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An Appreciation
introduce us to the treasure of the old forgotten Jain classios. That is why we revere and worship him as our great Jaina.
Some are born great and upon some greatness is thrust. He was none of these. Born of not so very influential parents in a small village Lehara, where there was no Jaina, where there were no prospects for getting education, where the people were steeped in ignorance, and where the people had no other idea of religion but ceremonialism, this man became known far and wide not only in his own country but also in America and Europe. Why was it so ?
From his very childhood he was fearless. With a sword in his hand he could stand at the gate to defend his house from the robbers in absence of his father. It was at Zira that he first came in contact with the Jaina Sadhus and ultimately resolved to take Diksha inspite of the discouraging remarks of his near relatives. He had a great thirst for knowledge and roamed from place to place to quench it.
All of us know that he first took only Sthanakvasi Diksha but his first guru and other Sadhus of his sect could not satisfy him. He was of questioning nature. He could not rest, unless every thing was clear to him. He hated to follow any principle or person blindly. He must be convinced first and only then could his mind rest. That was why he left his first fold and became a disciple of Shri Buteraiji Maharaj. That was extraordinary. To change one's creed especially for a Sadhu and for a Sadhu also of great name and fame means bearing great public ridicule. But he was prepared to bear all that. Not because he was to become richer in the worldly sense or to get any political or social power but because he was a seeker after truth. I have not the slightest doubt that he might have changed his religion for some other, had he not been satisfied by Jainism. Once convinced he was prepared to do Shastrarth with any body. But he was not satisfied only with his own satisfaction. He made it the mission of his life to spread and preach what he believed to be true in every nook and corner of our country. That is why we see so many temples all over the Punjab, whereas before him there was practically none.
He was not an ordinary guru. He was far-sighted. He felt that these temples could not serve any useful purpose, unless there were true
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[ Shree Atmaramji
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