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Jainism in a Global Perspective
pilgrims at the mountain of Pālitaņā. This was a difficult task to strike a compromise between the British ruler and the Mahārajāof Pālitāņā. But the goal was achieved through intense negotiations.
Every religion has a holy place. The City of Jerusalem is a holy place for Christians, Jewish and Muslims. The City of Ayodhya in India is a holy place for Hindus. The City of Sammet Shikhar in Bihar, India, is a sacred place for Jainas, where twenty two Tirtharkaras attained their salvation (Nirvāna). An Englishman started the construction of a factory for slaughtering pigs and making tallow out of them on the sacred hill of Sammeta Shikhara. This sacred hill was going to become a slaughter hill, thus violating the very first principle of non-violence. Virchand Gandhi challenged this matter through the legal system and won the case, and the factory was removed from the Mount Sammeta Shikhara.
In 1993, Virchand Gandhi was selected to represent Jainism at the Parliament of World's Religions Conference in Chicago. At the Parliament, he brought the message and motifs of Jaina perspective. After the Parliament was over, he travelled in the United States. Virchand Gandhi was given a warm reception and shown highest appreciation from clubs, literary and church organizations, philosophical and spiritual associations in the United States. He impressed the America's audience with his lofty ideas and simple living. His mission was to disseminate and spread the knowledge of Jaina philosophy and the wisdom of India. He corrected the false, twisted and perverse impression of India as being the land of Mahārājā, tigers and cobras
Mr. Gandhi had also studied the philosophy of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity well. In Chicago, Mr. Virchand Gandhi had published a book "On the Life of Jesus Christ".
During his stay in the United States, he organized a ship loaded of grain and financial aid for famine relief in India.
Virchand Gandhi dedicated his whole life for the good of mankind. In the year 1901, he passed away at an early age of 37 in the harness of work. Virchand Gandhi will be remembered as a great champion of Jaina religion and will enjoy the pride of place in the galaxy ofr Indian thinkers and philosophers.
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