Compiled humbly on behalf of all the Disciples of Arunvijayji Maharaj, by Dr. Vijay Shah
D E VOT I O N
An Exemplary Life of Pujya Panyas Dr. Arunvijayji Maharaj
Dr. Vijay Vijay Shah Shah is is aa Sadhak Sadhak (student) (student) taking takingsmall smallsteps stepstowards towardsthe thejourney journeyofofself-realization, self-realization, Dr. with focus on learning Jain concepts and practices. His interest includes Agam shastras, scholarly with in deep learning Jain concepts and practices. His interest includes Agam shastras, works on religious philosophies discovered during 500 BC, and practice of meditation. scholarly works on religious philosophies evolved during 500 BC, and practice of meditation.As Asa certified Yoga teacher, he loves to teach Meditative Yoga at a local fitness club. As a professional, a certified Yoga teacher, he loves to teach Meditative Yoga at a local fitness club. As a Dr. Shah teaches in theteaches area of Business Management, several scholarly publications, and professional, Dr. Shah in the area of businesshas management, has several scholarly has organized several panel discussions on Spirituality. publications, and has organized several panel discussions on Spirituality. shravaks engaged in Pratikraman / Samayak worship. To stop the daily noise disturbance, one day, the Guru Maharaj decided to invite the boys and tell them some stories. Things changed fast!
Pujya Panyas Dr. Arunvijayji Maharaj was born as Arunkumar in the Bijapur village of Pali district in Rajasthan, India. Bijapur is located near Hathundi, an ancient Rata Mahavir Tirth that existed 1700 years back. The deteriorated Hathundi Tirth was restored back under the leadership of Shri Javerchand Chandulal Kamdar, a local businessman. Acharya Shri Vijayvallabhsuriji Maharaj was invited to do the pratishtha and the reestablishment of the Tirth. On completion, Acharyaji highly impressed with the work, blessed Javerchandji, that he will soon see the fruits of pratishtha. Coincidently, at the same time Javerchandji got news that his son Shri Gulabchand’s wife Shrimati Shantabai had delivered a son named Arunkumar. Shri Gulabchand Kamdar was a part of a large family with jewelry business in several parts of India including Mumbai. Arunkumar, the eldest of the five siblings moved along with the family to Mumbai where he started attending school. His father enrolled him in a nearby Jain pathshala of Godiji. As a young boy, Arunkumar had a normal childhood growing up. The group of boys that attended Jain pathshala were always very noisy as they passed through the common areas of temple disturbing the sadhu /
Guru Maharaj told stories of Mahavir Bhagwan every day to these kids who had now calmed down and were taking interest. The stories sparked a gentle fire of excitement in the heart of the very young Arunkumar, who started taking special interest. Every day after school, he would go straight to Guru Maharaj and spend time learning with great enthusiasm. Guru Maharaj responded with more inspirational teachings encouraging Arunkumar, who soon learned Samayak and many other Jain practices. Young Arunkumar’s ambition was to become a sadhu and spread the knowledge of Mahavir Bhagwan to the entire world, a dream that would one day unfold. He started thinking of Diksha and Guru Maharaj nurtured his ambition and guided him to the next step of getting permission from family. The family elders refused, but they suggested that he do Updhaan and experience the sadhu life before taking such a big decision. Arunkumar agreed, finished the Updhaan successfully, and his determination grew even stronger. The family resisted equally hard. However, Arunkumar stood firm and one night, left the family home and went to Guru Maharaj, who accepted him and gave him diksha the next morning. A fresh struggle emerged between the large powerful business family and the Jawaharnagar Jain Sangh which stood strong to protect. The strength of his determination was tested, and Arunkumar prevailed. At the tender age of 18, in June 1967, in a formal ceremony he got the diksha recognition from Premsuriji Maharaj. The gentle red glow that radiates in the sky before the sunrise symbolized by the name “Arun”, had started to emerge, destined to spread the message of Mahavir Bhagwan like a rising sun. Young Arunmuni’s pursuit of Gnan-Sadhna grew fast and strong and was recognized by his Guru Maharaj.
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