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જ્ઞાનાંજલિ
XI Muni Shri Punyavijayaji : a Jnanayogi and Karmayogi
During my long stay of twenty years at Ahmedabead, I had the good fortune and proud privilege of coming in close contact with and knowing intimately Muni shri Punyavijayaji Maharaja and deriving immense benefit by discussions with him on many doubts and difficulties which faced me in the course of my studies and research work. He is completing the 60th years of his Diksa paryaya this year and naturally we, who know him and his work, are very happy to celebrate this unique occassion by bringing out a felicitation volume in his honour.
Maharajashri is one of the leading savauts of oriental learning, more particularly of Prakrit language and literature, Jaina Agamas and Jainology. Whenever I met him in the Jaina Upasraya at Lunasavade, A hunedabad, he welcomed me with a smiling face and putting side the work in hand spent hours with me discussing and elucidating vorious points raised by me. What struck me most about him was his profound learning, wide scholarship, broad outlook, real modesty, devotion to Truth and Dharma, his pure, spotless personal life and conduct and his concern for the good of others. One truly feels lifted up in his presence. His presence is both inspiring and ennobliug. Even at this age he works very hard keeping late hours. He readily and promptly helps students and scholars by lending them rare books and Manuscripts, withcut laying any conditions.
Men of his character and calibre they are unfortunately getting rarer day by day -- constitute the real wealth of our country. I should like to describe him, in the words of the Bhagavadgita as a Jnanayogi and a Karmayogi at the same time for he strives for personal salvation but at the same time works for the sake of the welfare and the spiritual good of the community as a whole.
I wish him on this happy occaision sull hundrel year 's life for carrying on the literary activities in the field of oriental learning and research and the propagation of true Dharma among the masses.
Dr. V. M. Kulkarni, Professor, Ismail Yusuf College.
Jogeshwari, Bombay.
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