Born in a non Jain Family near Jhansi
Passed Middle school at age of 14. Most of
the houses in the neighbourhood were Jains hence their family also followed
similar principles and did not eat at night.
He discarded night meals at age of 10 after
listening to Ravana taking oath in Padam purana.
When there was thread ceremony at age of 12
and guru gave him mantra not to reveal to others then he told guru that why
reveal to me either ?
At that age he announced his preference for
Jainism in opposition to his Mother’s wishes.
His father died at age of 18 and told him
that Namokar mantra is biggest saviour in this world before death. His grand
father was 110 and he was upset that the son is dying and the father is still
alive and he died out of this sentiment alone prior to death of his father.
He got married but later the attraction to
Jainism was so strong that he gave notice to mother and wife that he would stay
with them only if they followed Jainism.
His guide Karodimal Bhai rebuked him saying
that just giving up things and fasting is not Jainism. First you have to learn
the scripture.
His later guide was adopted mother Chironja
Bai who rebuked him for writing to mother asking them to adopt Jainism since it
is not his right to ask anybody.
His interests in learning scriptures was
strong right from beginning since he wanted to make full use of this birth.
JAIPUR
VISIT
For learning he proceeded to Jaipur and in Gwalior
Bought 1 paise worth chana and salt and ate
that and started walking back. 3-4 days he ate just chana and water walking
back. Then in Datiya he sold the umbrella for 6 anaas and bought chanas for
next 2 days. In katera he bought 1 ana worth of ata, 1 paise Urad dal, 2 paise
ghee, 1 paise salt etc and came to well of the village. With no pots how to
cook? Then he put urad dal in cloth for wetting and wetted ata and made a ball.
He dug a hole and kept the ata inside in leaves and used Kanda as firewood and
cooked 4 Batees. Similarly dal was cooked. Thus he prepared food in 2 anas and
ate the most delicious meal.
Walking
to Kundalpur
Night he had to stay with an aheera house
who asked him to take food or Milk which he refused saying that he does not
take anything other than water in night. The wife was upset and told if he
shall not take meal in the morning then he better stay elsewhere. Morning he left
that house at 5 AM itself without asking them.
You do not have to ask a tree for providing
shadow. Just by sitting under the tree , you are enjoying the shadow. Similarly
by worshiping qualities of the Arihant ,
the peace is automatically achieved because the Jiva gets that kind of bhavas.
God does not do anything. He is Nimitta that too un interested.
In Bombay he goes for the first time
virtually in pauper stage to a dharmashala and a Baba Gurudayalsingh comes to
him sees his condition and later brings to him cooking material for 8
days, clothes and 10 Rs. Tells him that
even though he is not a relative nor he knows him, he has felt like assisting him hence do not
worry, I will take care of you. You continue your spiritual efforts. Later he
provided him help to operate as salesman to earn some money.
Jaipur
While
writing exam in Jaipur , he receives a letter informing that his wife is no
more. He reflected internally “ o god, today I have been released from all
bonds. Although I have several bonds but this is one such bond which makes a
man forget all his priorities. “ He continued writing the exam.
He
used to study from Pandit Gopaldas varaiya and one day he confessed to him
about two mistakes – one is that in hot daytime he was wearing shoe while
carrying a copy of scripture. Second that one Panditji has asked him to bring
food on chaturdashi from market which comprised of potato and brinjal.
He asked an astrologer if he will pass the
exams. He tells him that he will pass but he will not stay in khurja beyond 9am
of Visakh sudi 13. Ganeshji laughed and told him that I will prove you wrong.
On the day prior he was sleeping in the room in hot daytime when he gets a
dream that he may die. After that dream he reflects that if he may die early
then he must visit Shikharji before that. He gets such a strong desire that he
leaves next day morning for Shikharji.
On way to shikahrji he meets a panda and
tells him that earning money by asking charity is not good. The panda answers
that whoever comes in this place is a sinner only and he comes to cleanse his
sins. If we donot take his assistance then how else they may get liberated ?
Those who are pure , do not need to go anywhere to Teerth for washing the sins.
