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________________ ( ix ) on the birthday of Lord Mabavira, and it has eminently succeeded in re-discovering this historical place. The development of Vaisali in a systematic form owes much to Dr. Zakir Hussain, the then Governor of Bihar, who, after a detailed inspection of the entire region on 2nd April, 1958, and especially the Annual Vaisali Mahotsava, wrote to the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and acquainted him with the wealth of material brought out by the excavations and need to preserve and protect them. All the monuments of Vaigali and discoveries were later brought within the purview of the Protection of Ancient Monuments Act. The Department of Archaeology of the Government of India set up a Museum Dear Abhisheka-Pushkarini to preserve statues, relics and other finds obtained during excavations in Vaisali. It is entirely due to the sacred nature of the Vaisali area that the people donated, in the year 1954-55, thirteen acres of land for setting up a research institute to conduct advanced studies and research in Jaina religion and philosophy, and the tenets of the Jaina Tirtbankaras including Bhagavan Mahavira. The building was constructed out of funds collected by the members of the Jaipa community and its institutional shape given by the State Government. Christened in the year 1955 as Research Institute of Prakrit, Jainology and Ahimsa, it has attracted many scholars from different parts of the country and brought out a number of original publications and done credit to the field of scholarship. This present volume was also conceived by the Institute of Prakrit, Jainology and Ahimsa. Raising of a memorial at the hallowed birthplace of Lord Mabavira has been under consideration for some time. In March 1956, people of village Basokund, Police Thana Paroo, of district Mazaffarpur donated land, identified as the birthplace of Lord Mabavira, to the Governor of Bihar with the specific purpose of coostruction of Mabavira Memorial, temple, school, dispensary and tourist lodge; otherwise the land would be returned to the donors if the specific purpose was not fulfilled. The Governor accepted the donation of land and the conditions laid down for the construction of the Memorial and its maintenance under bis overall supervision and guidance. The next month, in April 1956, the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, unveiled a memorial plaque set up at this site by the Government of Bihar. The then Governor, Shri Jagannath Kau bal, had set up a committee -Bhagavao Mahavira Smarak Committee-to aid and advise him in
| SR No. | 012088 |
| Book Title | Vaishali Abhinandan Granth |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Yogendra Mishra |
| Publisher | Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa |
| Publication Year | 1985 |
| Total Pages | 592 |
| Language | Hindi, English |
| Classification | Smruti_Granth |
| File Size | 17 MB |