• Home
    • Vihar Info
      • Footprint icon. Baby foot prints. Vector illustrationGet Vihar Info
      • Provide_Info_viharSubmit Vihar Info
    • Analytics
        • Advance Search
          • Tablular Search
            • 2022 Chaturmas Year
            • Tabular Search
              • Panchakalyanak Data
              • All Chaturmas Information
        • References and Documents
            • References
            • Prachin Aacharya(s)
              • Digambar Jain Ancient Acharya and Muni
        • Lineage
          • Digambar Jain Lineage complete
          • Lineage Charitra Chakravarthy Shanti Sagarji
          • Acharya Shantisagarji Maharaj Channi Lineage
          • Acharya Aadi Sagarji Ankalikar Lineage
    • Submit Info
      • How to Submit Info
        We have added several links and videos to help you understand how we collect data, format it and add to our site. Call us if you are interested in joining us.
      • Forms
        • Shravak Contact form
        • Panchakalyanak Data Collection form
        • Shravak Contact Info
        • DigJainWiki English project
      • Chaturmas Data Collection
        • Chaturmas Data Collection FormChaturmas2022
    • Join Us
      • About Us
        • About Us
        • Team Members and Contributors
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Us
      • Donate us
        • Donate us
    Designed with devotion by Digjainwiki Team
    Add a listing
    Sign in
    Add a listing

    Shri Veerchand Gandhi Ji

    • Share
    • Bookmark
    • June 11, 2022
    • English
    • Hindi
    • prev
    • next
    • Share
    • prev
    • next
    Summary

    Virachand Raghavji Gandhi (25 August 1864 – 7 August 1901) was a Jain scholar who represented Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions in 1893. A barrister by profession, he worked to defend the rights of Jains, and wrote and lectured extensively on Jainism, other religions, and philosophy.

    The walk of life

    Gandhi was born on 25 August 1864 in Mahuva near Bhavnagar (now in Gujarat, India),to Mahuva Nagar Sheth and Raghavji Tejpalji Gandhi. His father, Raghavji, was a businessman. After completing primary and secondary school in Mahuva, Gandhi was sent to Bhavnagar for further studies. In 1879, Gandhi married Jiviben.At the age of sixteen, upon placing first on the Bhavanagar matriculation examination, he was awarded the ‘Shri Jaswant Singhji’ scholarship. Gandhi continued his education at Elphinstone College, of the University of Bombay.He graduated with honors in 1884, having earned a bachelor's degree in law. Gandhi was a polyglot who spoke fourteen languages, including Gujarati, Hindi, Bengali, English, Prakrit, Sanskrit, and French. Gandhi was a friend of Mahatma Gandhi, and joined Mahatma in his "experiments in dietetics" (vegetarianism). Virchand helped Mahatma in the latter's struggle to establish a legal practice.

    In 1885, at the age of 21, he became the first honorary secretary of the Jain Association of India.During his term, he fought against a tax being levied by the ruler of Princely State of Palitana on pilgrims visiting Mount Shatrunjaya, Palitana. During the course of this fight Gandhi met Lord Reay, the British colonial governor of Bombay, and Colonel John Watson of the Kathiawar Agency. With the help of these two individuals, he ultimately negotiated an annual fixed payment of Rs. 15000, rather than an individual tax on each pilgrim.Gandhi also fought to close a pig slaughterhouse that had been started in 1891 close to Mount Shikharji, a holy place of Jain pilgrimage. Gandhi spent six months in Calcutta learning Bengali and preparing his case against the slaughterhouse. He was eventually successful in getting the slaughterhouse closed.

    Trip to the World Parliament of Religions

    Gandhi represented Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in 1893. Jain monk Acharya Vijayanandsuri, also known as Acharya Atmaram, had initially been invited to represent Jainism at the Parliament, but as Jain monks do not travel overseas, he could not attend. Atmaram recommended Gandhi to go in his stead and serve as the emissary for the religion. Atmaram and his disciple Vallabhsuri trained Gandhi for six months.

    Poster calling Gandhi 'a most eloquent scholar and linguist'
    Gandhi received a positive response at the Parliament and was asked to deliver more lectures. He ultimately stayed two years in the US and one year in the UK He went outside India to promote Jain values on two other occasions, and is known for giving about 535 lectures on Jainism and having attracted followers from outside India to Jainism..He was awarded various medals for his lectures.

    He was a contemporary to Swami Vivekanand, who deeply admired him. He faced criticism over his sea voyage, which was at the time considered unholy. Vivekanand, impressed with Gandhi's adherence to vegetarianism in the face of the cold Chicago climate, came to his defence: in an 1894 letter to Haridas Viharidas Desai, Diwan of Junagadh, he wrote "Now here is Virchand Gandhi, the Jain whom you knew well in Bombay. This man never takes anything but mere vegetables even in this terribly cold climate and tooth and nail tries to defend his countrymen and the religion. The people of this country like him very well. But what are they doing who sent him over? They are trying to outcast him."