After all you are also going to Shikarji for cleansing your sins. Hence do not
abuse me and keep your thoughts pure which may liberate you.
Shikharji
In shikharji he plans to go around the
hill. In hot summer at 1 PM he looses way and feels very thirsty helpless. He
prays Parshwanath “ although asking for water is below your dignity when you
can give Nirvana , but he concedes that his pap karma is very strong at the
given moment when he has undertaken this venture. “ His inner self respond that
do not worry and follow the straight path, which leads him to a water tank. This
journey was completed in 1902.
In
Teekam garh he goes to Dular Jha for learning Nyaya shastra and ends up arguing
on the practices of sacrifice being practiced by him and Hindus. Ganesh gives
him arguments in favour of ahimsa and Jha agrees with his arguments but says
that these are being followed by generations and are difficult to give up. He
respects his arguments but suggests that he should rather concentrate on his
studies. Ganesh answers that what is the purpose of learning if we cannot
recognise what is good or bad . The learning is not for satisfying hunger. Even
a crow or jackal manages to eat then what is the use of human birth? Therefore
how is it justified to support the activities of Himsa? Therefore he decides to
give up learning there and returns back
Benaras
In
1904 he goes to Benaras for learning Nyaya and he meets Jivanath Mishra for the
same. Panditji asks him which Brahmin he is . He answers that he is not Brahmin
but vaishya by birth but Jain by conviction and practice. Panditji becomes very
angry and asks him to get out since he does not teach Nastik people who are non
believers of God nor Vedas. Ganesh argues with him saying what is the reason of
being angry with him. After all if God is creator then he is also his creation
as a non believer therefore if he has to be angry then he should be angry with
God himself. In his view panditji
himself does not believe in God by rejecting him and unnecessarily calls
him nastik. In your own Veda it is written that all beings are worthy of
protection. In such a case those who kill animals for eating and sacrificing
and for offering in Shraddha for forefathers liberation , can they be called
Veda believers or us who try to protect even the water borne jivas. Paditji
calls him illiterate and uncultured from village and asks him to leave. Ganesh
further asks him the definition of uncultured . Is it that city dwellers only
are cultured ? Is it that every being who is in Benaras and has not come from
village for learning ? Is the knowledge an indicator of culture or the
behaviour ? I am talking with lot of respect but you are using harsh words
calling me nastik etc. Just knowing the scripture is not culture since a parrot
may also do so. Finally he is asked to leave which he does with regret of not being able to learn the subject.
With no money in the pocket he undertakes
to build Digamber jain Vidyalaya for the
benefit of Jain scholars. He gets one rupee as donation. Babaji his guide
asks him what can we do with one rupee ?
Ganesh buys 64 post cards and sent it to several places asking for assistance
in building the institute for jain students. Within a month he gets replies
from several people with promise of 100 Rupees per month assistance.
Slowly he builds up on that and in 1905 the
Syadwad Vidyalaya is inaugurated by Manik chanda Jain from Bombay. He himself
was student in it.
Baba Bhagirath Varni was the incharge of the hostel. One day
he saw a student applying red color on another on Holi day. This was considered
a great indiscipline and he severely rebuked him. That student left the
vidyalaya but subsequently all others became very serious. This just goes to
show the kind of discipline being practiced in such institutes at that time. Once
Ganesh went to see Ramlila without taking permission since Babaji was doing
puja. He is also asked to leave the vidyalaya. Interestingly the institute was
initiated by Ganesh and he only was instrumental in bringing babaji there as
incharge. He requests for permission to speak 15 minutes as farewell speech
which babaji gives. He begins with
mangalacharan and explains that even Jain god does not give anything if asked
hence he is not asking for any forgivance. Just as a tree provides shadow
automatically , in the same way God’s name causes such manifestations within
the self which are pure in nature leading to reduction of Pap karmas. He quotes
samyasaar and says that in this world what all good or bad has to happen to
Jiva is due to his own karmas and none can be blamed for them. Hence he is not
blaming babaji. It is only his own karmas which have resulted in this situation.
