Muni Santbalji

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text about Muni Shri Santbalji, based on the provided pages:

Muni Shri Santbalji: A Visionary Jain Ascetic and Social Reformer

The text introduces Muni Shri Santbalji as a distinguished "Lokasanta" (people's saint) of the 20th century, deeply influenced by Gandhian philosophy. His life and work are characterized by a profound commitment to the welfare of the downtrodden, the uneducated, the tribal communities, and women, aiming to elevate them to a life of dignity. This aligns with a long-standing Indian tradition where rulers respected ascetics and pursued just governance, while saints, alongside their spiritual pursuits, offered guidance and compassion to the marginalized.

Early Life and Spiritual Awakening:

Born in 1960 (VS) in Tol village, near Morbi, in a respectable and cultured family, Shivlal (his birth name) lost his father at the age of five. He received a strong foundation in service, devotion, ethical living, and philanthropy from his parents and during his education up to the seventh grade in a devotional environment. At thirteen, he moved to Mumbai to earn a living and support his mother. His honesty, diligence, intellect, and uprightness earned him the trust of his employer, a Parsi gentleman. Later, he began working for a Muslim friend.

His spiritual journey was ignited by the arrival of the reformist Jain monk Shri Nanchandji Maharaj in Mumbai, whose discourses harmonized the teachings of Mahavir with the social work of Mahatma Gandhi. This inspired Shivlal to seek initiation. After his mother's passing, he obtained permission from his sister and other relatives and wished to be initiated by Shri Nanchandji Maharaj in Morbi. Despite a then-existing ban on Jain monk initiations in the Morbi state, the Maharaja was so impressed by Shivlal's radiance during Shri Nanchandji's discourse that he lifted the ban. In 1985 (VS), amidst a large gathering of Jains and non-Jains, he was initiated, becoming Muni Saubhagychandra, a disciple of Shri Nanchandji Maharaj. He later became widely known as Santlal.

Scholarly Pursuits and Dedication to Scriptures:

Following his initiation, Muni Santbalji dedicated himself to intensive study, mastering languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, English, and Hindi, along with subjects like logic, epistemology, and literature. He delved into numerous Jain scriptures and the major world religions, astonishing scholars and his guru. He also attained the title of "Shatavadhani" (one with extraordinary memory and concentration). At a conference in Ajmer, Indian scholars honored him with the title "Bharatratna."

As part of his scriptural dedication, he contemplated the profound secrets of the Agamas and contributed significant literature to Gujarati society between 1989 and 1994 (VS). He translated four key Agam sutras – Uttaradhyayana, Dashavaikalika, Acharanga, and Avashyaka – into simple and beautiful Gujarati, published by Mahavir Prakashan Mandir. He presented the first two sutras in a poetic style as "Sadhak-Sahachari." In his later years, he enriched the Gujarati community's understanding of the original Agamas by providing a Gujarati poetic translation of the Tattvarthasutra, showcasing his immense scholarship and poetic talent.

Solitary Practice and Deviation from Tradition:

Despite his scholarly achievements, Muni Santbalji yearned for solitary spiritual practice. He spent a year in isolation on the banks of the Narmada River. Upon completing this period of sadhana, he published a statement revealing transformative ideas for societal restructuring based on his spiritual insights. This led to his excommunication from the monastic order (Sangh) in which he was initiated. However, Muni Santbalji was a unique monastic figure in India, possessing a remarkable vision to preserve the essential, beneficial aspects of Indian culture, which had been cultivated over millennia, while adapting or transforming outdated and unnecessary elements.

Social Service and Transformative Experiments:

Though ostracized by his Sangh, Muni Santbalji maintained immense patience and adhered to the core principles of Jainism and the daily conduct of monastic life with unwavering faith. He continued his spiritual journey, practicing padavihara (walking pilgrimage), bhikshachari (alms gathering), and aparigraha (non-possession).

