Vijyanandsuri Swargarohan Shatabdi Granth

Author(s): Navinchandra Vijaymuni, Ramanlal C Shah, Shripal Jain
Publisher: Vijayanand Suri Sahitya Prakashan Foundation Pavagadh

Page 782

learnt it. But then different interpretations of the same text boggled his mind. In order to have clarification, he met Shri Ratanchandji at Agra. In keeping with his reputation, Shri Ratan Chandji enlightened Shri Atmaramji Maharaj and then it became crystal clear to him that the sect which he had adopted was not the ancient Jain religion which advocated idol worship and magnificent temples and thousands of idols were a testimony to it. Shri Ratanchandji confirmed all this. Shri Atmaramji then put a question to him that if he believed in the true ancient Jain religion, why he stuck to the fake sect. Shri Ratanchandji then confessed that he was too old and felt too powerless to preach the true gospel and hoped that Shri Atmaramji would carry on the job which he did not dare. This made up the mind of Shri Atmaramji and he vowed to himself that he would preach truth and only truth, for which he had renounced the world.
STRUGGLE STARTS Shri Atmaramji Maharaj was now 26 years of age and at the height of power physically and mentally. The slogan that he had coined for himself was 'Sacha so mera' i.e. whatever is true is mine and to this end he was determined to work without prejudice for which he had coined another slogan of not insisting on whatever I say. (Give up the prejudice 'Mera so sacha'). He not only gave these slogans but also lived according to them. As such he thought of preaching the truth that he had discovered. Luckily, he came across two disciples of Pooj Amar Singhji, who was the religious leader of the time in Punjab. Shri Atmaramji took these two disciples named Bishan Chand and Champa Lal into confidence and communicated to them whatever he had learnt at Agra from Shri Ratan Chandji. Shri Atmaramji told them that they should not accept whatever he said without critical evaluation and if they had any doubts or questions, they should place them before him unhesitatingly and discuss all maters freely and frankly. Sound knowledge imparts confidence and the two were convinced that whatever Atmaramji said had a true ring about it. Later on Hakim Roy and Nihal Chand were also converted to the views of Shri Atmaramji and then all the five started preaching the true tenets of ancient Jain religion. One must understand that this was not an easy task and preaching the genuine tenets of religion in Punjab was like swimming against the current, for which few have the courage and confidence. Shri Atmaramji was made of sterner stuff and he willingly took the risk for the sake of truth. He knew that he could be ostracised from the monkhood in
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