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( Introduction)
It is really a great blissful event in the history of Jainism to set out for pilgrimmage of Chha Gau i.e. approx. 15 Kilometers. Leaving aside the worldy pleasures of all types, more than 70,000 people come out on the 13th day of Falgun Sud to join the grand spiritual pilgrimmage. Though it is quite clear that 5 crores of Jain monks had observed complete fast till death on 15th day of Falgun Sud and 14th day of Falgun Sud is the greatest occasion of chaumashi chaudash, why then the 13th day of Falgun Sud is selected as the greatest day for pilgrimmage. The answer is quite clear as established from our old Jain faith. Do all of us know about that great episode of Jain history ? It is really a matter of sadness and woe to forget the great religiously established and the most holiest occasion. Some of us take it easily and join the pilgrimmage for fun and fancy. Such ignorants move freely as if they were on joyful journey for fun and frolic or a picnic. It is really painful to see people running here and there. Such a sight naturally touches the heart of our great Guru who feels badly hurt at this sight.
and So the great inspirative soul Acharyadev Gunratnasurishwarji who has established 'Youngsters Enlightenment Programme' has written this particular book after writting 'A Visit to Shatrunjaya'. In this book he has adressed the imaginary main hero Chetan, with a view to make him follow the right path of pilgrimmage with a distinct instinct of nonattachment and a deep touching pen, so that both the new and old generations can understand that, on this auspicious day two prince's with lacs of Jain monks had achieved salvation in the past. In order to make them understand well and to achieve more and more good deeds and redress bad deeds is the good intension behind writing this book. So avoid making fun while undertaking the pilgrimmage of Chha Gau and follow the serious view to shed all ill Karmas and achieve salvation - Moksha.
The pilgrimmage of Chha Gau contains Ulka Jal, Chandan Lake, Bhadva Hill, Siddhavad, etc. So it is rightiously named "The Spiritual Pilgrimmage of Chha Gau."
We are very thankful to Panyas Shri Rashmiratna Vijayji Gani. Munishree Jitratnavijayji Maharaj and Munishri Arhamratnavijayji Maharaj for thoroughly editing and making corrections in the translation and Muni Shri Vairagyaratna Vijayji who helped us in the job of photo setting. We bow down to them with words "MATHEN VANDAMI". We are very indebted to Prof. Dineshbhai Desai, Ahmedabad for translating this book in English and Shri Jasrajji Singhi M.A. B.Ed., Sirohi for going through the proof.
Adhyatmik Shikshan Kendra, Mumbai-4.
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