Book Title: Comtemporary Jain Legends
Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

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Page 73
________________ religion and philosophy. During their talks, Ganeshji informed Kadorelal that he had left his wife and mother saying them that until they adopt Jainism, he will not keep any relations with them and will not eat any food prepared by them. Kadorelal Bhaiji persuaded Ganeshji saying that nobody can be forced to adopt Jainism. So he should not make haste in this matter. He advised Ganeshji to understand the essence of Jainism and proceed on the path of Jainism step by step. Meeting with Mother Chironjabai: One day Shri Kadorelal asked Ganeshji to approach Chironjabai at Simara as she was well studied in Jainism. Ganeshji could see one kshullakji also at Simara and after the religious-lecture was over, Chironjabai invited Ganeshji and Kadorelal for lunch. Ganeshji was reserve and shy by nature. Chironjabai made a comment seeing that child (i.e. Ganeshji) she begins to love him like her own child. Later Chironjabai said, "My son! I feel that you are my son of my previous life. I give over all my property to you from to day. You stay here freely without any hesitation. If you want to study further, I can make all arrangements for your study at Jaipur." Ganeshji avoided six tastes in his meal for one month, then Chironjabai preached him: First acquire knowledge and then only adopt vows. Do not make haste. Do all your work with feelings of piety. Do not perform any work, which makes you unhappy. Travelling to Earn Knowledge: Ganeshji started to go to Jaipur for further study but his kits and baggages were stolen on the way thus he had to turn back. He did not inform Chironjabai of these circumstances. He visited holy places in Bundelkhand and moved from place to place with a view to earn knowledge. At last, with help of a rich man, he came to Mumbai and here he could meet Baba Gurudayaldasji, resident of Khuraja, Pandit Pannalalji Bakliwal and Guru Gopaldasji Baraiya. Ganeshji began to study Ratnakarand-Shravakachar, Katantra Grammar and other books on Jainism under their guidance. He passed the examination started by Sheth Manikchand Parikshalaya in the same year and obtained the prize of Rs. 25/- which was a good amount those days. The atmosphere of Bombay did not suit his health and he came to Jaipur via kekadi. He began study of Tattvarth Sutra, Sarvarth Siddhi, Katantra Grammar etc with Shastri Vireshwar. After this, he appeared at the examination at Bombay. When he was writing his paper of Katantra Grammar, he received a letter informing him of the death of his wife. Ganeshji thought that he was now free from family bondages. He informed Chironjabai also of this news and said that hereafter he will be able to study with free mind. He then received a letter from Pandit Gopaldasji Baraiya and Ganeshji, therefore went to Mathura for advanced studies and left Jaipur. He studied there for two years. He, then, went to Khurja and passed the first and second examinations in Nyaya (i.e. philosophical Logic) from Benaras. From Mathura, he started to go on the pilgrimage of Samet Shikhar in the scorching heat of the month of Jyeshtha (i.e. May). While doing a Parikrama, going round of the high hills of SametShikhar, he lost his way and suffered severe thirst. His mind was, yet, at peace. He remembered Lord Parshvanath and he had before his eyes a pond full of clean and sweet water in that forest. He drank the water and became free from thirst. This was really a surprising event. After this pilgrimage, Ganeshji studied difficult books on philosophical logic, Vyadhikaran, Panch Laxani and Muktavali under the famous and highly learned man Dularjha. After this, he studied under Pandit Thakurdasji. From here he started towards the famous city of Sanskrit learning Varanasi in 1903. He was 28 years of age at this time. He had been wandering places to places for study since the last 12 years. Establishment of Syadvad Jain Vidyalaya: When Ganeshji reached Varanasi, Shri Jiwanath Mishra was the main scholor of Nyaya (Philosophic logic) the subject of Nyaya. When pandit Mishra asked him about his family line, Ganeshji said that 13

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