Jainism The Cosmic Vision

SR No.: 034278
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 137
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision of religion. Besides the works of administration of renovation of the firm of Shri Anandji Kalyanji and the foundation of L. D. School of Indology, the great trader Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai has done numerous works of dissemination of education. Great women like Harkuvar Shethani and Ujam fai have also successfully engaged in works of great management. Years ago, Bhimshi (Bhimsinh) Manek planned to publish the four parts of 'Prakaran Ratnakar' at the cost price of one lakh rupees. He published 'Suyagadanga', other Agamsand and the eight parts of Jain Katha Ratnakosha' with translation. These books added to the religious knowledge of people. He died on Thursday, the fifth day of the dark half of the month of Jeth in the year 1947 of the Vikrama era. Later on, his firm published the texts of Yogashastra, Haribhadrashtaka and other books with translation. For the last few years, they have been arranging for serial of lectures on Paryushan days and this shows a new tendency at the thought level.
When we examine religious activities of the last century, three incidents stand out as having far-reaching consequences. In the village Vavania near Morbi in Saurashtra, Raichandbhai was born on Sunday, the full-moon day in the month of Kartik in the year 1924 of the Vikram era. He professed the Sthanakvasi Jain Religion. He dealt in Jewellery. He was a poet and had the power to attend to a hundred things simultaneously. A man of sharp memory, Raichandbhai integrated practical wisdom with devotion to religion. At the age of sixteen (in the year 1940 of the Vikram era) he wrote Moksamala and two year later in the year 1942 of the Vikram era) he wrote Bhavanabodha. In Bombay at the age of nineteen, he made experiments in attending to a hundred things
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Activities of Jain Religion in the Last Century simultaneously. In Nadiad in the year 1952 of the Vikram era, he wrote Atmasiddhishastra in verse. More than a poet, he was a philosopher, essentially, intent on emancipation. He had a very intense desire to adopt the renouncing life of an ascetic in order to attain to emancipation. Whenever Gandhiji had a doubt in the Hindu religion, he sought an explanation from Raichandbhai. That is why Gandhiji wrote - "I gained the confidence that the Hindu religion can give me what I need and for this Raichandbhai is responsible." (Jain Sahitya Sanshodhak Part 3, Chapter 1 - "Some reminiscences of Raichandbhai. Author : Gandhiji") Afterwards Raichandbhai came to be known as Shrimad Rajchandra. Today his ashramas are at Vadva, Idar, Agas, Vavania, Narol, Devlali and such other places. Here people do the activities of self-study and discipline of the soul. His literature is also being published.
The subsect founded by Shri Kanji Swami in 1934 A.D. brought about another change. A native of Umrala in Saurashtra, Shri Kanji Swami abandoned the Sthanakvasi sect and founded an independent schism which ultimately developed into Digambar Sangha. Kanji Swami, who had a sweet tongue and impressive personality, lived in Songadh. He was specially inclined to nishchayanaya. He laid special stress on nishchayanaya propounded in Kundakundacharya's Samayasar and Pravachanasar.
The third important incident is the transformation of Terapanth. Under the leadership of Acharya Tulsi this sect assumed altogether a new form and gave active importance to acquisition of knowledge. This is a valuable and exemplary incident. From his monks and nuns he gave great scholars of Sanskrit and Prakrit. Yuvacharya Mahapragna's (Former Muni
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