Digambar Jain Mahasabha

Shri Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha

The symbol of Jainism, the Jain Prateek Chihna
zone of influence
Formation	January 1, 1894
Type	Jain religious organisation
Purpose	Religious, Educational, Non Profit, Charitable
Headquarters	Lucknow, 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
Affiliations	Various Jain organisations
Website	digjainmahasabha.org
Remarks	Oldest organisation of lay Jains

Digambar Jain Mahasabha is the oldest organisation of lay Jains in India.

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.

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.^[3] Later leaders included Rajkumar Singh, Bhanvarilala Bakliwal, Raisahab Chandmal Pandya, and Likhamichand Chhabra.^[4] 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 late Phulchand Sethi, of Dimapur is the Vice-President of the Teerth Sanrakshini Mahasabha

Publications

Jain Gazette Weekly

Jain Gazette, a weekly publication of Dharm Sanrakshini Mahasabha, has been published regularly for the last 103 years. It is the oldest Jain periodical in the world.^[5]

Shrut Samvardhini

Shrut Samvardhini a magazine of Shrut Samvardhini Mahasabha.

Tirth Jirnodhar

Tirth Jirnodhar Magazine Of Tirth Sanrakshini Mahasabha

Jain Mahiladarsh

The magazine Jain Mahiladarsh was founded by Brahmacharini Chandabai of Arrah in 1932. Neelam Jain is the editor of Jain Mahiladarsh.^[6]

See also

• Mula Sangh
• Kashtha Sangh
• Chandabai
• Vishwa Jain Sangathan

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. table of Presidents since 1894
4. "Founders, Past Presidents | Welcome To Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha". Digjainmahasabha.org. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
5. "Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha". Digambarjainonline.com. 1998-02-05. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
6. "Karnataka News : Jain women's convention from November 18". The Hindu. 2005-11-13. Retrieved 2012-05-26.