Comtemporary Jain Legends

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

Page 97

celebrated as Vijaya Dashami. She observed various penances for six years and seeing that her end is very near, she adopted Santharo-i.e. fasting unto death. She expired on the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Shravan in 1917.
Jain Diwakar Maharaj Chothmalji was a believer of Jainism and yet he honored all other sects and religions. He wanted to establish friendship by love and sympathy. He wanted to please others even by suffering pains. He could understand the essence of religion and life very clearly. He was above caste discrimination, regionalism and sect-feelings. He encouraged others to be religious and great. He had courage and sympathy for others and was in habit of being in meditation. He could attract many by his loving attitude to everyone. He had expanded his mind to cover up everything by his practices in meditation and thinking. His personality was much impressive. His activities were worth following.
Non-Violence and Self-Restraint: Hindus and Mohmedans equally came to hear him. They left their evil habits after hearing his preachings. His contribution for expanding non-violence and development of life was remarkable. He could attract many rulers of Indian states, officers, learned personalities, millionaires, moneylenders and others. Non-violence has most important consideration in Jainism and almost all-religious saints have stressed upon non-violence, mercy, sympathy and friendship. Whenever somebody desired to give some presents to Jain Diwakar Shri Chothmalji Maharaj during his movements from place to place, he used to tell them, "renunciate, extend mercy and behave properly". He went round in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Hariana, Punjab and many other places and preached non-violence and principles of Jainism. His speech was magical. He could impress upon the audience very deeply. Many a people changed the way to their life after hearing the preaching of Shri Jain Diwakar Chothmalji. They turned to repent for their misdeeds. He turned prostitutes into gentlewomen. Hunters threw away their hunting arrows and bows. Young men became free from bad habits and turned to serve the society. Atheists began to think of Almighty.
A True Saint: His speech was simple but piercing. He preferred to speak on simple subjects. The audience could grasp the essence very easily. He spoke from Vedic scriptures, stanzas, phrases, illustrations and Undue poems. His speech was musical and every one liked to hear him. People heard him for hours together. There was satire on evil practices prevailing in society. At time, he was humorous also. People of all religious like Hindus, Mohmedans, Parsis, Christians and all walks of life, rich and poor, old and young, men and women, high family as well as low family people rushed to hear him.
A Reformist: He has done astonishing work for reforms in society. He stopped child marriages and advanced agemarriages, dowry, dinners after death, sacrifices of animals to gods and untouchability. He imparted advice to prisoners to be gentlemen after being released from Jail, he spoke against cruelty on animals, he said that prostitutes are as good as black blots on society and many other subjects. His preachings covered all sorts of evils prevailing in society. Society and many other subjects his preachings covered all sorts of evils prevailing in society.
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Worked for Unity: He took unity in society to be of prime importance. He established Mahavir Jain Mandals and Jain Mandals i.e. Jain Committees, at Balotra, Beawar, Piploda, Udaipur and many other places. He started Jainodays Prakashan Samiti at Ratlam and the Samiti published literature relating to religion