He is happy that this institute has been setup to help students learn the Jain
subjects which nobody else teaches. Hence he wants to thank Babaji. He says
that he was returning with the intention of telling Babaji what he saw in
Ramlila how the Pap karmas bring their fruits resulting in death of Ravana but
unfortunately he himself is blamed for making a grave mistake. He quotes another
verse saying that anger is the biggest enemy since that is the cause of all
misdeeds and he does not want babaji to be angry. When he concludes his speech
, babaji forgives his mistake and asks
him to join back in the school. In fact Babaji gives his resignation and leaves
the school next day.
In Benaras he learnt Nyaya shastra from Shastriji which comprised of
Astasahastri wherein he gifted a 500 rupee diamond ring to shastriji on the day
he completed learning the shastra. Shastryji refused and told him not to spend
money like this but he insisted and said that if he had a kingdom also he would
have gifted today.
During this period only due to efforts of Malviyaji
BHU was formed. Shastriji was principal for Sanskrita department. He proposed
that there should be one branch of Jainism also which was put upto the senate.
Ganesh was asked to bring the relevant books for the senate meeting. He was
carrying them to building them he met a very handsome huge gentleman on the way
who asked him where he was going. On his telling , he agreed and said that
definitely Jainism should be supported in learning since this is an ancient
religion and the followers are very sincere with good conduct.
During this meeting this gentleman
supported strongly for the incorporation of Jainism subject and accepted for
Shastry exam curriculum. This gentleman was Motilal Nehru father of Jawaharlal
Nehru.
Ganesh
was one of the first students to join for this course and to appear for
the exam. He passed in first division and earned a scholarship. His guru
Shastriji was highly pleased that a vaishya boy has done so well through him.
Ganesh has described that his preparation for this exam was very poor hence he was banking on the worship of
Parswanath through the Sahasra nam pooja which he did religiously. He was
fortunate that what all he read on the morning of the exam came in the paper.
This he passed in year 1923.
Cataract
problem of Baiji
Baiji was staying in Benaras during this
period for assisting in exams. She developed cataract with headache. She used to say that it is due to karmas and
not worry about it. Ultimately they took her to Jhansi
She rigorously followed her routine without
complaining to anyone. One day when returning from the temple she bumped into a
stone and fell down. A well wisher asked her if she is hurt then she said that
she is newly blind hence she does not have experience of walking. Do not worry
, whatever has been earned has to be enjoyed and there should not be any
regret.
In Kartikeyapreksha it is written that
whosoever’s life , death, happiness, unhappiness, suffering etc has been known
by Jinendra bhagwan, the same would occur in the same place and time and none
is capable of changing it even if he is Indra or another teerthankara. None can
give anything to anyone.
In Samaysaar Kundkund swamy has written
that whoever thinks that I harm other or I am harmed by other is ignorant ,
such is stated by Jinendra bhagwan. If someone thinks that I protect others and
others protect me then also he is ignorant. The
wise person knows that none can protect or harm you. Due to the
fruitation of Ayukarma only one lives and dies. This is stated with respect to
Nimitta while in reality all entities are permanent and indestructible.
His well wisher was shocked to hear such
discourse from Baiji . She later told Ganesh to return to Benaras to continue
his studies and not spend time in Lalitpur to look after her.
One day Baiji was reciting barah bhavna in
the garden after samayik when an Englishman approached her and asked her
introduction. He said that he is surgeon from eye hospital of Jhansi Jhansi Jhansi
In
Chakoti
Ganesh went to chakoti in 1927 which is
Darbhanga dist for continuing the studies. This place comprises of mostly
Brahmans. Most of the people were fish eaters and goat sacrifice was common in
festivals. Ganesh was not able to tolerate the smell and stopped eating wheat
and was eating rice and vegetables only.
One day an old Brahman asked him why is he loosing weight and appearing
thin. He answered that he has all the
material for cooking but he is not able to eat due to fish smell. One day one
friend opened his tiffin in front of me which comprised of fish and kenkada (?) and seeing it he could
not swallow anything that day. Hence forth he is surviving on dry gram and rice.