    Herbert Warren, who studied Jainism under Gandhi and adopted the Jain religion, published a book on Gandhi's lectures titled Herbert Warren's Jainism.

    The American newspaper, the Buffalo Courier, wrote regarding Gandhi, "of all Eastern scholars, it was this youth whose lectures on Jain Faith and Conduct was listened to with the greatest interest and attention". Later, in Kasadova, he delivered a lecture on 'Some Mistakes Corrected' on 8 August 1894, which prompted the citizens of the city to award him a gold medal.

    Gandhi had studied Buddhism, Vedanta Philosophy, Christianity, and western philosophy. He praised Mogul Emperor Akbar for his equal treatment of all religions.

    From Left to Right – Narasima Charya, Lakshmi Narain, Swami Vivekananda, Hewivitarne Dharmapala, Virachand Raghav Gandhi
    Gandhi propagated the relevance of Jain tenets and Mahavira's message of nonviolence. He delivered about 535 speeches on Jainism, other religions, and social and cultural lives in India, all of which received wide publication. He was invited two more times, first in 1897, and then in 1899 to the West.

    Later life and death

    Gandhi founded Gandhi Philosophical Society and the Society for the Education of Women in India (SEWI). He participated in Pune session of Indian National Congress in 1895 as a representative of Bombay state, and lectured on Indian politics and industry in Large Hall of William Science building on 19 December 1898. He also participated at the International Conference of Commerce in 1899 and represented Asia.He settled tax disputes of Palitana and Shikharji piggery case.

    Gandhi died at the age of thirty-sevenof haemorrhaging of the lungs on 7 August 1901 at Mahuwar, near Mumbai, India.

    Works

    • The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ: translation from French to English. It was a manuscript found in Tibet.
    • The Life of Saint Iss
    • Religion and philosophy of the Jainas

    Recognition

    • Gandhi was accorded both a welcome and honour by many literary and spiritual institutions, churches and societies. He was presented with medals.
    • A museum was constructed and dedicated to Gandhi in 1964.
    • In the 1990s, statues of Gandhi were erected in Chicago and Mahuva.
    • He was remembered on 1993 Parliament of World religions.
    • A drama based on his life, Gandhi Before Gandhi, was performed 200 times throughout the world.
    • On 8 November 2009, the Indian Postal Department honoured him by issuing a postal stamp with his image.
    • On 25th August, 2013, his Saardh Janma Shatabdi Year celebrations commenced at Vallabh Vihar, Rohini Delhi under the aegis of Akhil Bhartiya Shree Atma Vallabh Jain Mahasangh, organised by Shree Atmanand Jain Sabha, Rohini, Delhi.
    • On 17th August, 2014, the concluding function was held at Thane in the august presence of Gachhadhipati Jainacharya Shree Vikay Nityanand Surishwer Ji. The programme was held under the banner of Shree Atma VAllabh Jain Mahasangh with Mr. Ashok Jain as the Programme Convenor who also made an elaborate presentation on the life and achievements of Shree Virchand Raghav Gandhi.
    • As a befitting finale to the yearlong celebrations, One day programme was organised by Akhil Bhartiya Shree Atma Vallabh Jain Mahasangh, Vallabh Smarak Jain Mandir Tirth & Akhil Bhartiya Shree Jain Shwetamber Yuvak Mahasangh at Balyogi Auditorium in the Sansad Bhawan. Sh Ravisahnkar Prasead, Union Minister of Law & Justice,Information and Broadcasting & Information Technology presided the deliberations attended by 15 Members of Parliament and leading Jains from all over Indie. Gandhi Before Gandhi - a play on the life and ideals of Shri Virchand Raghav Gandhi was presented by Rangat Productions, Mumbai. Keynote presentation was made by Sh Ashok Jain, Programme Convenor and Hony Secretary of Vallabh Smarak Jain Mandir Tirth, Delhi

     

    Credits

    Sanjul Jain created wiki page for Jain personality on 10-04-2021

    References

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virchand_Gandhi

    https://hi.encyclopediaofjainism.com/index.php/

    Gallery
    Introduction
    • Birth Date
      25-08-1864
    • Birth Place
      Mahua,Bhavnagar,Gujarat
    • Father's Name
      Shri Raghav Ji Tejpalji Gandhi
    • Spouse
      Shrimati Jiviben
    • Occupation
      Lawyer
    • Languages Known
      14 Languages including Gujarati, Hindi, Bengali, English, Prakrit, Sanskrit, and French etc.
    • Death
      07-Aug-1901
    • Awards and Achievement
      Shri Jaswant Singhji’ scholarship,He founded Gandhi Philosophical Society and the Society for the Education of Women in India (SEWI).
    Author
    Sanjul Jain
    Summary

    Virachand Raghavji Gandhi (25 August 1864 – 7 August 1901) was a Jain scholar who represented Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions in 1893. A barrister by profession, he worked to defend the rights of Jains, and wrote and lectured extensively on Jainism, other religions, and philosophy.

