Jinendra Varni
There have been many events of satisfaction in my life. Perhaps, the best of the satisfactions, the final one, come to me at last this year. I had often requested the Jainas that the essence of Jaina philosophy should be available in the same manner as that of Vedic religion which was available in the Gita in about seven hundred verses and that of Buddhism in the Dhammapada. This was a difficult task for the Jainas, as they have many traditions and many books. Thus there are the Bible and the Quran, however big in size they might be; they are one. But among the Jainas, there are two: the Svetambaras and the Digambaras, apart from some others. I have been frequently telling all of them that their monks should meet, together, discuss and bring about an universally acceptable essence of Jainism for all Jainas. At last, 'a fool', by name- Varniji, came forward and the views of Baba appealed to him. He is studious, and with great labour he has also compiled a dictionary of Jaina technical terms. He published a book entitled Jaina Dharma-sara. He printed a thousand copies of the book and sent them to Jaina scholars and also to the scholars outside the community. On the suggestions made by the scholars, he dropped some verses, added some and after doing all that, he published a book Jina-driamma. An Assembly was convened on the persistence of Baba in order to hold discussions thereon; monks, acharyas and the other scholars including some householders, those participated therein numbered nearly three hundred. After frequent discussions, they changed its name, form and finally prepared by unanimous consent, a book entitled Samaṇasuttaṁ in Ardhamāgadhī took its shape. There are 756 verses. The figure 'seven' is very auspicious for the Jainas. If 7 and 108 are multiplied, the result is 756. So many verses were selected by unanimous consent. It was decided that the book should be published on Chaitra Sukla 13, the date of the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira which fell on 24th April this year; it was to be published in the most auspicious manner. The essence of Jainism was to be available throughout India on that day under the title of Samaṇasuttaṁ. It will be continued to be read in the future by Jainas and non-Jainas so long as Jainism continues to be in existence as also the Vedic religion and Buddhism continue to be alive. A very great thing which could not be achieved during the last thousand or fifteen hundred years has been achieved. Baba became merely an instrument but Baba fully believes that it is all the grace of Bhagavan Mahavira.
I confess that the Gita has had a tremendous influence on me. Barring the Gita there has been no other influence on my mind greater than that of Mahavira. The reason for it is that Baba whole-heartedly accepts the command of Mahavira. His command is "become a votary of truth". Today whoever rises high, he becomes a votary of truth. The heritage of a votary of truth was conferred personally on Baba by Gandhiji; Baba knew who he was, not a votary of truth but one who accepted the truth. There is in every individual an element of truth; that is why human birth becomes meaningful. One ought to accept that element of truth that is found in every religion, every sect and in all human beings. We must all become the votaries of truth; this has been the teaching of Mahavira; that is the influence on Baba apart from the influence of the Gita. When I look beyond what has been said in the Gita, I see no difference between the two.
Brahma-Vidya Mandir
Pawnar (Wardha)
25-12-1974
