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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had to face serious opposition and difficulties for his change but at last his disciples and followers thought Kanjiswami must have changed himself with deep thinking and understanding and they then submitted him with deep reverence as before. As the time passed many born Digambar Jains were attracted to him because of his knowledge and deep study. They became his devotees and ardent lovers. They were all impressed by his internal and outward personality. His speech was deeply spiritual, philosophical and piercing. Many people started coming to Songadh to hear him from distant places and there was a big class of his followers. The small village Songadh turned into an important place of pilgrimage for Jains. Then a grand Jain temple, a branch temple of Simandhar persons were constructed at Songadh and these are worth seeing even today.
Shri Kanjiswami had unparalleled deep interest in Yogishwar Shri Kundkundacharya and the scriptures written by him like Samaysar, Pravachansar, Niyamsar, Panchastikaya and others. Kanjiswami delivered several lectures on these scriptures in big cities like Rajkot, Mumbai, Songadh etc. His lectures were full of spiritual fervor. He considered Samaysar to be the best book on Jainism and he strongly believed that every stanza of Samaysar would lead to Moksha-Salvation.
The style of preaching of Kanjiswami was unique. He spoke with force on spirituality and philosophical aspects of religion. He enlightened the soul or greater soul (Parmatma) in his speeches. Many learned personalities were attracted to him because of his people, learning and speeches. His speeches were considered to be revolutionary.
Many Sthanakvasi Shwetambar Jains had adopted Digambar sect of Jainism with the influence of Kanjiswami and consequently as many as 6 Digambar Jain temples were constructed in Saurashtra, Gujarat and many other states. Many scriptures were published under the inspiration of Shri Kanjiswami and many more were translated into Gujarati prose and also poetry. A monthly periodical titled Atma Dharm was published in Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi and Kannad languages. Several publication houses like Kundkund Kahan Jain Shashtramala, Songadh, Pandit Todarmal Smarak Trust, Jaipur were created for publication of Jain scriptural literature. There was extensive advancement of Digambar view of Jainism under the inspiration of Shri Kanjiswami. The devotees were led to perform religious rites regularly and self-study camps were arranged at several places. One class of learned persons came up at Songadh and Jaipur and a system was established to prepare new teachers of Jainism in Digambar sect. Shri Kanjiswami extensively traveled all over India to see holy places of Jainism and had inspired many persons to take part in religious rites and study philosophical aspects of Jainism. Shri Kanjiswami had the credit of construction of many Jain temples; he published Jain literature of high quality and preached the people on the principles of Jainism. He passed whole of his life in the service of Jainism and Jain community. He was constantly in efforts to create attraction of many devotees towards the study of Jain scriptures. At last he had to be admitted to Jashlok Hospital Mumbai because of his sickness and to expired in that hospital on November 28, 1980 after living a long life of 91. The Digambar sect of Jainism lost a great saint in the demise of Shri Kanjiswami.
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