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JAIN DIGEST .. May 2011
Acharya Sushilji has help found many ashrams Committee and a founder of the Vishwa Hindu and centers in the East and West under the
Parishad International Mahavir Jain Mission. His main
Besides his involvement in inter-faith and global ashram is Siddhachalam, located in Blairstown,
peace movements, he has made contribution to New Jersey. Siddhachalam. The temple on this
the literature by writing following books and 108 acre premise houses both Digamber and
tracts:Shwetamber tradition Pratimas (Idols). It is the
History of Jain Religion, Commentary on Shrimad first Jain
Bhagwat Geeta, Roses & Thorns, Goswami Tulsi pilgrimage
Das, Bhagwan Mahavir, Words of Mahavir. place (Tirth)
Ahimsa Diary, Prakrit Grammar, Kundalini Yoga in outside of
Jain Religion, Jain Yoga, Healing & Meditation India which
through Jain Religion, Science of Namokar & was
Matrika Vidya, Science of halo(Abha), Science of established
colour & sound, Different books on different in 1983
Religions, Muni Roop Chand Ji Personality & The layout
performance, Numerous independent writings and of Siddhachalam mirrors the layout of Tirthraj Shri
Song of the Soul. Sammed Shikharji's 30 tonks and Jal Mandir of India.
He started a slew of journals & magazines viz:
Naya Sahitya, Pariksha, Dharam Bhaskar, Acharya was great proponent of Non-Violence
Bhaskar Vani, Vishwa Dharam, Non-Violence, and firmly believed that peace and harmony were
Ahimsa, Arham News Letter, Cosmic Science, essential for the survival of mankind. He defined
Sidhachalam, Arhat Jain Times etc. non-violence as the absence of hatred, tension, anger and discontentment. He worked to establish For over five decades Acharya Sushil Kumarii a sense of universal brotherhood amongst the
dedicated his life to asceticism and self less conflicting religious traditions
service in the name of of India. Throughout the
Acharya Sushilji's Message to The peace, unity and universal years he had organized and
World.
brotherhood. He did much to presided over a significant "If we desire to establish peace and
uplift all living beings. number of World Religious to conquer the haunting nightmare
Acharya passed away at the Conferences. He was the of war and discord, we must be free age of 68 years, in his honorary president of the
from three evils - Atheism, Ashram on April 22, 1994. World Conference of
Materialism and Violence." His message to the world Religions for Peace, director
"Love, Live and Let all Live. of the Temple of Understanding, a founding
do not take the life of living beings and member of the Global Forum of Spiritual and
enlightenment is the ultimate goal", will be a Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival,
source of inspiration for all time to come. president of the Punjab Peace and Unity
Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji
Opening the Doors of Jain Dharma to the West Chitrabhanuji was born as Raju Rajendra in
known contributions to the Jain community has Tumkur near Bangalore on July 26, 1922. His been this immortal song, "Maitri Bhavnu Pavitra father's name was Chogulal, mother's Chuniben Jharnu Mujh Haiya Maa Vahya Kare". He wrote and his sister was Megi. He lost three important the lyrics of this beautiful song when he was in people, very early in his life; his mom when he Mount Abu. Another major contribution that was only a child, sister when he was a teenager Gurudev Chitrabhanuji has made is to reveal and his best friend when he was around 19 years Jainism and its principles to the Western World. It of age. These life-shattering incidents drove him was his teachings that motivated many towards the spiritual path and he finally took
westerners to embrace vegetarianism. His Diksha on February 6, 1942. One of his well- western followers can easily recite the Navkar
on n
ational
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