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which he was initiated where going to temple is a taboo. Truth must be known but how? Study of grammar was a help and so he remained on the look out for the study of grammar. An opporounity presented itself at Ropar, where he went to learn from a scholar named Shri Sadanand. This study opened the flood gates of critical evaluation of any book. Now he could study not only Jain scriptures, but non-Jain holy books too and thus a compartive study of different philosophies could help him arrive at the truth.
TURNING POINT In his quest for truth, Shri Atmaramji Maharaj made for Agra where he wanted to meet a very scholarly Jain monk named Shri Ratan Chhandji and discuss with him a number of points which had sown the seeds of doubt in his mind. He sought him out particularly because Shri Ratan Chandji was also known for his liberal views and unprejudiced thinking. In order to have ample time for discussion and clarification, Shri Atmaramji Maharaj arranged to have his rainy season stay of four months at Agra in Vikram Samvat 1920. This Chaturmas proved a land-mark in his religous career. As already mentioned, Shri Atmaramji Maharaj was initiated in monkhood in the then prevalent Dhundia sect of Jainism. The founder of this sect was a layman by the name of Lonkaji,who, under the influence of then Muslim rulers, rejected the idea of idol worship in the 16the century. The argument advanced by him was that in the worship of idols, water and flowers are made use of which involve 'hinsa' and Jainism believes in Ahinsa. However, in order to prove that this sect had been in vogue from the very beginning, he refused to accept as genuine all those books which had any reference to idol worship. If anyhow it became necessary to accept a particular book, he interpreted the words bearing on temples, worship etc differently, and made his followers to accept the changed meanings. This changed interpretation was handed down from one generation of the monks to the other and it was enjoined upon every one to accept it without question. To avoid the discovery of truth, it was also counselled that no monk should study grammar because the study of grammar will lead to disbelief and breach of faith. That is why Shri Atmaramji Maharaj also did not study grammar in the early years of monkhood, although he studied other scriptures. But when he discovered for himself that without the study of grammar, he felt handicapped, he
Shri Vijyanand Suri Swargarohan Shatabdi Granth
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