Comtemporary Jain Legends

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

Page 52

Shri Champatrayji was very much attached to his uncle-in-law Lala Rangilalji but with his accidental death in young age, Champatrayji was deeply moved. His mind was not convinced of this death by any arguments. He read some books of Swamy Ramtirth but when Babu Devendrakumarji residing at Aara gave him some Jain scriptures to read in 1913 AD and when he studied them very deeply he was at some peace. His confusion was resolved. His life took a turn. He left wearing suits, shoes, neckties etc. of barristeric attire and became a propagator of religion, a saint, and a godly-minded man. He adopted simplicity in life. He was smoking 25 cigarettes a day but now he did not smoke. He was now reading, thinking, meditating and reminiscencing peacefully and in loneliness for eternal peace in life. Now, only this was his goal of loneliness for eternal peace in life. Now, only this was his goal of lie. This was 180' turn in his life-style. He was about 40-42 years of age in these days. He started working vigorously to expand the Jainism because with this knowledge only he was able to be at peace of mind and he wanted that all other disturbed and unhappy persons should also achieve peace like him.
Service to Society and Religion: Shri Champatrayji First of all started experiments to purify his own life before turning to improve others. He adopted non-violence, truth and other AnuVratas-five major vows of Jainism. He was so honest that even if he had one or two kilograms of excessive weight of kits and luggage with him while travelling in railway, he atonce paid for it. When he declined for second marriage and later when he was pressed to adopt a son, he sternly said that man is great by his own deeds and not by the size of his family. He spent almost all his property for the advancement and expansion of religion and knowledge. At last, he had rupees 2,14,785 and he established a Trust for utilizing this amount in the activities of propagating good literature among the people. He never longed for fame or money and when he was honored by the title of Vidya Varidhi or Jain Darshan Diwakar, he advised the Jain community not to arrange such functions and waste money for unfruitful activities. In 1926 AD he stopped all activities for earning money. Thus, Shri Champatrayji first purified his own life and then completely surrendered for the service of the society. When the Digambar Jain Mahasabha failed to adopt liberal policies and reforms to suit with the modern days in 1923, Akhil Bharatiya Digambar Jain Parishad was established and Champatrayji worked as its convenor and life-long member. He drew many young men also to work for the Parishad. As regards the protection of the holy place of SametShikhar, Shri Champatrayji's contribution has been very much valuable. He also worked for the constitutional consent for the movement of Digambar mendicants (mendicants without clothes), permission of bringing out Jain chariots in circular processions, to draw the attention of the parliament at London against the cruelties and excesses at Kudchi, research in Jain archeology and many other problems of Jainism. Shri Champatrayji, thus, expressed his true and inherent love towards Jain community by actually working for it.
Great Lover of Jain Literature: The life-message of Shri Champatrayji is expressed as under: Oh Jains! Your religion is connected with every living animate and non-living thing and therefore it is scientific. You must read your scriptures as if you prepare for examination in them, experience yourselves its