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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15. Great Poet Shri Nanchandraji Maharaj
Sympathy for all living beings, poetic ability since birth, singing devotional songs in sweet voice, natural tendency to help others and equal respect for all religions were the principal virtues of Shri Nanchandraji Maharaj. He spread the message for religious awareness in Western India for more then five decades.
Introduction:
The Saurashtra region of Western India has given many saints, brave warriors and benevolent personalities to the country. There is a village named Sayla in the Zalawad (presently Surendranagar) district and there happened to be a saint named Lala Bhagat so that this village is often known as Bhagat NA Gam -a village of a saint, Shri Nanchandraji was born in 1877 in this village. His childhood name was Nagarbhai. Shri Panachandbhai and Shrimati Raliatbai were his parents. This was a Dasha Shrimati Bania family (a sect in merchant's community) devoted to God and good behavior believing in Sthanakvasi branch of Jainism. Nagarbhai lost his mother at the age of five years and father when he was only 11. As such, his brother's wife Monghibai brought up as her own child. As this was not enough, his brother Jesangbhai also passed away very shortly and Monghibai was a widow. At this time some news was received indicating that the girl with whom Nagarbhai's marriage was fixed, has been changed over by some other girl and then both Monghibai and Nagarbhai were very unhappy. Nagarbhai lost interest in worldly matters and in spite of long persuading by elders and others, he went on being more and more detached with the world. He was now passing his days in reading religious books and was keeping in the company of saints and mendicants. He decided to adopt Dixa if a suitable great teacher is available. At this time, he happened to meet Shri Popatbhai Hansraj of Limbdi and he advised Nagarbhai to approach Shri Devchandraji Maharaj. Both Shri Popatbhai and Nagarbhai, therefore, came to Kutchchha via Vagad. Here, they were impressed with Darshan (seeing) and preachings of Maharaj Shri Devchandraji. Nagarbhai then adopted in 1901 at the famous place of Anjar where Saint couple Jesal and Toral had buried themselves alive in the honor of God. Shri Devchandraji gave new name to Nagarbhai and he was now said to be Mooni Nanchandra.
He passed some monsoons at Mandvi (Kutchchha), Jamnagar and Morbi. During these days he propagated that there was no objection if a Jain mendicants sings loudly the songs of national interest and also the prayers of Lord Mahavir. This was a great reform that Nanchandraji adopted for himself and he, therefore, became famous as revolutionary Jain mendicant in Kutchchha and Saurashtra.
Service to Teacher and Learning of Scriptures:
Paralysis and the young mendicant Mooni Nanchandra decided to stay with him for his service now affected his Dixa-teacher Shri Devchandra Maharaj. He had, thus, to stay at Limbdi for a very long period of nine years from 1912 to 1920. During these years he learned by himself with his own intuitional power most of the books in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Scriptures and poetics. In addition to this, he used his time for creation of literature and service to society so that he was much popular in the Jain Sangh. In spite of all services of Mooni Shri Nanchandraji and members of the Jain Sangh Shri Devchandraji Maharaj passed away in 1921 after severe hit of paralysis. Shri Nanchandraji was unhappy his Dixa-guru was here. He, then, shortly went to Sayla and adopted fast for three days with staying in seclusion in a cellar in the condition of meditation. Severe cold and wet weather severely affected him and he was caught with the disease of rheumatism and gout. But Mooni Nanchandraji had formed habit of neglecting body and his tolerance was under test now.
Attraction of Mumbai-Residents:
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