Jains Through Time

Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 82

The Jains through Time
83
writer said that half of the commerce of India was in Jain hands and that their philanthropy was on the same scale. 35 The nation now enjoys many institutions endowed by Jains - schools, universities, research institutes, student hostels, scholarships, libraries, publications in different vernacular languages, hospitals, animal hospitals, cow sanctuaries, orphanages,
women's sanctuaries and other relief homes. Shrimad Rajchandra and Gandhiji
Though for many reasons the number of
Jains has fallen, their philanthropic deeds awakened to all the aspects of his inner exceed, in proportion to their numbers, world, was like a lotus blossoming in the those done by other communities. water. It is one thing to hold certain ideals and entirely another thing to live according Nation-wide, even today, several facets of to their lights. Shrimad Rajchandra not only life show the influence of Jainism. I have lived out in his own life all the ideals of spoken of Buddhism's success in becoming Jainism, he also taught thousands of others a world religion, yet it is noteworthy that to do the same.
Jainism was far more successful in
maintaining itself in its place of origin. The Philanthropy of Jain Society Whereas Buddhism has totally vanished Sometimes slow, sometimes fast, yet ever from the land where it began, Jainism is still rolling onward, this is the story of the glory growing by means of the astute efforts of of the Jain religion which has been running some of its followers. Sometimes sunshine for thousands of years, scaling new peaks of can be piercing and strong, sometimes its honour. In 1897 an authoritative English light can be weak or sluggish and sometimes
" Pramukh Aitihasik Jain Punish Aur Mahilayon, Dr. Jyoti Prasad Jain, p.371
Thid. p. 372