Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Trust

Page 81

Origin of Chicago-Prashnottar
In consideration of the subjects treated in the book it would not be inappropriate if it is entitled “Tattvapunj” or collection of cardinal truths.
This work after completion was handed over to Mr. Virchand Gandhi, who by its aid created a thirst in the minds of the people at Chicago and other places for spiritual knowledge to such an extent that he was again invited to America. The invitation was gladly accepted by Mr Virchand Gandhi who resolved to go there with his family. On the occasion of his departure, the spiritual-minded Jains of Bombay presented several addresses to him. For fear of space, the purport of only one of these addresses is given below :Dear brother Mr. Virchand Raghavji Gandhi,
We, the members of the Shri Hemchandracharya Abhyas Society, have met together to express our feelings of joy and sorrow-joy at the thought that you are going to such a distant country for the dissimination of tenets of Jainism, and sorrow because we will be deprived of the assistance of such a useful member.
Dear brother, at a time when there was very little education among our community, you passed the highest collegiate examinations and displayed too deep an interest in spiritual and worldy matter to be adequately spoken of. The strenuous efforts you made in connection with the holy places of pilgrimage such as Shri Satrunjaya and Sametshikhar etc., are highly commendable.
In 1893 you went as a representative of Shri Muniraj Atmaramji on behalf of the Jain community to the Parliament of Religions in America,
The Muniraj is one of those selfless men who are always devoted to the interests of the Jain community and who have pledged from the day of their initiation to the end of their lives to perpetually preaching the highest truths of Jainism. He is one of the greatest preachers of the Jain religion and scholars of its literature-the preacher and scholar whose premature death is mourned by the whole community,
.: 18 ::
[ Shree Atmaramji