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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
68]
શ્રી આત્માનંદ પ્રકાશ worldly possessions of any kind. Whatever came to him as a token of respect and appreciation for him and his work from his shravakas (1174) was ploughed back in his farm of knowledge to plant more and reap more.
By birth and by initiation he belonged to the Svetambara Murtipujak sect of the Jainas, but he was no where secterian in his approach and views, He was a scholar with open mind in every respect, and his field was open to every one who cared to come to him for any help and guidance in the direction of his specialized study. He was generous in extending all help to all. He never had any reservation or reticence of any kind in the sphere of knowledge. Thus, by giving more and more and requiring less and less, he fulfilled the basic duties and responsibilities af a Jaina ary in the truest sense. Even among scholars, we find quite often a spirit of isolation, a sense of arrogance and envy and a habit of holding secrets of knowledge themselves, but Muni Punyavijayji believed in sharing of knowledge and keeping the realm of knowledge free from bounds. He was an embodiment of an all 21 fayah?'. This was a rare quality which Muniji had imbibed from his Gurus and handed over to his disciples and followers. His broad and catholic outlook, his perfact devotion to the true and the good and his absolutely unassuming behaviour with both equals and unequals was exemplary and en-nobling. Inspite of his interest in and attachment to the ancient works of learning, his commentaries, introductions and other writings bear the mark of his modern outlook. His findings were arranged, organised and accomodated in such a way that they could meet the requirements of the modern scholars
His field of work did not confine to and end with the discovery, collection research, editing and publication of the manuscripts. As an adjunct to his involvement in this field he also developed interest in paintings, inscriptions and coins, etc. He was also a connoisseur of the Jaina paintings and numismatics and was always ready to solve the problem if and when the same arose in these fields. He was actually a versatile scholar, always keen to seek, to understand, to apply and to achieve whenever and in whatever pastures he had the chance to enter. He was in the first line of the scholars of Prakrit texts and it was on account of his knowledge and ability and devo. tion to the study of Prakrit texts that the Prakrit Text Soceiety was formed by late Dr. Rajendra Prasad when he was President of India. To have a comprehensive view and make a comparative study of Indian religion and Indian culture, he went for the study of the relevant and important texts
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