Development And Impact Of Jainism In India And Abroad

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Arham Spiritual Center

Page 92

JAIN RELIGION IN NORTH GUJARAT & SAURASTRA
of the society. In order to spread the mission of harmony among all the religions and to get rid of untouchablity from the minds of people, a council named as Samudyam Parishd was fromed in the year 1972 A.D. with the blessings from Santbalji.
Vishwavatsalya Prayogik Sangh - Bhalnalkantha Prayogik Sangh and Matru Samaj Established by Santbal Munishri.
He had kept units in his words and conduct. Such a great saint had his last breath in Mumbai on Gudi Padva day on 26 - 3-83. His body was put up at Stanakwasi Upasraya for paying last tributes to him. A meeting to mourn the sad demise of Santbalji and to pay the last tribute was held there only. Prime miniter Morarji Desai was Present in the meeting. The last rites were performed at the seashore Chinchani (Near Boisar - Maharastra ). A shrine is constructed there.
VIJAYNEMISURISVRJI MAHARAJ :
He was born in Mahuva ( Saurastra ) in the year 1873 A.D. His father's name was shri Laxmichand while his mother's name was Diwaliba. He had religious culture in hereditary from his parents. For higher studies he went to Bhavnagar. Here came in contact with Gurudev Shri Vrudhhichandraji and decided to become a saint. His parents did not give consent. He left home and went to Bhavnagar. At the age of 16 years, he had his dixa from Pujya Vridhhichandraji. Thus from Nemchand he became Muni Nemivijay.
He had a great shock when his guru Shri Vrudhhichandraji expired. He recovered from that set-back Along with the editing of Jain Scriptures, he had done editorial work for scriptures other philosophies like Vedant, Sankhya Yoga etc. He has written many books, tika ( Critics ). He was constantly aware of kindness to animals for this purpose by virtue of his discourses, he provided good donations for cattlesheds ( Panjrapole ). In 1927 A.D. at one panjrapol in Ahmedabad, he inspired to start a dinning place for human beings Bhojanshala ).He worked for the uplift of many pilgrimage places. During his stays for Caturmas, people gathered spiritual uplift from his discourses.
SHRI MEGHJI PETHRAJ SHAH :
He was born on 15 - 09 - 1904 in a village Dabasang near Jamnagar.By birth he was Jain but he had a generous outlook and did not remained confined to one sect. He had realized that accumulation of wealth by a person worthless. He had a very good high level of thinking and so he felt that along with the donation given, the person should also take active part in social works. Shri Meghjibhai had done many social works. In Saurastra he had donated generously for primary schools, technical schools, hostel for the students from backward class, maternity home, hospitals, townhall, Vikasgrah for women, Balgrah, hospital for leprosy, reading room, College for training of Nurses, Orphange, sanatorium, School for Blindpersons etc. He also donated generously for Oswal Borading at Jamnagar, Girls school at Nairobi, for auditorium at Thika. He also donated for primary schools and library in Africa. Such a great donor and industrious man left for his heavenly abode on 30 - 07 - 1964.
SAURASHTRA KESARI PRANLALJI M.S. Pranguru is very well known as " Saurastra Kesari ", Pujya Pranlalji maharaj was an
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