Brief life sketch of Atmaramji Maharaj

Author(s): S P Jain
Publisher: Z_Vijyanandsuri_Swargarohan_Shatabdi_Granth_012023.pdf

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Supposing he has created the world with this purpose, it implies that he actuates the living beings into doing the deeds, which robs the living beings of their freedom to act. So in considering God as the Creator of the Universe does not stand argument. Therefore, Jains believe that the creation is without a beginning and without an end because in such a belief, no contradiction is involved. However, majority of the people are ignorant of the grounds on which Jains do not consider God as the Creator of the Universe, so they simply dub Jains as atheist and heretic. But if one considers the stance taken by Jains sympathetically and without prejudice, they will find Jainism as an enlightened philosophical system. One thing which becomes transparently clear from his meetings with the great and learned personalities of the day is that he had a thorough knowledge not only of the Jain scriptures but also of the holy books of other religions and sects. He could and would quote extensively from all the sources, Jain or non-Jain, which shows that he had mastered the art of comparative study of different systems. In fact without historical and comparative study, it is difficult to evaluate any system critically. We know that he was not born in a Jain family but in 'khatri' family and so Jainism was a religion he had adopted of his own choice. Had he found it wanting in any way, he would not have hesitated to give up its profession just as he boldly gave up the 'dhundia' sect in which he was initiated. On account of the confidence born out of his erudite scholarship, he was never afraid of facing challenge from any quarter. The king of Jodhpur had in fact planned a meeting of Swami Dayanand Sarswati and Shri Vijay Anandji Maharaj, but unfortunately when Shri Vijay Anandji Maharaj came to Jodhpur where he was to meet Swami Dayanand, the latter had expired at Ajmer, and so the meeting of the two only remained a wishful thinking. Besides the meetings metioned above, people from all walks of life would meet him and question him and he would satisfy them all at their own level. Western scholars too like A.F. Rudolf Hoernle approached him for any clarification on Jainism and were fully satisfied. It was out of a sense of obligation that Shri Hoernle dedicated his edition of Uvasaga Dasao, a Jain Agam, to Shri Atmaramji Maharaj. It was not for nothing that Shri Atmaramji Maharaj, who was then considered spokesman of Jainism, was extended invitation to the World Parliament of Religions held at Chicago, which he himself could not attend personally but sent his representative Shri Vir Chand R. Gandhi, although in those times, crossing the seven seas was considered a sin by the Jain community, as by all others. This shows his liberal mind
Shri Vijyanand Suri Swargarohan Shatabdi Granth