Jain Journal 1976 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 15

JANUARY, 1976
103
headlong into two factions called desi and bilāyti and the quarrel took a very ugly turn. With his innate zeal, Puran Chand plunged into it and the manner in which he helped its resolution earned him the gratitude of everyone in the Community. In marriage in the Jaina Community, too, he was instrumental in introducing many reforms. Such a man could not but be bold in his utterances. For instance, regarding the existence of innumerable sects and sub-sects, ganas, gacchas, kulas, šākhās in the Jaina Community, which itself is very small, a religious minority, so to say, he frankly observed, “Had the Jaina Community not depended so exclusively on the Acaryas, there would never have been so many sects and sub-sects. If to hear the words of Mahavira, they had not to depend on them, then the situation that has been created by so many divisions and sub-divisions of the Community would have lost a cause for ever." (translation) Surely, such observation was not relished either by the orthodoxy or by the Jaina monks.
Puran Chand was very sincere and dedicated in his service to the Jaina holy places. It was with this end that he built his second home at Rajagrha (Rajgir), which was once the centre of Bhagavan Mahavira's activity. It was Rajagrha which saw the earliest historical empires of India till the Mauryas shifted their capital to Pataliputra, (Patna). Rajagrha was Bhagavan Mahavira's spiritual capital. Puran Chand spent his time, energy and money for Rajagrha and also for Pavapuri where Bhagavan Mahavira attained nirvāņa. The shrine at Pava was renovated during the reign of Shah Jehan (1698 V. S.), but the inscription which was an authentic proof thereof was nowhere to be found. It was due to Puran Chand's superhuman zeal that it was recovered from beneath the central altar in the shrine. Another important inscription (dated 1412 V. S.) regarding the old temple on Vipulacala in Rajagrha dedicated to Arhat Parsvanath was also recoverd due to his indefatigable effort. This inscription is now housed at Santi Bhavan at the same place. He served the Jaina holy places in various other ways which need not be included in this brief sketch.
A biography is not complete unless something is said about the family. Puran Chand must have been a dutiful husband and an affectionate parent. His first wife died early and in her memory, he had constucted Kunnu Kumari Dinsala, a resthouse for the poor and the destitute at Pavapuri. A man who was highly educated himself and was fond of education for others must of necessity impart education to his own children. He had four sons. The eldest Keshri Singh who became a well-known philatelist. was a founder of Bengal Music Conference and had masterly knowledge of classical music. His second