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CHAPTER 17
SAINTS OF HALAR
As there were not many Jain monks visiting the villages where Halari Oshwals had settled down the people were not well versed in religion. In some areas they were even influenced by the other religions. In two villages, Targhari and Devaria many Oshwal families came under influence of the Swaminarain Panth (sect) and around one hundred years ago adopted religion. Acharya Ajramarji (1809-1870 V.S.): Born in the village of Padana in the Maru family in Vikram Samvat 1809, his father's name was Manekchand and his mother's name Kankubai. His father passed away when he was five years old. Mother and son moved to Limbdi or Gondal in 1818. They studied religion under Guru Maharaj Devraj Swami and Kanji Swami. In 1819 both took vows of poverty (diksha). The son was given the religious name Ajramar Swami and his mother Kankubai Mahasati. Ajramarji studied the scriptures in depth from the Svetamber Yati Shri Gulabchandji of Kharthar gaccha. He was a good orator, simple, straightforward and impressive. In 1845 he was appointed acharya and given title of Savior of Religion (Shashanodharak). He traveled extensively in Halar, Sorath, Jhalawad, Cutchh, Gujarat, Marward and Mevad, spreading message of Lord Mahavir. He died in 1870 in Limbdi at the age of sixty years.
Shrimad Acharya Vijay Kund Kund Suri Swami: He was born in Mota Mandha and named Keshu. His parents sent him to Mumbai (Bombay) to live with his brother to pursue higher education. After studying up to the ninth grade he joined in business with his brother. As the fight for independence was going on he joined the freedom movement and became very popular, One day he heard a
