Development And Impact Of Jainism In India And Abroad

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

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Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
like a condensed or as an abridged scripture. His other poem "Apurva avsar kyare aavse" is also very famous. There are many followers in India and they have centres at different places, such as at Agash, Idar, Sayla in Saurashtra and Dharampur, Coba in Gujarat and Mumbai & Devlali in M.S.
He died on April 9,1901. He was prominent jain philosopher and scholar. DADA BHAGVAN : His name was Ambalal Muljibhai Patel. He was born in a village Tarsali in Gujarat.
Among his followers he is known as Dada Bhagavan. In his preaching, he had Simandharswami at the core centre. Simandharswami is existing Tirthankar in videhakshtra.
From the inspirations derived from him, his followers have constructed temples and installed idols of Bhagvan Shri Simandharswasmi. One of such temple is at Kamrej near Surat and Adalaj near Ahmedaba.
There are many of his followers in Saurastra. He passed away (died ) on January 02,1988.
V. R. GANDHI Virchan Raghavji Gandhi an early exponent Jainism in west. V. R. G. from Mahuva - Saurastra.
PILGRIMAGE PLACES OF SAURASTRA : GIRNAR :
Girnar is a pilgrimage place for Hindus as well as for Jains. In Jain religion there are five places of pilgrimage ,and Girnar is one of them.
This place of pilgrimage is connected with the history of 23rd Thirtankar Shri Neminath Bhagwan. According to the historical incidence as mentioned in Jain scripture, when Neminath, who was the cousin of Krishna, was going for his marriage with Rajulmati, he heard the crying voices of animals. On the inquiry he found that those animals were being killed to be served in for their dinner at the marriage. On hearing this he was shaken up and he decided to give up worldly attachments. He decided to become ascetic ( muni ). He left the place there and then only. Rajulmati also decided so and followed him and she also became ascetic.
On this Girnar they meditated ,and Neminath attained nirvana. Due to this Girnar has become a place for pilgrimage for Jains. There is a Jain temple at the top of the hill. It is at an altitude of 3300 ft. On entering from the Devkot one can see Jain temples over there. Main temple is of Shri Neminathnji. The architecture of the temple and its surroundings are very beautiful. The idol of Bhagvan Neminathji is Shyam in colour.According to the information available, it is said that one Jain shravak from Kashmir whose name was Ratansha had built this temple in the year 553 A.D. ( V.S. 609 ). Thereafter it was renovated in the year 1229 A.D. ( v.s. 1285 ). Near to this temple, there a big idol of bhagvan Sri Rishbhdev ,whom jains call as Adabadji Dada. There are four stone inscriptions in this temple. It is mention in that Raja Mandalik ( Ramandlik ) had put on a sheet of gold on this temple .And it also mentions that the rights of engraving inscriptions was given in heritage to Haripal, who was the son of Ganag of mevad caste. The temple of Jagmal Gordhan is situated on the back side of this temple. Jagmal was clerk in jain temples. There is a
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