Book Title: Shatavadhani Panditratna Shri Ratnachandraji Maharaj
Author(s): Atmanandji
Publisher: Z_Comtemporary_Jain_Legends_007736_STD.pdf

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________________ He was well studied in languages, grammar and poetics and hence he could complete the stanzas of poetry in Sanskrit and Gujarati spontaneously. His ability in this respect is clearly seen in his discourses with the great poet Shri Nanalal, Shastri Shri Ramkrishna Harshji, Shri Keshavlal Dhruva, Shri Hirachand Motichand, Shri Popatlal Punjabhai, Shri Kesharmalji Choradia of Jaipur, Shri Ramchandraji Bhatt of Alwar, Pandit Shriman Narayanji and other learned personalities. The blind great man, i.e. the man whose knowledge itself are his eyes, Pandit Sukhlalji Sanghvi while paying him tribute said, "He was a mendicant of his own class, he could mind hundreds of works at a time and it appears that the Gujaratis only have acquired such a power through inheritance". He referred to Sahasra Vadhani Mooni Sunder Soori, Upadhyaya Shri Yashovijayaji, Shri Gatulalji, Shrimad Raychandraji, Shri Shankarlal Shastri, Mooni Shri Santbalji and many other saints and scholars of Gujarat some of whom had been in the 15th century. Thinking in spiritual way, the power of a person does not depend on how many Avadhan he is able to perform at a time but on his learning, his seriousness, his thinking and meditation. The power of performing Avadhan should not be a source of earning popularity but it should be helpful in acquiring holiness of soul, deep and long meditation and heart-felt prayers so that development of soul can be achieved. One can reach the highest peak of life and everyone who exposes his power of making Avadhan must remember this thing: Avadhan means the power of concentration, power of doing or remembering many things at a time. At Ajmer Conference of Mendicants: In his days, there were differences and conflicts between Sthanakvasi sect of mendicants and other Shravaks-i.e. Jain family-holders. There was internal fighting and hence the groups were being loose day by day. Many of them felt that there should be common code of conduct for all sects of Jain mendicants and then only such conflicts can be brought to an end. Many efforts, it was decided to hold a summit conference of all Jains including mendicants, nuns, saints, followers, disciples, Shravakas and others of Ajmer. All the sects of mendicants and others from the whole of GujaratSaurashtra, Malva, Rajasthan and Punjab in addition to Shri Durlabhjibhai Zaveri, Shri Dhirajlal Turakhia, Shri Hemchandbhai Mehta, who were desirous of doing good for the Jain community and the great poet Shri Nanalal, Pragnachakshu Pandit Sukhlalji-a blind but highly learned man having his knowledge only as his eyes-, Pandit Bechardasji, Shri Jin Vijayaji and the ruler of Limbdi Shri Dolatsinghji helped very much for convening this summit conference. There were 238 saints, 40 nuns and thousands of male and female Shravaks attending this summit conference. This long awaited Conference began from in 1933. There were 32 mendicants from Gujarat. Mooni Shri Ratnachandraji Maharaj had the honor of making an opening ceremony and initial address. Shri Ratnachandraji of Gujarat and Shri Udaychandji of Punjab were appointed as peacekeepers. The authors of the proceedings were Shri Atmaramji and Shri Santbalji. There was welcome-compromise on the issues of appointments on the positions of Yuvacharya and Upadhyaya, Fixation of monsoons and power to grant the certificate of freedom from lapses. Many mendicants of the same sects moving in different states happened to meet and acquaint themselves in this summit conference. Travelling in North India: A mendicant must keep on moving. Maintaining this trend, Maharaj Shri Ratnachandraji started towards Jaipur as soon as this summit conference was over. It is prescribed that Jain mendicants must go on moving from place to place in dry days of the year for contacts with the people, to preach them, to maintain detachment with the world, (by staying at one place, some attachments are bound to come up), to strengthen restraint in life by gaining experiences from various walks of worldly life and to maintain good health. Shri Nanchandraji Maharaj went towards Agra and Shri Ratnachandraji Maharaj stayed at Jaipur to preach the people during the monsoon after the Ajmer conference at the request of various Jain Sanghs. The people had thought that mendicants and disciples in large number would study in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Jain Agams under Ratnachandraji Maharaj. There was 103 life boy gaining exper

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