Digambar Jain Mahasabha

Digambar Jain Mahasabha or Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha is the oldest organisation of lay Jains in India.

Shri Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha
The symbol of Jainism, the Jain Prateek Chihna
zone of influence
FormationJanuary 1, 1894 (1894-01-01)
TypeJain religious organisation
PurposeReligious, Educational, Non Profit, Charitable
HeadquartersLucknow, New Delhi, Mumbai  India
Region served
 India
Official language
Hindi and English
Secretary General
Prakash Chand Badjatya
Chairman of the Board
Nirmal Kumar Jain Sethi
Key people
Various Jains
Main organ
Board of directors
AffiliationsVarious Jain organisations
Websitedigjainmahasabha.org
RemarksOldest organisation of lay Jains
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History

The Digambar Jain Mahasabha was founded in 1894 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.[1] It is considered a traditionalist organisation.[2] Its two main branches are Dharm Sanrakshini Mahasabha and Teerth Sanrakshini Mahasabha.[3]

The first President of The Digambar Jain Mahasabha was Laxmandas Tongya. In 1941, the leadership of the Mahasabha was handed over by Seth Hukumchand of Indore to Bhagchand Soni at the Shravanabelagola convention.[4] Later leaders included Shrimant Seth Mohanlal of Khurai, Panditacharya Charukirti of Shravanabelagola, Manikchand J.P. of Mumbai, Champat Rai Jain of Delhi, Rajkumar Singh of Indore, Bhanvarilala Bakliwal, Raisahab Chandmal Pandya, and Likhamichand Chhabra.[5] The present leader is Nirmal Kumar Jain Sethi, who has been in office since 1981 and is now the longest serving president in the history of the organisation. Raj Kumar Sethi, son of late Phulchand Sethi is the working president of the organisation. Binod Sethi, son of Phulchand Sethi, of Dimapur is the Vice-President of the Teerth Sanrakshini Mahasabha

Awards
Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar

Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar was started in 2019 with Abhinandan Varthaman becoming the first recipient of the prestigious award. This award carries a cash prize worth Rs. 2.51 Lakh as well.[6][7][8]

Publications
  • Jain Gazette, a weekly publication of Dharm Sanrakshini Mahasabha, has been published regularly for the last 103 years. It claims to be the oldest Jain periodical in the world.[9][10]
  • Jain Mahiladarsh: a weekly women's magazine published since 1922, founded by Pandita Chandabai of Arrah and Magan Bai of Mumbai.[11][12]
  • Prachin Jain Tirth Jirnoddhar: A monthly devoted to Jain history and archaeology since 2003.[13]

See also

References
  1. Trilokchand Kothari, Di. Jain Mahasabha ka Atit (1895-1980), Pub. Digambar Jain Mahasabha karyalaya, 2007
  2. Facets of Jainology: Selected Research Papers on Jain Society, By Vilas Adinath Sangave Published 2001, Popular Prakashan.
  3. Jain in India and Abroad, Praksh Jain, ISJS, p. 109
  4. table of Presidents since 1894
  5. "Founders, Past Presidents | Welcome To Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha". Digjainmahasabha.org. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  6. "Abhinandan Varthaman To Be Awarded Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar". NDTV. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  7. "Abhinandan Varthaman to get Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar". The Times of India. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  8. "IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to be awarded with Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar". Hindustan Times. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  9. "Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha". Digambarjainonline.com. 5 February 1998. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  10. Historical Dictionary of Jainism, Kristi L. Wiley, Scarecrow Press, 2004, p.42
  11. Jain Mahiladarsh, April 2017, p.3
  12. Life and Work of Shrimati Magan Bai, The Jaina Gazette, January 1935 (Vol. XXXII, No. 1, pp. 1-8).
  13. Prachin Jain Tirth Jirnoddhar, Nov 2018, p.1
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