Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth

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

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A short account of Atmaramji
Many questions of Jainism were put to him by Dr. A. F. Rudolf Hoernele through Maganlal Dalpatram in the Vikram year 1945. Dr. Hoernele was greatly satisfied with the answers. He wrote to Maganlal in 1888 " Please convey to the latter (Muni Maharaj the expression of my thanks for the great trouble he has taken to reply so promptly and so fully to my questions. His answers were satisfactory." In the introduction of the Upasakdasanga, which Dr. Hoernele has edited and translated, he writes: "For some of this information I am indebted to Muni Maharaj Atmaramji, Anand vijayji, the wellknown and highly respected Sadhu of the Jain Community throughout India and author of ( among others ) two very useful works in Hindi."
In Vikram year 1949, he received an invitation from Chicago to attend the World's Parliament of Religions. On account of religious and personal restrictions he could not go, but he sent his representative, Mr. Virchand Raghavji Gandhi, B. A, to Chicago to represent Jainism at the Parliament.
He was the author of a number of works in Hindi. The important works are as follows:
Tatwanirnaya Prasad, ( Tra fauftuar ), Jaina Tatwadarsha (artigat ), Agnantimir-Bhasker (wafafACHTET ), Samayktwa Shalyodhar (सम्यक्त्वशल्योद्धार), and Chicago-Prashnottar (चिकागोप्रश्नोत्तर).
Many Jain temples were built in the Punjab by his teaching. About 15000 persons were converted to Jainisin by his strenuous efforts. Many Pathshalas and Libraries were established by him in the districts of the Punjab and in different other parts of the country.
Spending his life in doing good deeds he passed away from this world in Vikram year 1953, Jyesta Shukla 13, in Gujranwala (Punjab). The event of his death was mysterious. At midnight he got up from bed and sat in the posture of Padmasana. He called his pupils before him and said to them: Oh, Now I go, Arhan !!
Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And departing leave behind us Foot prints on the sands of time.' (Longfellow )
Shatabdi Granth ]
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