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THE JAINA GAZETTE.
continued among us from time immemorial. Therefore it is the first duty of our Samaj to protect Thirthas.
Gentlemen! After dealing with the question of these pilgrimages I would like to draw your attention to the ancient history of our Community and I am positive that the aged and wise men will support my view. There was formerly no arrangement for the accommodation, for the lodging of the pilgrims at these sacred places and nor was any in these temples and nor there was any arrangement for the worship of God. In these bad conditions how could there be any good management of the temple funds. Now it is for you to think over the matter. You will say that both Digambaras and Swetambaras went on pilgrimage and worshipped God according to their rituals and customs respectively. At that time there was no enmity of any kind between these two communities and they were treating each other like brothers. In this manner the management was conducted by several mutts. As the matter grew worse, likewise the management of those temples continued to be flagrantly corrupted. Under these circumstances the Swetambaras having the upper hand began to obstruct Digambaras in performing their religious ceremonies and worship. Since the Swelambaras claimed the right of that sacred place, "Sri Sammed Sikhar" as belonging to them, the eyes of our community were opened.
Gentlemen ! This committee was established in 1959 Vikrama era and many workers have done their duty in this Samaj Now 22 years have passed. Since the inauguration of this committee Danavir Seth Manickchand Hirachand of Bombay has been its
president. It is simply because of the exertion and industry of ne this gentleman that this committee has done so much work which has not been able for others to do before. For many years Seth Chunnilal Javerchandji Javeri of Bombay has worked with you for the betterment of this committee and now Seth Chunnilal Hemchand Jarivala assisted by his son Mr. Ratanchand Chunnilal, B.A., is working enthusiastically as the general secretary of this committee.
Now it is our duty to see how much improvement has been made with regard to our sacred places since the establishment of Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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