JINENDRA VARNIJI

JINENDRA VARNIJI
Extremely simple and tender natured from his very childhood Jinendra Varniji was born in a- traditional religious family at Panipat (Haryana) in October, 1921. He is the eldest among the three brothers and three sisters. His father late B. Jai Bhagwan Jain was a leading advocate, well known social reformer and worker. He had a very good study of Jain religion.

Unfortunately Varniji became a patient of T.B. and one of his lungs was put to rest by surgical operation in 1938. Inspite of his weak constitution and frail health he studied electronics and wireless. He became M.E.S. contractor at Calcutta in 1951. Though bom in a rich family, the worldly pleasures could have no attraction for him. He handed over all his business to his younger borthers, adopted a life of renunciation and started living in Jain temple of Panipat. He thoroughly studied Jain religion and started giving daily religious lectures at Panipat and various other places.

For several years he lived at Isri Ashram (near Sammedshikharji and made intensive religious studies under the guidance of late Ganesh Prasadji Varni. He is devoted to writing and spiritual development, living a calm and peaceful life, shy of public appearances.

His most important work is editing of four volumes of Jainendra Sidhanta Kosh published by Bharatiya Jnanpith during 1970- 73. It is an encyclopedia of Jainological terms with quotations from the original sources and their Hindi translation and illustrated with charts and sketches, etc. This gigantic task which a well equipped institution could have performed in several years by engaging several scholars has been completed by Varniji alone by his hard labour, up to 18 hours a day, of several years. This most important work highly speaks of his 17 years thorough study of hundreds of books on different religions, philosophy, purans, history, geography, astronomy, conduct, etc. His another important work is Jinadhamma which contains quotations from Jain Agams covering basic elements of Jainism. His other published and unpublished works include Shantipath Pradarshak, Naya Darpan, Jain Sidhanta Shikshan, Karma Sidhanta, Shra- dhabindu, Dravya Vijnan, Kund-kund Darshan, etc.