    Parichay

    विश्व में जैन धर्म का डंका बजाने वाले, देश और धर्म के गौरव श्रीयुत वीरचंद राघवजी गांधी का जन्म २५ अगस्त १८६५ को महुवा भावनगर के प्रतिष्ठित जैन परिवार में हुआ। मैट्रिक की परीक्षा में सम्पूर्ण राज्य में प्रथम स्थान प्राप्त करके मुंबई के एलपिंस्टन कालेज से बी.ए. की परींक्षा पास की। लंदन में कानून की सर्वोच्च डिग्री बार—एट—ला पास करके बैरिस्टर बने। २१ वर्ष की युवावस्था में जैन ऐसोसिएशन ऑफ इण्डिया के मानद् मंत्री बने। सॉलीसीटर के रूप में श्री शत्रुंजय तीर्थ पर सरकार द्वारा लगाये जा रहे चर्बी कारखाने को बन्द करवाने में आप पूरी तरह सफल रहे।

    ११ सितंबर १८९३ से चिकागो—अमेरिका में विश्वधर्म सम्मेलन प्रारंभ हुआ जो १७ दिन चला। सर्व धर्म परिषद चिकागो में विश्वविख्यात जैनाचार्य श्रीमद् विजयानंद सूरि प्रसिद्ध नाम आत्मारामजी को जैन धर्म के प्रतिनिधि के रूप में आमंत्रित किया और उन्हें अपनी में मानद सदस्य का स्थान दिया । साधु जीवन की मर्यादा के अनुसार श्री आत्मारामजी म.सा. का जाना संभव नहीं था तो परिषद के अत्यधिक आग्रह पर श्री वीरचंद राघवजी गांधी को अपना प्रतिनिधि बनाकर अपनी रचना — ‘ चिकागो प्रश्नोत्तर’ के साथ सम्मेलन में भाग लेने भेजा। जैन युवा मनीषी श्रीयुत गांधी ने पहले ही दिन पूज्य गुरूदेव का गुणानुवाद करते हुए जो विद्वत्तापूर्ण प्रवचन दिया उससे उपस्थित विद्वानों में उसकी धूम मच गयी। वहाँ के सभी समाचार पत्रों में आपके फोटों व प्रवचनों की चर्चा होने लगी। आपकी सभाओं में उस समय दस हजार की उपस्थिति होती थी।आपने दो वर्षों तक अमेरिका में ५३५ मधुर भाषणों के द्वारा जैन धर्म—तत्व—दर्शन ज्ञान की अमृत वर्षा की। भारत की संस्कृति की पूर्ण सुरक्षा करने वाले इस महापुरुष ने बंगाल में दुर्भिक्ष से पीड़ित स्वदेश वासियों के लिए एक समुद्री जहाज अन्न से भरकर तथा ४० हजार रूपये नकद सरकार को भिजवाए। आपके सम्मान में अमेरिका में गांधी फिलोसोफीकल सोसायटी की स्थापना हुई। सन् १८९५ में आप इंग्लैण्ड, फ्रांस व जर्मनी आदि देशों में जिनशासन की विजय पताका फहराते हुए भारत पधारे और पू. गुरूदेव श्री आत्मारामजी म.सा. के पावन चरणों में अंबाला में उपस्थित होकर गौरव गाथाएँ सुनायी और गुरूदेव का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त किया। सन् १८९५ में बंबई में सेठ प्रेमचंद की अध्यक्षता में हजारों श्रद्धालुओं ने आपका बहुमान किया।सन् १८९८ में जस्टिस महादेव रानाडे की अध्यक्षता में आपका विशेष अभिनन्दन किया गया।

    स्वामी विवेकानंद ने श्री वीरंचद गांधी को अपना परम सहयोगी व मित्र माना। स्वामी विवेकानन्द ने जूनागढ़ के दीवान को जो पत्र लिखा वह इस प्रकार है—‘‘ यह गांधी व्यक्ति कठोर शीतल जल—वायु में भी शाक—सब्जी छोड़कर कुछ दूसरा ग्रहण नहीं करता, अपने धर्म और राष्ट्र की रक्षा में इसका रोम—रोम समर्पित है। अमेरिका के लोग भी इसे बहुत प्यार करते हैं लेकिन जिन्होंने इन्हें यहाँ भेजा वो उन्हें जाति बहिष्कृत करते हैं तो बहुत बड़ा पाप करते हैं। ७ अगस्त, १९०१ को बंबई में आपका मात्र ३७ वर्ष की अल्पायु में निधन हो गया, इस हृदय विदारक समाचार पर सारा अमेरिका व जैन समाज रो उठा। देश में स्थान—स्थान पर शोक सभाएं हुई व बंबई में तो ५ दिनों तक कारोबार बन्द रख कर शोक प्रकट किया गया ऐसे देश के गौरव जिन शासन रत्न श्रीयुत वीरचंद राघवजी गांधी को कोटि—कोटि नमन।

