Santbal A Saint with a Difference

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir

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respond to their religious zeal. During their stay in Kutch Santbal studied “Nyaya” and “Navya Nyaya" as well as the art to perform Avadhan from another great Saint Ratnachandraji who is regarded as great scholar and authority on Jain scriptures. He also learnt English during his Kutch stay.
Ajmer Conference and Visit to North :
By this time some prominent Jain leaders were arranging to call an All India Conference of Sthankawasi Jains at Ajmer in Rajasthan. Here it should be made clear that the Jains have two main sects, namely, “Digambers" that is, those whose saints do not cover their body and "Shvetambars" that is, those whose Saints cover their body with unstitched white clothes. Both these sects are idol worshippers. They have temples to worship the idols of Tirthankaras - not as “Gods” but as the liberated souls who are entitled to our respect. Idol worship is not meant to treat the marble idol as god, but as a mere symbol of all the virtues of the soul which has attained total liberation. This aspect of the worship is generally lost and all sorts of material attributes with which we are accustomed in our mundane existence are ascribed to the idol which represents the soul which is supposed to have no material wants and which is described as “Vita-Raga" (one whose attachments have vanished). One learned Gujarati gentleman named Lonka Shah was well versed in Jain scriptures. He is consisdered Martin Luther of Jainism. He protested against idol worship and showed that it was not sanctioned by Jain theology and gained entry in Jain sect by association with Vedic Hindus. His followers are known as Sthanakvasi Jains. "Sthanak” means a place for meditation and religious Sadhana which is known as Upashraya. It is just like a mosque of Mohamedons.
It should be noticed that though the Jains are thus divided into three sects there is no difference in their tenets and ideology of basic doctrines. The difference which exists is merely peripheral.
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