Comtemporary Jain Legends

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

Page 82

was Wednesday regular celebrating of awarding this title of Yuvacharya were held. Then in the next year itself Maharaj Shri Jawaharlalji received the news of sad demise of respected Shri Lalji Maharaj at Bhinasar and Maharaj Shri Jawaharlalji observed fasts for eight days.
Becomes Acharya:
Maharaj Shri Jawaharlalji had now the responsibility of reviving the whole Sangh, Jain community and other Jain groups. He had to advise them and guide them. He narrated his experiences to them and said that teaching requires the first attention so that ignorance and false beliefs can be wiped out. But there were no enthusiastic works available in the Sangh. He, therefore, created an institution "Sadhu Margi Jain Hitkarini Sanstha" for fulfilling these purposes. After completing monsoons at Bikaner and Ratlam, Maharaj Shri Jawaharlalji came in south and moved in Satara, Poona, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar cities and areas. While he was passing monsoon at Jalgaon in 1925 he had an abscess on his hand. It was not being cured in spite of long time treatment and the famous surgeon Dr. Gulgaonkar diagonised that Maharaj Shree had diabetes. The abscess was cut out without using anesthesia. By and by he was well. This was the circumstance when his fearlessness, tolerance and detachment towards his own body was being tested.
He granted Dixa to Bhimrajji and Siremalji at Satara and to Shri Jivanlalji at Poona. He passed his monsoon of 1924 at Ghatkopar. Here he did many works related to kindness towards animals and other souls. The Shravaks (Jain family holders) were advised to unite and stay together. Mooni Shri Sundarlalji observed fast for eighty-one days and he was with Maharaj Jawaharlalji. There were preaching lectures everyday and thousands of Jains and others took advantage of these lectures. This monsoon was, thus, most busy and successful. Maharaj Jawaharji came to Bikaner in 1928 through Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Ratlam, Mandsaur, Nimbaheda, Udaipur and Beawar. Here also the institution "Sadhu Margi Jain Hitkarini Sanstha" was established, which is working even now for learning of Jain mendicants, their travelling, and rules on their behavior and other subjects.
In the further journey, Maharaj Shri came to Churu via Sardar City. Here he granted Dixa to Shri Shekhchandji. He spent this monsoon and then proceeded towards Bikaner, Rohtak and Delhi. Here, special celebrations were held to honor Maharaj Shri Jawaharlalji. From here, he went towards Jodhpur via Agra and granted Dixa to Shri Motilalji at Jaya Taran on his way. He came to Udaipur via Ajmer very slowly. At Ajmer, there was celebration in the honor of Mooni Shri Ganeshlalji who was awarded the title of Yuvacharya. He had long efforts of 28 years to acquire knowledge and restrained life. This was inspiring for the whole Jain Sangh and Jain community especially to 65 saints and nuns who attended the celebrations.
towards Saurashtra-Gujarat:
The Saurashtra region of Gujarat had not, so far, seen such a learned and penanceful Jain. Acharya Shri Jawaharlalji believed in necessary reforms in the society of the day. Therefore a deputation of prominent Shravakas of Gujarat requested Acharya Shri Jawaharlalji to visit Gujarat and especially Saurashtra and accepting their request Acharya Shri came to Rajkot via Palanpur, Viramgam and Wadhwan city. He was in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Morbi and Ahmedabad. He was heartily welcomed everywhere by Jains, Jain-loving persons, national leaders and several rulers of Saurashtra. Acharyaji also was impressed to see their affection for him.
But it was from here that his health began to deteriorate. He was unable to walk and even then he started towards Marwar. He spent his last four monsoons respectively at Beawar, Bagdi, Bikaner and Bhinasar.
Acharya Shri Jawaharlalji did not fully recover after leaving Saurashtra. His knees and body continued to ache and before it can be controlled he had severe attack of paralysis in half of his body
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