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their hospitalization, rehabilitation and protection. No one can afford to be complacent at such a time.”
While Gurudev was a spiritual leader to whom people of all faiths and castes turned, at the same time, he was a beloved leader among the Jains themselves. Taking the example of the revered Jain Acharya Vijay Vallabhsuriji who had begun to bring together Jains of the four major groups* before he expired, Gurudev encouraged the Jains of Bombay to drop minor differences of opinion about rules and to live in the spirit of reverence for life.
Over the years, many holidays had been celebrated in separate monasteries. Thanks to Gurudev's outpouring of goodwill, the four groups enjoyed coming together for all special occasions. Though Gurudev was an independent thinker and an iconoclast of sorts, even the orthodox-minded monks came to love and respect him.
In 1963, there was an exceptionally large gathering of Jains, monks and laypersons, on the Azad Maidan to celebrate Mahavlr's birthday. That same year, Gurudev decided to open Mahavir Jayanti to the public by holding a second celebration in the evening on the sands of Chowpatty Beach away from its parochial setting. It was the first time that thousands of people joined together to honor this compassionate soul who was born on their land.
A significant number of Gurudev's listeners began to change their lives. They understood that they alone were responsible for their own thoughts, words, and actions. Gurudev taught them how to clear their consciousness of negativity, as he had done during his years of self-study. Little by little, sincere seekers watched the positive effect of their new attitude and self-discipline bring them increased joy, peace, prosperity, and health.
From these seeds of harmony, a healthy tree of peace and
*The names of the four groups are Śwetāmbar, Digambar, Sthānakvāsi, and Terăpanth.
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