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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09. Samaya Drushta Shri Vijay Vallabh Soori
Shri Vijay Vallabh Soori was born at Vadodara, which is considered to be a city of high culture and education in 1871. This day is celebrated as Bhai Bij where a sister invites her brother for dinner and wishes him all happiness of life. Smt. Lehehhabai and Shri Deepchandbhai were his parents and his childhood name was Chhaganbhai. He had three brothers and three sisters. The family was deeply impressed in Jainism since generations and it had become the tradition of the family. Religious impressions were very deep on every member of the family. The parents were very simple, well cultured, sympathetic and absolutely honest. Shri Deepchandbhai died in the childhood of Shri Chhaganbhai and mother also did not live long to bring up her children with traditional virtues. The mother had said to Shri Chhaganbhai during the last moments of her life, "my son, accept the shelter of eternal religion and remain at the mercy of Lord Arihant because only by this type of living you will be happy. Spend your life in doing good of all and all living animates on earth." The child Chhaganbhai was of the age of 10-12 years at this time and yet his tender mind was deeply moved by this last advice of his dyeing mother.
As Chhaganbhai lost his father and mother at short intervals, he was very much unhappy. He passed each and every day with much trouble. He could hardly passed standard seventh but till then he remained in the company of saints and constantly visiting Jain temples and Upashrayas (places of worship and meditation). This fact indicates that he had good impressions of his previous lives. He had no mind in business, trade, homely work or worldly affairs. He was constantly thinking of eternity. Just then an unusual event look place.
If we see deeply, it appears that in the spiritual advancement of any individual, the company, guidance and help of saints and good teachers have a great contribution. And if a very great saint catches his hand, it is the rise of his good deeds of previous lives; and that is why it is said:
There is much difference between Paras (a stone which converts everything to gold on its touch) and a saint. The Paras will turn iron into gold. But the company of a great saint or a teacher is a blessing by which an ignorant man as well as a beast will turn to be a man of god.
A Touch of Paras:
Acharya Shri Atmaramji who was a big personality, an idol of absolute restraint and invested with full knowledge happened to be at Vadodara in 1942. As soon as young Chhaganlal heard his lectures, his mind began to dance with pleasure. The lectures were on achieving detachment with the world. His heart was pierced through. He dedicated his whole life to the feet of saint Atmaramji. Saint Atmaramji was an exceptional personality. He proceeded in search of eternal truth by his own intuition. He was born in the family of warriors in Punjab and took Dixa also in Punjab. He studied great books on Jainism and attained great inspiration for the search of eternal truth. He, therefore, adopted Jainism in public. His outlook was very wide, his heart was full of kindness and sympathy, Thirst for virtues, deep knowledge of various scriptures, unbeatable desire to be under Jainism and study its highest literature were the essential qualities of his nature. He had a big group of disciples and they awakened the followers of Jainism for truthful meditation and religious rites for about three decades.
When the saint Atmaramji completed his lecture and all went home, the child Chhagan was alone seated there. Seeing him Acharya Shri Atmaramji questioned, "O child! Why are you seated here? What is your trouble? Do you want money etc.?" The child replied in affirmative and then Acharya asked again, "how much money do you want?" The child replied, "which will never be exhausted, just you have it". Hearing this, the Acharya was greatly pleased. He thought that the child is spiritually
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