Jain Dharmbhushan Shri Shitalprasadji

Author(s): Atmanandji
Publisher: Z_Comtemporary_Jain_Legends_007736_STD.pdf

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scriptures. He decided no to eat anything while being in any vehicle on travelling. He used to observe total fast on holy days. He adopted several other restrictions to pass clean and holy life of a detached person. He followed all these limitations till the end of his lie with absolute integrity.
Service to Holy Places and Propaganda of Religion: The celibate went through the whole of India for expanding Jainism. He went to Brahmdesh (now Myanmar) and Shri Lanka to study Buddhism. He desired to go to abroad in Western countries but circumstances did not help. He was liberal, tolerant and invested with the feelings of good for everyone in the world. As such he became popular wherever he went. He maintained detailed note of his movement from place to place and such notes for his movements in and around Mumbai, Madras, Karnatak, etc. have been published in the form of books, he advised people to renovate the old places of pilgrimage.
Service to Literature: This can be divided into two parts: (1) Editing of Jain periodicals and (2) Comments and translation of Jain scriptures and independent writing of books.
He worked as an editor of Jain Mitra periodical for 20 years from 1909 to 1929 AD. He sent many books for prominent persons as presents with a view to expand Jainism. He also handled publication of Jain Gazette, Veer and Sanatan Jain periodicals for many years. He continued to write even through he remained on tour for expanding Jainism and therefore the publication of periodicals went an regularly without interruption. He encouraged young writers to write and provided necessary guidance. There are 77 books written and edited by him. These can be classified as under:
Spiritual Jainism and Religion Morality Historical Literature of Taran Swamy
Biographies
Others
His wide knowledge, experience, literary skill, efforts and sincerity towards work undertaken were apparent from his works. He showed how good behavior and spiritual practices could be carried on even in daily routine activities in very simple language. He translated with critical notes many books like Pravachansar, Samaysar, Niyamsar, Parmatma Prakash, Samadhi Shatak, Ishtopadesh, Tattva Bhavna, Tattvasar, Swayambhoo Stotra etc. He prepared a great book Sahaj Sukh Sadhan by staying in contact with Shri LaghuRaj Swami who was an ardent devotee of Shrimad Rajchandra. This book is very much useful to all devotees of Jainism. Its Gujarati translation has also been published. He expressed deep respects to both these saints in the introduction of this great book. He can be considered to be one of the great personalities who have translated difficult spiritual books into simple Hindi so that little learned common people may read and understand them. He was deeply attached to spiritual practices and so traditional Pandits learned persons at times laughed him out saying him a pure spiritualists. But the celibate was absolutely sincere in spiritual practices and service to the people and he was least affected by such comments about him.
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