The old Brahman was sympathetic and called a meeting of Brahmans of the village
and they decided not to prepare fish in the village so long as this boy is
studying in their village. Such was the attitude of people in those times (!)
Draupadi
Ganesh has described the story of a woman
from Chakoti only to tell how people can change their nature overnight.
Draupadi was the daughter of a rich Brahman who was very beautiful but became widow in childhood and later
stayed with parents itself. Her character became poor and several misdeeds were
hidden . A pond by her name had water which became undrinkable and the garden
in her name had fruits which were uneatable.
Sometime later Draupadi had severe remorse
for her conduct and repented and told her father that she has sinned but now
she has really repented and cleansed her sins. Now she would go to Jagannath
for pilgrimage where she would offer the water on shiva ling there after which
she would go to his abode.
The father was happy to listen to the
change of conduct and arranged for the pilgrimage. The people of village
accompanied her to the limits of the
village wherein she addressed them. She confessed to all her sins including
abortions but now she has felt that what all she was doing was sin about 20
days back. Then she realised that one who can sin can also repent and give up.
It is not a rule that one who is sinner would always remain so. If it were so
then none could have changed into a better being. She was born in a great
family and read Gita etc but started sinning. She is convinced that the soul
only is the cause for the misdeeds and none else. She would like to give a
message to the people of the village not to sin. Similarly do not indulge in
sacrificial offering by killing animals This is purely due to the desire of
meat eaters that such sacrifices are made.
Somebody laughed and commented that after
eating 900 mice the cat is going for pilgrimage. Hearing this Draupadi said, if
you do not believe me then drink the water of this pond and eat the fruits from
my garden and tell. To everyone’s surprise that water was now entirely sweet
and the fruits were very tasty. Everyone bowed to her and asked to be forgiven.
She told that due to repentance of her
sins this miracle has happened.
Later she went to Calcutta
Moral of the story is that even biggest
sinner can become a reformed person and
achieve sainthood.
Another
Miracle in Chakoti
In this village only , on his back an
invisible wound had formed which was having highly burning sensation. He was in
pain all the time . People were suggesting different types of treatment. One
day a Bihari villager was passing by and asked why this person is in pain. The
others told him all about the invisible wound which was not healing in spite of
various treatments. The Bihari went somewhere and brought some leaves and after
grinding it applied it on the wound. He told that by morning it should be
alright. Everyone was laughing. But that night Ganesh could sleep after 8 days
of continuous pain. Morning there was no burning and the wound was missing !
The wound which so many doctors could not cure had become alright overnight !
Evening that Bihari came to enquire. Ganesh thanked him and tried
to give 10 rupee note which he refused. He also refused to tell the medicine
since he said that you people would make it a means for making money. He told
that in this village earlier no Pandit used to do service and nobody used to
teach for money . In villages no one used to deny taking fruits from trees for
eating or taking home. If someone comes in the evening then he had to take
dinner and then only stay otherwise he could not stay. Such was the system
prevailing in this village. But now if you see, people have started serving for
making money, selling medicines. People cannot pluck fruits to eat, even the
birds are not allowed. He is happy with what he had and does not want anything more. If others
had had got such problems then numerous sacrifices would have been offered. I
am my self a meat eater and I have given up eating meat 5 years back. The
reason is that once I had caught a deer and while killing it , she gave birth
to a child which died. In seeing that scenario and the suffering of the deer ,
he felt very strong remorse who has been sinning from long. He decided since
then not to kill anyone. I ask you how touching an untouchable like me can make
you take bath when you can eat fish which is killed and eaten and your own body
is served by killing. You all people are heartless.
After listening to this lecture all were
speechless .
Samadhimaran
of Bhure davadia
He was an ordinary shopkeeper who did
business till evening. He told his son that he will stay in the shop for the
night. There was a room in the shop intended for swadyayay and samayik. Morning
son asked him to open the door and there was no reply. Ultimately the door was
opened and the father was found in Digamber state with Padmasan posture. In the
front on the desk a shastra is kept and a paper and 200 rupees. The note said
he always earned with rightful means. He does not have enough to educational
donation . This money is intended for
the same. Don’t waste money in any other rituals of death ceremony. Another note said that the clothes
have been discarded to discard all possessions.
