Comtemporary Jain Legends

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

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intoxication and other habits among the local public. In 1898 he could have the company of young Acharya Shri Chauthmalji Maharaj and his disciples and after two more monsoons he could meet all the members of the great Sangh of the followers of Acharya Shri Chauthmalji at Javara.
In 1900, Acharya Chauthmalji entrusted all his responsibilities of his great Sangh to four outstanding Monies-mendicants because he was becoming weaker. Shri Jawaharlalji who had taken Dixa since only eight years, was also one of these four mendicants. The monsoon season of 1901 was spent at Mahidpur near Ujjain.
Jawahar Was Appreciated By Jawahar:
Respected Shri Lalji Maharaj had come to Indore after he was awarded the title of Acharya and from here; he came to Udaipur through Mewar region. The Jain community-The Sangh requested him to pass that monsoon at Udaipur but he said, "I shall give you a box of Jawahar in this monsoon so that your desires would be fulfilled" which meant that the monsoon of 1902 was spent at Udaipur where much knowledge was acquired, rigorous penance was performed and many people were preached. From here he went towards Jodhpur. On the way, the thieves took way their cloths, begging bowls and other pots near Taravligadh but the mendicants maintained peace. The monsoon of 1903 was spent in Jodhpur where a great Shravak-Jain Family holder Shri Pratapmalji was preached well and his false beliefs were washed off. He was put up on the path of virtue. The monsoon was spent in Bhinasar and then the other monsoon was passed again at Udaipur.
Dixa to Ganeshlalji at Udaipur:
This monsoon happened to be much effective and fruitful. (1) He observed fasts for eight to 61 days, (2) the whole of the people of Udaipur including the officers of the kingdom took advantage of the preachings of Shri Jawaharlalji and heard his lectures with interest. (3) One detached devotee named Shri Ganeshlalji Maru vowed for total celibacy at the age of 16 years and after the four months of the monsoon, he adopted Dixa. This holy soul very deeply studied almost all the Jain scriptures, Sanskrit, Persian and other languages and later became an Acharya.
Shri Jawaharlalji left Udaipur and came to Masooda village near Ajmer via Nathdwara, Kankroli, Gangapur, Bhilwara and Chittore. He preached Suganchandji Kothari here and re-established him in Shravak Dharm-Duties of Jain family-holder. He then came to Gangapur via Raipur and spent the monsoon of 1907 here itself. He spent next monsoon at Ratlam. He gave proper guidance to the members of Sthanakvasi conference and came to Thandla. While spending monsoon at Thandla he told stories of maintaining discipline by an elephant, keeping peace by a serpent and forgiving the stone-throwers by those who were hurt. The people heard these stories with deep interest. These stories re-sound the virtues of world-friendship and kindness in the heart of the stories-teller.
Jawaharlalji was not well when he moved from Thandla but on being little better, he came to Javara and then granted Dixa to a highly rich but graceful person named Shri Lalchandji at village Kodd. He then, reached to Indore via Dewas and passed this monsoon of 1911 at Indore itself. Shri Chandanmalji Firodia and other Shravakas requested Shri Jawaharlalji to come towards the south and the request was accepted. Hence, Maharaj Shri Jawaharlalji came to Ahmednagar to spend the next monsoon after visiting Badvaha, Sanavad, Burhanpur, Faizpur and Bhusaval.
Monsoons in the South:
Maharaj Jawaharlalji spent successive monsoons at Ahmednagar, Zunner, Ghodnadi and Jamgaon. He was awarded the title of Gani when he was passing his monsoon at Jamgaon. He again went through Ahmednagar, Ghodnadi, Mitti, Hivada, Sonai and other towns. At Hivada, respected Shri Lalji Maharaj, who had come here from Udaipur, awarded him another title of Yuvacharya. The title was given as the Sangh-people pressed to honor him; and then at the monsoon of 1919 at Silam, which
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