Comtemporary Jain Legends

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

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Research in linguistics (ii) service to society and (iii) collection of evidences. His editorial activities were full of vigor, pointing for social reforms and hence the same was widely welcomed by the people. The number of subscribers to Jain Gazette increased from 300 to 1500 but some social leaders were displeased of his clear thinking on social customs and practices and hence Pandit Jugalkishore had to leave away his working as an editor to Jain Gazette.
After about ten years from his having been relived from Jain Gazette, Pandit Shri Nathuramji Premi had appointed Pandit Jugalkishore as an editor of Jain Hitaishi where he worked with total devotion and determination for about two years upto 1921 AD.
He, then, established Samant Bhadrashram of Delhi on April 21st, 1929 and started compiling and editing of a monthly named "Anekant" from November. In this work, Pandit Jugalkishore established his high learning and ability to crate quality literature. His style was his own and it attracted a large part of the society. Panditji expounded his policy of public-good and not of public interest through this monthly magazine.
On the Way to Renunciation:
Panditji studied Jain literature with total seriousness whenever he got time from his work of editing of Jain Gazette and this study impressed upon his life very deeply. He felt that his working as Mukhtar was a burden on him. He thought that he was wasting his valuable time for worthless activities of moneymaking. He constantly pinpointed his colleague Babu Surajbhanu that they both should stop working as pleaders and Pandit Jugalkishore his Mukhtarship. Both of them were famous pleaders and their retirement from this lucrative business caused surprise for many. This was a day of festival for Jain community because two prominent personalities turned to the service of literature, especially Jain scriptures from that day.
Publication of "Granth Pariksha"- A Historical Venture:
While studying Jain scriptures in depth, Pandit Jugalkishore noted that some so called learned persons-Bhattaraks have pushed in certain absurd principles which were totally against Jain religion into Jain scriptures. He found out as to wherefrom these perverse views were taken out and put into Jainism. He has published his researches on these matters in his book "Granth Pariksha" which was in four parts. When two parts of these books were published in 1916, many traditional evil beliefs were hit and several learned persons were strongly displeased with this research work of Pandit Jugalkishore. They held Panditji as a betrayer of religion many adverse stories were put out against him but no one could produce any evidence against him.
Third part of Granth Pariksha was published in 1928 AD and Pandit Nathuramji Premi wrote in its introduction: "I do not if any Jain intellectual has written such a critical book with so much pain within last several centuries and it can be said without least hesitation that such type of critical publication is the very first in the history of Jain literature. This series of publication is as good as iron bits for its rivals".
With what pains and deep thinking this series of critical writings might have been created! Pandit Jugalkishore had no sleep for one and a half months when he was deeply busy in writing this book and even then he completed this book. The style of his writing was interesting and everyone read it with curiosity. This was really a great achievement for Pandit Jugalkishorji.
"Meri Bhavna"-An Immortal Creation:
Even if YugVeer Pandit Jugalkishorji had written only this single poetry, he would have been ever remembered in the field of Jain literary personalities. This poetry was first published in the joint issue--of "Jain Lipi" for the months of April-May, 1916. The poetry was then printed in the form of a booklet
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