Outcast
System
One Jain was outcaste from Jains for last
25 years because he had kept a second wife after death of first wife. He was
asked why did he still have faith in Jainism. He answered that sin is different
than the belief. He kept second wife after his attempts for remarriage failed
and he decided that instead of sinning in hiding it is better to sin openly.
Hence the keep. He was outcasted and not permitted to enter temple. Even though
Muslim workers and other caste persons
are allowed to enter temple but he is not allowed. However he has not lost his
faith and desires to have darshan of Jinedra bhagwan. He still follows all
customs of Jains like donating, eating food before sunset etc. Ganesh varni
advocated his case in front of the panchayat. If this person is willing to
donate, you are willing to accept it. But not allow his entry. In the scripture
we have stories of animals who have donated and went to heaven. The animals can
go to 5th Gunasthana. Ultimately his case was accepted. Ganesh
recalled the story of Maghnandi muni who had married a potter’s daughter after
giving up his munihood. When some munis had a doubt about Jain subject they went to Maghnandi
where he was busy making a pot. When asked the question of subject immediately
his character changed and he again discarded his family life and became muni.
The moral of the story is that anyone can have change of character at any stage
of life. If one is sinner , it does not mean that he will be so for the entire
life.
Ganeshji writes that people sell their skills and
knowledge for the sake of few coins. They were fortunate to have been bestowed
with intelligence which they should have
utilised for knowing the mechanism of the world and becoming detached from it,
but rather than that happening they choose to sell their intelligence and soul
for few worldly objects. It is a great pity.
Religion
is no one’s property
Ganeshji was staying in a friend’s house.
One night it rained heavily with hailstorm.
Adjacent house belonged to a low caste poor fisherman. The hails
destroyed the roof of their house and they were praying to Rama for saving them
from this situation. They had a 9-10
year old daughter who told their parents that unnecessarily they are worshiping
Rama. If such Rama was there , he would have helped them. After all what wrong
they have done of Rama for him to shower them with hails. We do not even have
clothes to wear and do not get enough to eat and still recite Rama’s name. If
he were there, he would have helped them. While their neighbour is rich and he
does not have any problems , they alone are suffering. I know this much that
whatever we sow , so shall we reap. When we have planted Neem , we cannot get
mango fruits on them. O father! You did not do any great deed in your past to
have incurred a decent life style, nor has my mother , otherwise she would not
have been married in such poor family. I am myself unfortunate to have been
born here where I do not get enough to eat or to wear. Hence our own karmas are
the cause of this misfortune. I would like to suggest one thing. We kill so
many fishes daily for our livelihood. We can see that even a pin prick cause
immense pain and here we are killing fishes. Hence I beg of you not to kill any
fishes and adopt a lifestyle which does not require killing even if they need
to beg for food. After all there are millions in this world, do they all need
to kill for livelihood ?
The parents were shocked to hear it from
their daughter and asked her the source of her knowledge. She replied that the
neighbours keep reciting shastras daily
and she has listened to it. Although she has not understood all, she is
convinced that none is creator and destroyer. We are ourselves cause of our
misery due to our deeds.
The father respected to words of her
daughter and decided to destroy the fishing net to give up killing and started
burning it. The wife said that you can sell that net for 2 rupees which may
give some food. The father told that this is a means for killing hence should
not be given to others. Hence he burnt it.
Next day this story was informed to Varniji
. His reaction was that we believe someone to be poor and ignorant. We never
know when his time will come and good sense will prevail. No body went to
preach him for ahimsa and on his own that man gave it up. This girl did not
learn in any school but she learnt all that was needed to be learnt. Hence the
moral is that religion is no one’s property.
Incomplete
Not a baiji he name is sri motilal verni vya just born place jatara district tikamgarh guru of Ganesh Prasad verni he born place simra teh palera tikamgarh district
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