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JAIN DIGEST .. May 2011
He was a disciple of the great Acharya Shri Jawaharlalji Maharaj. His sound knowledge of Jain literature established him as a profound thinker and his literary creations reflect his holy, restrained and vow-full life. Ghasilalji did not attend any school but learnt everything from nature. He learnt the virtues of tolerance, renunciation, satisfaction, appreciation of other's virtues, fearlessness, simplicity, equal feelings for all, and self-support from nature itself. He would go away to the nearby forests to think about life & nature. Ghasilalji was deeply influenced by Acharya Shri Jawaharlalji Maharaj'
s preaching. Ghasiramji expressed his desire to take Diksha. Acharya Shri told him, "It is very difficult & painful to follow vows but it is the only way to be free from the bondage of deeds". Ghasilalji at once replied, "I shall suffer all pains with total determination to follow the restrained life because restraint always brings happiness in this life as also in future lives." Noticing Ghasiramji's firm commitment over a period of time Acharya Jawaharlalji granted him Diksha in 1952 at Jashwantgadh. He mastered 16 languages. He also had deep knowledge of grammar, logic (Nyaya), darshan & literature. He spent his monsoons in many regions of India spreading the Jain scripture knowledge to the wider Indian community. Accepting requests from several devotees from all
over India, he started the work of translating 32 Agamic scriptures. For this task, he worked continuously at Ahmedabad for 16 years. Finally, people had access to these scriptures in a language they could understand. He translated the original scriptures first in the form of prose & poetry and then later with detailed comments and meanings. The Jain community will always be grateful to Acharya Ghasilalji for his contribution of translating the Jain scriptures in Gujarati & Hindi. His greatness and vast learning is evident from his works. He was endowed with the virtues of simplicity, nobility, sweetness of speech, largeheartedness, tolerance, self-supporting nature etc. It was for this reason people of all communities respected him. He always advocated love for all, friendship and spiritual tolerance. Shri Ghasilalji was awarded the titles of Kolhapur Raj Purush and Shasanacharya because of his great knowledge and literary work. The Karachi Jain Sangh conferred on him the titles of Jain Diwakar and Jain Acharya because of his total renunciation, penance and restraint. Finally, as his health started failing him, he embraced Sallekhana vow (fast unto death) and on February 2, 1973 at the age of 88 Acharya Shri Ghasilalji passed away.
(Continued from page 54) Bruhad Gujarat Samuday3 Acharya; 139 Sadhu; 1091 Sadhvi Total 1,230 Cha(6) Koti Limdi
Gadipati Shri Labhchandraji Gondal
Gachchashiro.Jayantilalji Limadi Ajaramar
Shri Dhirya Muniji Dariyapuri
Acharyashri Virendra Muniji Katch Mota Paksh
Gadipati Pranlalji Katch Nani Paksh
Acharya Shri Raghavaji Swami (Recently after taking a vow of fasting upto death, he passed
away on February 27, 2011) Botad
Shri Amichandaji Khambhat
Acharya Shri Aravind muniji Gondal Sanghani
P.Ratnashri Narendra muniji Barawala
Gachchadhipati Shri Saradarmuniji Halari
P.Ratnashri Keshav muniji
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