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SOCIO-RELIGIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS OF SHRI JAYANTSEN SURISHWARJI TO JAINISM
(Shri M. L. Punmia, B.A, Dy. Director Postal)
Jainism is one of the most ancient religion in the world, incepted at the time when man used to inhabit in darked caves and his main object was to satisfy the pangs of appetite. The life was nude, hard, savage and wants were confined to clothing shelter and safety besides diet. Lord Rikhabdeo enshrined civilisation by founding towns and inventing the art and science and thus, the story of civilisation started galloping. With the advent of various means of livelihood bread and shelter, the main contribution towards Socio, economic, political and religious activities. The various greaters and doers contributed to a good extent in propounding various socio, economic Political and religious theories. For the purpose of penance and worship, super-structural religious moments were erected, various religious books were written and various socio economic political byelaws were produced in black and white. The contribution of Jainism towards India's development was not only for most but also vast touching all the aspects of man's activities. The Jainism was formed into an informidable shape by the contribution of great Saints who guided and enlightened the lacks of devotees. The impact of Jainism is clearly transparent on all walks of life. In the present centuary. Acharya Bhagwant Rajendra Suriji Maharaj brought radical changes in our religious thinking emphasing more on purity of life and limiting our wants which are the main cause of our miseries. In the sixth series of hirarchy, Acharya Bhagwant. Jayantsen Surishwarji became the head of Tristutik Sangh at Bhandwaji Thirth on 15.2.84
Born in a village Pepral in Tharad Tehsil of Banaskantha Dist., his earthly name was Punamchand. He was very much influenced by the teachings of Acharya Bhagwant Yatindra Surishwarji, and he became saint at the early age of 17 years and started spritual life under his blessings. He surrendered his life in the footsteps of his religious father and devoted his time in memorising the books of Jain religion, Philosophy and other alied subjects and mastered them all. He travelled almost the whole India and achieved the first hand knowledge of all the religious places of Jainism, met various types of people devoted to Jainism and their walks of life. Thus, he got first hand knowledge about the backwardness in the field of education, Jain literature, arts, thinking, socio-Political field and he took a vow to bring redical change in Jain Society specially in Tristutik Sangh. He edited the great literary works of his Guru Acharya Bhagwant Yatindra Suriji and number of such books is 15. He himself wrote 50 books touching all
walks of life and thus, his contribution towards literature is appreciable which influenced the thinkings of lacks of people of the literary world. He wrote Bhakti Sangam in Gujarati in a very beautiful poetic style starting with the verses (gatha) in praise of Dada Guru Acharya Bhagwant Rajendra Suriji followed by lines of devotion towards his guru Yatindra Suriji. His Bhajans are beautiful pieces of literature sounding superb sangit which hyptonises the lacks of devotees forgetting the very surrounding. 'Gunganga' is other small but very beautiful literary piece in praise of Navkar Mantra which is one of most powerful and spiritual mantra for achieving spiritual objects. "Re Pravasi" is another Philosophical work describing the earthly world as castle on sand emphasing more on religious and social life by leaving 18 evils indicated in " 18 Papsthnak".
In the field of Art, he devoted his time in the repairs and renovations of old pilgrimage centres like Bhandwaji. Naroli and others. He also performed pratishtha of about 28 Jain temples and Guru temples. Many of them are superb pieces of architect. He leaded 13 pilgrimage trips.
In his first speech after becoming the head of Tristutik Sangh, he declared that he is intended to start a fund in the name of "Guru Rajendra foundation" with the object of carrying out repairs, construction, renovation work of any temple, Dadawadi & Jain Upashrayas. He asked his devotees to contribute liberally towards this fund so that the old monuments of Indian civilisation can be saved from dilapidation. He also showed his intention for creating another fund to finance the literary works and their publications. Many of our Jain religious books are lying in primitive stage written on Tamra Patras and they are required to be edited and published so that the greatness of Jainism can be brought into lime-light and the whole civilisation may be benefitted. Another fund is intended to be raised aiming finacing the poor students for their advanced studies and also for financing the poor and financially backward desciples. If these funds are developed and financially sounded by his devotees, then, difinitely there would be improvement not only in art, literature, architecture and education but also in bringing economic improvement of his followers. He is young Acharya having a great zeal and faith, combined with rare qualities of leadership and it is hoped, with the advancement of time, his followers will achieve a more educated, civilised, prosperous and spiritually oriented life.
SHRIMAD JAYANTSENSURI ABHINANDAN GRANTH/ENGLISH SECTION
सब से दुःख दायी कहा, तन, धन ज्ञान अजीर्ण ।
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