Agam 06 Ang 06 Gnatadharma Sutra

Author(s): Jambuvijay, Dharmachandvijay
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

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ATMA VALLABH SANSKRITI MANDIR
any ostensible fanfare.
A Crusader
Acharyashree travelled extensively barefoot, strictly as per Jain Sadhu's tenets of conduct, all over the country to spread the message of truth, nonviolence, tolerance, detachment, compassion and brotherhood. His meetings soon became congregations of men and women without any distinction of caste, creed and religion. He was respected and adored by Jains, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and others alike. His sermons were always aimed at national integration and emancipation of the under-privileged, as also the women folk. He always spoke with courage, clarity and conviction.
An Educationist
Acharyashree was a seer and saint with a vision. He realised the prime needs of the society. Besides the necessity for moral education, he emphasised modern need based education. Accordingly, he stressed on the media of righteous education to improve contemporary life. He worked for and preached eradication of illiteracy and superstition and laid special emphasis on the education of women. For this purpose, he established a large number of schools, colleges, gurukuls, libraries and centres of craft and learning in many parts of the country. Opening of Shri Mahavira Jaina Vidyalaya at Bombay as far back as 1915 and its subsequent branches, Shree Atmanand Jain Gurukul at Gujranwala and Shree Atmanand Jain College at Ambala are just but a few of the glorious examples. As a result of his Education Movement, lacs of boys and girls have been educated and thousands have reached the pinnacles of various professions and occupations in India and overseas. The aim and object of education, observed the Acharya, is character building and developing the mental faculties of, as also to inculcate in the taught, the virtues of love, compassion, humility, tolerance, austerity, discipline and patriotism.
An Indologist
Acharyashree was an exponent of research work. He became instrumental in collecting and preserving thousands of volumes of priceless handwritten manuscripts and published works on Indology at Shri Mahavira Jaina Vidyalaya Bombay and Jain Gurukul Gujranwala. This erudite saint was anxious to start a Research Institute to bring to light the valuable storehouse of knowledge and cultural heritage as also to marshal the existing data within the framework of modern research. He believed that such institutions will help spread the message of Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Anekant (respect for other's point of view) and Aparigraha (non-attachment) propounded by