Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Trust

Page 156

Baburam Jain
tradition which his spirit rebelled against and which his intellect could not retify. He followed reason and always adduced adequate proof in support of his views. Pooj Amar Singhji, the then head of the Sthanakwasi community in the Punjab, admonished Atmaramji for preaching Murti Pooja and ordered him to desist from violating conventional rules. The reply that he gave to the threats is worthy of consideration.
“ In search of Truth, I have given up home and everything else. As such, I shall not be bound down by tradition and shall act only upto what I have found out to be the truth in our shastras. I would therefore beg of you to facilitate my propagating the true teaching of Lord Mahavira. "
Truth conquers all. Within a short time, Atmatamji won the field through firmness of resolve, perseverence, courage, unostentatious nature and affable disposition.
COURAGE AND BOLDNESS
. Courage and boldness characterised Atmaramji from the very boyhood. He shared his father's martial spirit to no small extent. When he was eleven years of age, the village of Lehra where he resided with his parents was attacked by a gang of dacoits. The villagers, headed by Ganesh Chandar, routed the dacoits. When the father returned home, he saw his little son standing at the door with a sword in hand. Ganesh Chandar asked the son what led him to that action. The bold answer was. “ The defence of the house ". The father was astonished by the courageous reply. This courage and boldness developed in after life and was exhibited in every sphere of his work as a reformer,
SYMPATHETIC HEART
Five years later, at the age of sixteen, one evening during rainy season he happened to go out to a big pond on the outskirts of Zira for enjoyment. A Mohammaden lady, while washing her face, lost hold of her child who fall into the pond which was deep and full to the brim. The mother jnmped into the water to save the child bnt could not cope with the volume and both the lives seemed in dan sympathetic heart of Atmaramji impelled him to leap into the pond Shatabdi Granth ]
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