YJ International Newsletter 2004 Vol 18 No 02

Author(s): Young Jains (UK)
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 13

GURUDEV SHREE KANJI SWAMI
By Narendra Shah
First published in April-June 1999 issue of Young Jains International Newsletter
enraged by this apostasy and even his life seems to have been threatened. Taking refuge in a dilapidated house on the edge of Songadh, 'The Star of India' formerly used by the British for Tax collection purposes but now owned by a follower, he spent some time in study and contemplation. Even today
...Samyag Darshan was a pre-requisite to any meaningful progress upon the spiritual path..."
many of his followers visit this house on his birthday for Bhaavpujaa. Eventually the local community became reconciled to Kanji Swami and indeed virtually all of the nearly three hundred families who today live at Songadh and follow him claim to be of Sthanakvaasi background.
Kanji Swami started discourses, many of which are recorded on tapes, in the form of running commentaries on Acharya KundKund's writings. He never wrote any books and did not claim to say anything new but merely reiterating the words of Mahavir Swami and KundKund Acharya. Ignoring mundane topics such as dietary prescriptions, on the basis that all Jains would know about such matters, he directed his teachings to the subject of the soul and to Acharya KundKund's representation of it as the one eternal and unconditioned entity.
Kanji Swami's insistence on the primacy of the absolute level of truth (nischay naya) over the relative one of ordinary life (vyavahar naya) is obvious from his frequent exhortation, "Please try and understand. No soul, with or without knowledge, has the slightest prowess to move even a particle. In such circumstances, how can it do anything to the human body, or to any other thing for that matter?"
"...the soul and... Acharya KundKund's representation of it as the one eternal and unconditioned entity..."
For him Samyag Darshan was a pre-requisite to any meaningful progress upon the spiritual path. "The real path lies in self-experience of the soul after securing itself in Samyag Darshan". He was convinced that the three jewels of Samyag Darshan, Gnaan and Charitra could only function effectively on the basis of a prior experience of the soul, and considered the various rituals and merit-making practices as subordinate.
Although he did not take dikshaa again, he remained celibate throughout his life. In an interview in 1977 he denied being hostile to the monk-hood and regarded them as personifying the fundamental principles of Jainism. However, he also pointed out that taking up formal initiation and behavioural practices, like abandonment of clothes (ref. Digambar monk) and other possessions, could not make an individual a true monk unless he had abandoned internal possessions as well.
By now the following had grown quite large and the small house became inadequate so his devotees started a building project at Songadh in 1937, which culminated in the 'Digambar Swadhyay Mandir'. In honour of his favourite scripture, one of his devotees, who was later to become the leader of his following, Bahenshri Champaben installed the Samaysaar in the main temple and the words of Acharya KundKund's five main treatises have been engraved on its walls. In 1936 Bahenshri Champaben, who had attained Samyag Darshan, experienced Jati Smaran Gnaan (realisation of one's previous lives) and this was announced at the consecration ceremony of the temple. She claimed to have been present with him in Mahavideh Kshetra during his then birth as a prince, and had listened to Shrimandhar Swami expounding the true doctrine to Acharya KundKund. After his eight-day visit Acharya KundKund had composed the Samaysaar. A temple dedicated to Shrimandhar Swami was consecrated in 1941. Kanji Swami commenced sermons on Pravachansaar on 1st Asaad Vad, the most auspicious day when Mahavir Swami's divine expressions of the Agams had started.
He travelled on pilgrimage throughout India where he gave discourses and consecrated many temples. In 1980 he visited Kenya and installed many idols of Tirthankars at temples in various towns. He had a profound impact on one particular family in Mombasa,
... real path lies in self-experience of the soul after securing itself in Samyag Darshan...
the Bhagwanji Kachara family who have continued their support to-date and even in London take a very active role at the Digambar Jain Mandir in Harrow.
After a very dynamic and undoubtedly a revolutionary life, Kanji Swami died in a state of Samadhi on 28th November 1980. Following his death Bahenshri Champaben made another startling proclamation that he would be reborn as the Tirthankar 'Suryakirti' in Dhatakikhand!0
The path is outlined in the scriptures, but its inner meaning lies in the heart of the Wise (Self-realised) Ones! Jain Education International For Pers & Private Use Only 13