Comtemporary Jain Legends

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

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• To establish Atmanand Jain Sabha in various cities of Punjab. • To establish Samadhi-Mandir at Gujaranwala in the memory of Shri Atmaramji Maharaj. • To establish Jain schools at several places.
• Publication of Atmanand (Vijayanand)-periodical. Shri Vijay Vallabh Soori completed all his plans sooner or later in his lifetime. Shri Atmanand Jain college was established with the encouragement of Shreshthi Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai in 1938. Shri Vijay Vallabh Soori moved in various regions of Punjab for about 13 years after the demise of Shri Atmaramji Maharaj and did several works of educational, social, cultural and unity of Jain Sangh. He was not acknowledged as a great humanistic saint and was loved by many religious-minded personalities of Punjab. He had thus, completely obeyed his promise of preserving Punjab given to Shri Atmaramji Maharaj in his last days. Even though, Shri Vijay Vallabh Soori had his activities mainly centered in Punjab, he believed that the whole of land belongs to one god and he gave his services to Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. In Gujarat he moved to Palanpur, Patan, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Radhanpur, Dabhoi, Miyagam, Khambhat, Palitana and many other places; in Rajasthan he visited Sadadi, Falna, Bikaner and other places and in Maharashtra he went to Mumbai, Poona, Balapur etc. and passed his monsoons at these places. On the way he preached at many other villages and towns. He spent last years of his life at the international city of Mumbai and passed away at noon at the ripe age of eighty-four.
His Works: Shri Vijay Vallabh Sooriji was a multi-faced personality. He had received inspiration and education from the most ardent celibate, age-dominating personality, deeply learned and fully developed grandfather teacher Shri Atmaramji Maharaj. Shri Vijay Vallabh Soori consolidated the attitudes of others and mine. He stressed for Japa-muttering holy names or phrases on rosary, penance, detachment, renunciation, sympathy, tolerance and equality for all living animates on earth. He encouraged others to be in the service of society. He believed that strong society only can hold the religion strongly and for this spiritual, as well as practical education is necessary. If one is spiritually educated, he will not be drawn away toward godlessness and unrestricted behavior. Modern education is essential for getting respectable position in society; otherwise no concrete progress will be possible in business, govt. Job, education, trading or social activities. His important works can be briefly summarized as under:
Study and teachings of religious scriptures: He was very liberal in this respect. He had appreciated many books with a view to find facts and get knowledge with virtues. He established Jain Pathshalas (schools), educational institutions and Jain colleges at many places in Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat with the co-operation many local and outside persons for the advancement of religious knowledge. He renovated the hand-written books of the library at Shantinath Jain Temple at Khambhat during the monsoon of V.S. 1993 with a view that old literature of religion can go on being published. He then entrusted its management to Mooni Shri Punya Vijayaji. Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya: This institution was started in 1915 in a rented house at Mumbai with only 15 students and it was hoped that middle and lower class people will take advantage of it and receive modern education. This institution was entrusted with the work of publishing authentic Jain literature of very high level. The institution went on developing very fast and with the help and co-operation of thousands of old students, rich Jains and social workers, five more branches of this institution were opened at Ahmedabad Poona, Vadodara, Vallabh Vidyanagar and Bhavnagar. This is perhaps the best of other social works dedicated to the society by Shri Vijay Vallabhji.