Comtemporary Jain Legends

SR No.: 007736
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram
Publication Year: 2015
Total Pages: 183
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, N000, & N025
File Size: 1 MB

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27. Dharm Prabhavak Shri Kanjiswami (Dharm Prabhavak means a person who could influence religion to a great extent) Shri Kanjiswami was famous as a saint of Songadh. He has been an inspiring force in construction of many Jain temples. He has contributed a lot for the reprint and revision of scriptures written by Shri Kundkundacharya. Personality of Shri Kanjiswami was extremely impressive. He was interested in the development of his soul. Everyone who came in his contact was deeply impressed by his spiritual approach and sharp intelligence. He was impressed millions of Jain and non-Jain devotees by his continuous lectures for more then 40 years.
Birth and Childhood: Kanjiswami was bornin 1890 at Umrala village of Bhavnagar District in Saurashtra (Gujarat). Shri Motichandbhai and Ujambai were his parents. His family line was Sthanakvasi Jain sect of Dasha Shrimali Baniya (a trader). The child Kahan had religious culture and natural tendency of renunciation. He has lost his parents in his young age and hence he joined with his elder brother to work in a shop at Palej after receiving nominal education at Umrala. In spite of this, his mind never took shop-activities very seriously because by nature he was almost detached from homely affairs. He never missed to go to see any saint or mendicant as soon as he heard him come to Upashraya. He was spending most of his time in spiritual discussions and services to the saints and mendicants. His relatives called him "Bhagat" - i.e. a devotee to religion. One day he clearly told his elder brother that he did not want to marry and that he had determined to accept Dixa. His brother persuaded him but his detached mind had long back decided to adopt Dixa. He went on to the regions of Kathiawar, Gujarat, Marwar and many other places to find out a teacherGuru before adopting Dixa and at last Shri Hirachandji Maharaj of Botad sect granted him Dixa in his own native village Umrala in 1914. Kanjiswami made deep study of the scriptures of Shwetambar Sthanakvasi branch of Jainism. He became famous throughout Saurashtra with his knowledge and restrained life and many people were drawn to him for his deep learning, exhaustive thinking and his style of preaching and speaking.
Study of Samaysar and Enlightenment: There was an event in the life of Shri Kanjiswami in 1922, which changed the direction of his thinking. He could get the great book Shri Samaysar written by Acharya Kundkund and he was extremely pleased of its study. He thought that he was at last secured what he was searching for since several years. He was deeply impressed of Samaysar and it brought major change in his line of thinking. After this in 1926 he could read "Moksha Marg Prakashak" written by Shri Todarmalji and this reinforced his new line of thinking. Shri Kanjiswami moved in many villages as a mendicant of Sthanakvasi Jain sect and tried to explain the essence of Jainism to the people. He used to stress upon the success of right thinking, reading and studying in all his preaching. He said that falsehood was a much greater sin than the killing of millions and one cannot have good behavior without good thinking and reading. He himself believed in his preachings very firmly. In 1935 on the birthday of Lord Mahavir, Kanjiswami relinquished his position of a mendicant of Sthanakvasi Jain sect and this change became the basis for the changes to come in future. With this change there was serious protest against him in Sthanakvasi sect but he remained unmoved like the mountain Meru. He adopted Digambar sect of Jainism and declared himself as a Digambar Jain Shravak. He said that he has made this change of the principles of truth. After this change, Kanjiswami made Songadh village of Saurashtra to be his permanent place of residence. Kanjiswami
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