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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14. Dynamic Acharya Shri Jawaharlalji Ordinarily it is believed that Jain mendicants and nuns perform the rites of their own religion and read only the books on Jainism and that way they live away their life in their narrow field of religious boundaries. They preach Jainism and learn Jainism and do nothing beyond that. But here is a great personality who has been out of these limitations. He held "Atmavat Sarva Bhooteshu" know everybody like thyself and thus, extended equal love towards all living beings on earth. It is appropriate to know about this great man here also. Malva is as good as a heart in India and great personalities like the king's Vikramaditya and Bhoj and poets like Kalidas and Bhavbhooti, the worshipers of the goddess of learning-Saraswati have been in this region. A couple, Jivrajji, and Nathibai of Oshwal Vanik caste were living in the Chandla village of Zaburva District in this region. The family was highly cultured with religious fervor. One brilliant and charming child was born to this family in 1876. The day corresponds to the previous day of Gnan Panchmi, the day celebrated in adoration of the god of knowledge. This was the first child of the couple and since it was quite charming and lovely, its name was kept as Jawahar-a jewel. The human life enlightens only after hard tests. The difficulties in the lives of great men are normally to lead them to the path of greatness. The child Jawahar lost his mother when he was of only two years of age and father when he was of five years. He, therefore, was brought him up by maternal uncle Mulchandbhai who was maintaining his family through a small shop of cloth. There were many tribals and low caste people living in and around the village Chandla, Jawahar was put up to a school run by Christian missionaries. The child had the indecency to learn much from the nature rather than from the books. He learnt Gujarati, Hindi, and a bit of arithmetic and then he had to sit at the cloth-shop with his maternal uncle. The child Jawahar became so much expert in evaluating the cloth within a very short time that even the experienced persons praised him. The child was much impressive in appearance, he was brave, adventurous, deep thinking and industrious and became known very well in and around the village. But the destiny was otherwise. The life of Jawahar was taking a new turn and soon there was an unexpected incident.
Detachment and Mind-Searching: As Jawahar was of only 13 years, his maternal Uncle Shri Moolchandbhai with whom he was staying passed away all of a sudden. Jawahar lost his only support. He had thought that his maternal Uncle Shri Moolchandbhai will be his good guardian for many years but as he died unexpectedly, Jawahar felt a deep shock. His tender heart could not be at rest for quite a long time. Jawahar had now the responsibility to took after his widow aunt and her son Ghasilal who was hardly five years old.
Jawahar converted these worldly miseries into the causes of worldly detachment and this is an evidence of the deep impressions of his previous lives. A note of his thinking has been found and it runs as under:
"Oh conscious soul! It is your blunder that you forget yourself upto now. You have not done any note-worthy worship or prayers of any Dharm-religion in spite of so much time have passed out. Now, at least, accept my word and sincerely try to correct this serious error which committed. You are not in much convenient circumstances and one does not get such opportunity often. Therefore, act vigorously with all your power and internal strength and take advantage of Lord's prayers and his vicinity." Sometimes, the whole picture of his very short life passed through his mind. "Mother passed away, father passed away, maternal uncle passed away and what have I to do by earning profits in this shop? I can make suitable arrangements for maternal mother and her child Ghasilal. I must,
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