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ACHARYA
Shri
Chothmal ji
M.S. Birth & childhood: Family: Tending towards detachment with the world: When Chothmalji was of 16 years of age, his relatives thought of his marriage and he was married to Mankunvarbai, daughter of Poonamchandji of Pratapgadh (Rajasthan). Chothmalji always desired to earn religious bliss alongwith money. In those days many saints and monks were visiting the city of Neemuch very frequently and Chothmalji and his mother Kesarbai used to see & serve them. One day, the mother Kesarbai expressed her desire of adopting Dixa before Chothmalji and said, "I want to secure absolute good of my soul" and hearing this, the son, Chothmalji replied, "I appreciate your desire, but I also want to follow you by adopting Dixa". Saying this, Chothmalji requested his mother to grant her consent for the same the mother said, "my son, you are newly married and you must be with your family for some years. You can have Dixa only when you are of appropriate age." Chothmalji replied, "mother, this body is not for enjoying worldly pleasures. It is for penance & restraint. I am determined to adopt Dixa". Seeing her son's strong feelings for Dixa, the mother granted her constant but asked him to obtain consent of his wife Mankunvar also. Chothmalji approached his wife to obtain her consent for Dixa but she did not agree saying that "neither I shall take Dixa, nor shall I allow you to adopt that path". The father-in-law of Chothmalji also was much worried for his daughter & he persuaded Chothmalji no to adopt Dixa. In addition to this, many other relatives, elders & friends tried to persuade Chothmalji not to adopt Dixa, but none could succeed. Replying all of them, Chothmalji said, "Religion cannot be followed in family-life so easily & conveniently as it can be followed after adopting Dixa". Many other relatives further, pressed him upon for turning him back for his determination of adopting Dixa, but he was not moved even a little because he had very well understood the worthlessness of worldly pleasures. In those days Jain saints were not granting Dixa to any one without the consent of his relatives and the Jain Sangh also did not approve such Dixa. The mother & son, therefore, could not adopt Dixa immediately. Chothmalji, however, was eager to have Dixa and seeing this the mother said that if he is ready to accept in a simple & silent way, it can be expedited but if he wanted to adopt Dixa with pomp and celebrations, he would have to wait. Chothmalji accepted to receive Dixa in a simple way and hence he became a disciple of Kavi Varya Hiralalji Maharaj on Sunday in 1896. After two months of Chothmalji's Dixa, his mother Kesarbai also adopted Dixa at the hands of Mahasati Shri Fudiji. Thus, the brave son & brave mother began to seek salvation of their souls. Chothmalji Maharaj who had newly adopted Dixa passed his first monsoon at Neemuch Cantt. He studied the Sootras of Dash Vaikalik and Aupapatik here during these days. He went on studying many other scriptures while moving from place to place. Death
of mother Kesarkunvarbai and Mankunvarbai: While Chothmalji was moving from places to places, his teacher asked ho to go to his native place at Pratapgadh and preach his wife of worldly life Shrimati Mankunvarbai. Chothmalji had no attachment for worldly pleasures but he was afraid of being drawn back to family life by his father-in-law and others because of family feeling. Even then, he obeyed the directions of his teacher and went to Pratapgadh. His preaching lecture was fixed in the bazaar. His former wife Mankunvarbai & father-in-law come to know about the arrival of Chothmalji. The father-in-law, however, did not come to hear his preaching but Mankunvarbai had come. She tried to take back Chothmalji to family life and in her further efforts she went to Mandsau, Jaora, and other places. She insisted for seeing Chothmalji at least one and assured that she will do what he liked afterwards. Her desire was accepted and Chothmalji called her in the presence of four-six nuns and some mendicants. She came & asked, "you have adopted celibacy and restrained life of Dixa, now what should I do? How should I pass my life? Whose shelter should I seek?" Chothmalji replied with serious voice, "You & I had worldly relations in many lives but there was no religious-relation between us. Religion is the only true support to live. If you want to accept my say, you also seek shelter of religion and become nun-adopting Dixa. This is the best way for you". The words of a true saints are always much effective. Mankunvarbai was also moved. She requested for Dixa and she became nun in 1911-the day is celebrated as VijayaDashami. She observed various penances for six years and seeing that her end is very near, she adopted Santharo-i.e. fasting unto death. She expired on the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Shravan in 1917. Jain Diwakar Maharaj Chothmalji was a believer of Jainism & yet he honored all other sects & religions. He wanted to establish friendship by love & sympathy. He wanted to please others even by suffering pains. He could understand the essence of religion and life very clearly. He was above caste discrimination, regionalism and sect-feelings. He encouraged others to be religious and great. He had courage and sympathy for others and was in habit of being in meditation. He could attract many by his loving attitude to everyone. He had expanded his mind to cover up everything by his practices in meditation & thinking. His personality was much impressive. His activities were worth following. Non-violence & self-restraint: His speech was magical. He could impress upon the audience very deeply. Many a people changed the way to their life after hearing the preaching of Shri Jain Diwakar Chothmalji. They turned to repent for their misdeeds. He turned prostitutes into gentlewomen. Hunters threw away their hunting arrows and bows. Young men became free from bad habits and turned to serve the society. Atheists began to think of Almighty. A true saint: A Reformist: Literary writer: Just as Lord Shri Krishna has given essence of all Vedas and other scriptures in his Geeta, Shri Diwakar Chothmalji Maharaj has complied the preachings of Lord Mahavir by searching into almost all Jain scriptures in his book Nirgranth Pravachan. This is an immortal work given by Chothmalji Maharaj to Jain community. It will inspire all Jains for centuries to come. In addition to this, his own lectures are collected and published in the book named Diwakar Divya Jyoti, which is in 20 parts. A step forward for Unity: When he was spending his monsoon at Sadadi, he had expressed his views for bringing out unity among different Jain sects before Shri Zaverchandbhai Jadhavji Kamdar, editor of Jain Prakash. His suggestions, in brief, were as under: - He advised to celebrate the birthday of Lord Mahavir jointly so that unity of several sects is well founded. All Jains belonging to Digambar, Shwetambar, Sthanakvasi and other sects from Ujjain, Ajmer, Agra etc. places met together and celebrated the birthday of Lord Mahavir with all joys & pleasures. This could be possible-with the efforts of Shri Jain Diwakar Chothmalji Maharaj only. This practice continues even to day at several places. Conclusion: Jain Diwakar Shri Chothmalji Maharaj was a multi-faced personality. He was a famous orator, reformer, revolutionary, believer in unity and a great man of the age. He will go on enlightening us as the sun in the sky for ages to come. His works have been inspiring the whole of Jain community and all Jains are indebted to him forever. --------------------------------------------- |