    श्री वीरचंद राघवजी गांधी के प्रति सम्मान प्रकट करते हुए भारत सरकार ने इस महापुरुष पर डाक टिकट जारी करके अपनी श्रद्धांजली दी है परन्तु जैन समाज ने इस महामानव का यथोचित मूल्यांकन नहीं किया है। श्री गांधी के शुभकार्यों को आने वाली पीढ़ी तक पहुँचाने का संकल्प ही उनके प्रति अपनी विनम्र भावांजलि होगी।

    मेरी जैन धर्म पर शुद्ध श्रद्धा का एक मात्र कारण श्रीयुत वीरचन्द गांधी ही है, जिन्होंने मेरे हृदय में सर्वप्रथम जैन धर्म का बीजारोपण किया। पाश्चात्य देशों के निवासी, जो जड़वाद की दल दल में फंसे हुए हैं, किसी भी देश में शान्ति नहीं है, दूसरे का गला घोंटने के लिए हर एक तैयार है, प्रजा को सच्ची शांति प्राप्त नहीं है, ऐसे देशों के निवासियों को मात्र जैन धर्म की सच्ची शिक्षा ही लाभप्रद हो सकती है। इसी शिक्षा के द्वारा वे लोग सुखी जीवन व्यतीत कर अपना अमूल्य मानव जन्म सफल कर सकते हैं।

    केवल एक जैन धर्म ही विश्व में ऐसा है, जो समूचे विश्व को सच्चे प्रेम से सात्विक जीवन का आनन्द दे सकता है । पाश्चात्य देशों में इसी शिक्षा से सच्ची शांति हो सकती है और सभी राष्ट्र प्रेमपूर्वक जीवित रह सकते हैं ।

    Gallery
    परिचय
    • जन्म स्थान
      Mahua,Bhavnagar,Gujarat
    • जन्म तिथि
      25-08-1864
    • पिता का नाम
      Shri Raghav Ji Tejpalji Gandhi
    • पत्नी
      Shrimati Jiviben
    • जीवन निर्वाह
      Lawyer
    • ज्ञात भाषाएँ
      14 Languages including Gujarati, Hindi, Bengali, English, Prakrit, Sanskrit, and French etc.
    • मृत्यु
      07-Aug-1901
    • पुरस्कार और उपलब्धि
      Shri Jaswant Singhji’ scholarship,He founded Gandhi Philosophical Society and the Society for the Education of Women in India (SEWI).
    About us

    Digambar Jain Wiki,Is a movement based on a fact that together we can achieve more! There are many Digambar Jain Muni Maharaji’s /Arika’s in India but their information is not found in a centralised system. As the digital revolution grows up we felt a critical need to gather all the information to make it available at one single place, so that information is available and accessible to all on digital devices.

    Join Us

    Your one word of Information will be read by several readers for several years.
    We request your time to help us grow take the lamp of knowledge to everyone.
    Join Us in this revolution.

    Email us : digjainwiki@gmail.com
    Call Us: 9834174980
    Whatsapp Us: 9834174980

    Interested in helping us, just submit this quick form.

    Lineage Charts

    Digambar Jain Lineage

    Charitra Chakravarthy Acharya Shanti Sagarji Maharaj Lineage

    Acharya Shri Shanti Sagar Ji Maharaj(Chhani)Lineage

    Acharya Shri Aadi Sagar Ji -Ankalikar Lineage

    Vihar Info

    We are continuously on toes to get the Vihar information and make available to Sadharmis. 

    Need Vihar info – please click here

    If you want to contribute us in getting the Vihar Info please submit the vihar form by clicking here

    Quick Links

    Tabular Search
    Advance Search 
    Donate Us

    ©2021 DigJainWiki.org | Vikram Samvat 2078 | Veer Nirvan Samvat 2548| Shak Savant 1943| Last Updated : 4-Nov-2021

    Cart

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • WhatsApp
      • Telegram
      • Pinterest
      • LinkedIn
      • Tumblr
      • VKontakte
      • Mail
      • Copy link
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • WhatsApp
      • Telegram
      • Pinterest
      • LinkedIn
      • Tumblr
      • VKontakte
      • Mail
      • Copy link