Comtemporary Jain Legends

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

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On July 16th, 1914, he did his daily work and worship in the morning. In the evening he worked in his office of the Committee of Hirabaug Tirthkshetra. He had been for a walk after meals at the seashore and had talks about religious teachings with numbers of his family till late at night. But soon he was sick.. He had unbearable pain in his stomach. A doctor was called immediately. He went on repeating the name of Lord Arihant-Siddha and died after midnight. Countless people, especially from Jain community attended his funeral and condolence meetings were held at many cities all over India.
His Works for Social Up-Lift:
Establishment of Mumbai Digambar Jain Sabha: He happened to meet the great teacher Pandit Varya Gopaldasji Baraiya in 1893 A.D. at Bombay. Sheth Manikchand was deeply impressed with his lectures and his knowledge of religious books. They met together, obtained the cooperation of Jain community and established Mumbai Jain Sabha in 1893. This Sabha undertook several religious and social works. The Sabha set up Jain Pathshala (school for teaching Jainism), held examinations in religious knowledge, prepared preachers and spread Jainism, collected books for reading in temples, gave scholarships to outstanding students, started Ayurvedic dispensaries, took up proceedings for renovation of Jain-places of pilgrimage. It was decided to open branches of this Sabha in various regions of the country in the annual session of the Sabha held in 1900 A.D. Shri Premchand Motichand Zaveri, the cousin of Shri Manikchand was very much helpful in this task.
Beginning of Jain Mitra Periodical:
Sheth Shri Manikchand began this periodical as the main paper of Mumbai Jain Sabha in 1900 A.D. and the first editor of the periodical was Pandit Varya, the great learned Shri Gopaldasji Baraiya. Sheth Shri Manikchand was appointed as the proprietor of this periodical.
Digambar Jain
Establishment of Bharat-Varshiya
Committee:
On October 22, 1902, Pandit Gopaldasji Baraiya, Babu Devkumarji, Munshi Champatrayji and others co-operated and with their inspiration, a Tirthkshetra Committee was established in the grand session of Bharatiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha held at Chorashi Mathura. Sheth Shri Manikchand was elected as the General Secretary of this Committee.
Syadvad Vidyalaya, Benaras:
This Vidyalaya (i.e. the School) was established in 1906 A.D.
Tirthkshetra
Sheth Shri Manikchand retired from his business in 1901 A.D. He happened to meet the celibate Sheetal Prasadji in the year 1905 A.D. at the time of Ujjain Pratishtha (Religious rite at Ujjain). He inspired Sheth Manikchand to encourage the study of Sanskrit and the prominent persons of all-India level in Jainism, like, Baba Bhagirathji, Ganesh Prasadji Varni, Pannalalji Bakliwal and Celibate Sheetal Prasadji established Syadvad Vidyalaya at the hands of Sheth Shri Manikchand in Benaras City which is considered to be the highest study-center of India. This Vidyalaya gave thousands of scholars and learned persons of high standard to the world of Jainism.
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