His life vision was not to detach from society but to achieve spiritual progress alongside societal well-being. He championed the concept of "Samaj Sadhana" (societal spiritual practice) where individual and collective welfare could be realized. Through sheer determination, he brought new life, light, and awakening to the backward and arid regions of Gujarat, like the Bhal Nalkantha area.

He served the impoverished, exploited, unjust, ignorant, and diseased people with immense patience and maternal affection. These communities were trapped by usury, landlordism, forced labor, superstitions, and traditions, having lost their self-confidence. He actively promoted the prayer "Sakal Jagatni bani Janeta Vatsalya Sahuma Redu" (May I become the mother of the whole world and bestow affection on everyone), making it a popular congregational prayer. He inspired the establishment of numerous centers for constructive work, breathing life into them. He focused on villages, backward classes, and women, organizing them to enhance their self-respect and dignity.

Muni Santbalji was a guiding force behind the establishment of various institutions and constructive activities. These included: cooperative societies, vocational training centers, khadi and village industries, improved agricultural practices and cattle-rearing, village panchayats, arbitration-based people's courts, purification committees, women's welfare organizations, dispensaries, experimental ashrams, farmer's associations, cattle-rearer's associations, labor-intensive village industries, and labor unions.

Empowerment and Self-Reliance:

To make villages self-reliant in food, shelter, clothing, education, health, justice, and protection, Muni Santbalji introduced a program of "Sapt Swavalamban" (Seven Pillars of Self-Reliance). He also made significant efforts to orient urban society towards rural needs, fostering a complementary relationship between cities and villages.

Recognizing the supportive role of democracy in societal structuring from a non-violent and religious perspective, he made monumental efforts to create guiding forces that would purify and strengthen democratic governance.

Through the influence of his character, self-control, and penance, he instilled hope and faith in the downtrodden villagers. He planted the seeds of self-belief, empowering them to achieve the seemingly impossible. He awakened them to the understanding that they must help themselves, shifting them from fatalism to self-effort and courage. For 45 years, he served as the sole inspiring and trusted leader for the people of this region. Under his guidance and the direction of institutions established with his support, ordinary villagers accomplished extraordinary feats. This leadership brought a new vision and momentum to these backward regions.

He persevered tirelessly for societal change, ideological transformation, and heart transformation, transcending the limitations of practical realities and the commercial tendency to weigh actions by immediate gain or loss.

He dedicated his entire life to protecting social values, even at the cost of his possessions, life, and reputation. No aspect of social life remained untouched by his ideals and thoughts on societal structuring from a religious perspective. He paved new paths in economic, social, educational, cultural, political, religious, ethical, and spiritual spheres, guiding people along them. He conducted novel experiments in Satyagraha (civil disobedience) for non-violent resistance to injustice and the establishment of truth, justice, and love. He transformed asceticism into social service for societal welfare. He indicated a path of collective karmic liberation through penance, deviating from Jainism's focus on individual karmic purification. In this way, he made a unique contribution as a guide towards self and collective welfare. He advocated that the monastic community should rise above distinctions of caste, creed, region, or religion and actively work for world peace.

Final Resting Place and Legacy:

After traveling across the country, Muni Shri Santbalji, as per his final wish, intended to establish Mahavirnagar-Antarrashtriya Kendra at Chichhan in the Thane district of Maharashtra. He settled there and ultimately attained his final rest. This was on Friday, March 22, 1982, the day of Gudi Padwa, a festival celebrated with auspicious greetings in households across Maharashtra. Following in the tradition of medieval Indian saints, he became "Santbalji," an elder brother to the people, continuing to convey the wisdom of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Dharma, the Bhagavad Gita, and the teachings of Mahavir in a manner relevant to the times. He consistently inspired people to engage in social reform. Born with the virtues of a karmayogi (one who acts with detachment), he embraced the path of renunciation while dedicating himself to public welfare with a selfless spirit, following the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi. His life message, "Jannseva te Prabhuni seva eh samaja visrai nahi" (Service to humanity is service to God, never forget this), should always be remembered.