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Activities of Jain Religion in the Last Century Shwetambar sect to foreign countries raised a hue and cry in both the sects.
Gujarat boasts of glorious traditions of great traders. Great Jain traders have taken living interest in extensive activities of social welfare, besides religious activities. The term of the fourth contract of protection that the firm of Sheth Anandji Kalyanji had made with the state of Palitana for annual payment of Rs. 15000 ended on 31-3-1926 and the fifth contract was delayed on account of the stern attitude of the ruler of Palitana and Mr. C. C. Watson, the political agent of Kathiawad towards Jain Sangha' and consequently the Jain Sangha put the pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya in Palitana under a total boycott from 7-4-1926 onwards.
Jainism: The Cosmic Vision set up in Gujarat. This period witnessed a number of disputes and controversies and this misfortune is in evidence even now.
The Sadadi conference of Sthanakvasi Shraman Sangha was held in the year 2008 of the Vikrama era. Here it was decided that only one Acharya should be appointed leader of the Sangha as in the Terapanth sect. Atmaramji staying in splendour at Ludhiyana in Punjab was selected to be the first Acharya. At Present his successor Anandarishiji is Acharya. But all subsects of Sthanakvasi Sangha did not agree to this arrangement and, so it did not succeed as it was expected to succeed. In 1934 A.D. a conference of monks of Shvetambar Sangha met in Ahmedabad and seven hundred monks assembled there. They gave out a genealogy chart (pattaka). As a result of efforts of the reputed trader Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, the all India Jain Murtipujak Shramanopasak Conference met in Ahmedabad in 1963 A.D. It had been planned with a view to purifying Sangha's conduct and removing its slackness. But it failed to fulfil its aim. In Ladnu, Acharya Tulsi founded the institution 'Jain Vishvabharati'. Inspiring teaching - learning activities are done in this institution. Publishing Agam literature can be reckoned to be its significant activity. The institution named 'Virayatan' founded by Sthanakvasi Sangha at the foot of the mountain of Rajgrahi under the auspicious of Upadhyay Amarchandji Maharaj does exemplary work of public education, public service, meditation, discipline, publication of literature and of studying and teaching scriptures. Shri Chimanlal Chakubhai, Khimchand Maganlal, Durlabhji Khetani and others have made considerable contributions to the Sthanakvasi Sangha. Visits of Shri Sushil muni of the sthanakvasi sangha and Shri Chitrabhanuji Maharaj of the
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As long as 26 months from 1-4-1926 to 31-5-1928 this boycott so strictly continued that during that period not a single pilgrim went on a pilgrimage to Shatrunjay in Palitana.
Ultimately, by the arbitration of viceroy Lord Irvin, fifth contract of protection for a period of thirty-five years for annual payment of sixty thousand rupees was signed at Simla on 265-1928. So pilgrimage to Shatrunjay was declared open from - 6-28. In Jain tradition this incident is regarded unprecedented and memorable. (History of the firm of Sheth Anandji Kalyanji - Part I by Ratilal Dipchand Desai, Publisher Sheth Anandji Kalyanji, Ahmedabad - 1) Motisha Sheth, Narshi Kesharji Naik, Premabhai Sheth, Narshi Natha, Premchand Raichand, Hathibhai Sheth, Mayabhai Premabhai, Kasturbhai Manibhai, Ambalal Sarabhai, Mansukhbhai Bhagubhai Sheth, Lalbhai Sheth, Kasturbhai Lalbahi and others have done numerous activities for social or national welfare and for dissemination
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