningful, contemporary ways. By helping establish this professorship, Dr. Modi and his family are investing in a scholarship that bridges spiritual tradition with practical advocacy for animals, the environment, and compassionate living.
“Kindness toward animals is a fundamental human value,” said Prem Jain, Chair of the Fundraising Committee. “This endowment leapfrogs our multi-dimensional teaching efforts—empowering individuals to adopt a lifestyle rooted in non-violence and compassion toward others, the environment, and oneself.”
Parveen Jain, PhD, Founder and CEO of Arihanta Institute, emphasized the broader mission behind the new endowment. “Our mission is to democratize Engaged Jain Studies through transformative education, critical research, and scholarship in compassion, non-violence, and spiritual depth accessible to all, no matter where they are,” said Dr. Jain. “Through initiatives like the VSI, we seek to inspire conscious living that honors all life, bridges ancient insight with modern challenges, and empowers individuals to walk the path of ahimsā every day.”
Founded in April 2022, Arihanta Institute is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution committed to advancing education, scholarship, critical research, and the public application of Jain principles such as non-violence and compassion. Through inclusive and accessible online education, the Institute works to inspire meaningful, real-world impact.
Dr. Jasvant Modi utilizes his medical background and philanthropic resources to expand global access to Jain studies, healthcare infrastructure, and educational advancement. Raised in Godhra, India, he trained in medicine at B.J. Medical College and later practiced gastroenterology in the United States. Today, Dr. Modi’s primary mission is to build lasting institutional roots for Jain academic research, ensuring that Jainism receives the scholarly attention it deserves. His contributions include support for the Tirthankar Shantinath Endowed Professorship in Jain Studies at Rice University, which creates a major academic post dedicated to advancing Jain history, analysis, ethics, and philosophy at a world-class institution.
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Original Press Release.
