>Tom.Reding at 22:21, 24 March 2021

2021-03-24T22:21:21Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{primary sources|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox organisation
|name = Shri Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha
|image = Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg
|size = 162px
|alt = The symbol of Jainism, the Jain Prateek Chihna
|caption = The symbol of Jainism, the [[Jain Prateek Chihna]]
|map = India-locator-map-blank.svg
|malt = India map
|mcaption = zone of influence
|formation = {{Start date and years ago|1894|01|01}}
|type = Jain religious organisation
|purpose = Religious, Educational, Non Profit, Charitable
|headquarters = [[Lucknow]], [[New Delhi]], [[Mumbai]] {{flag|India}}
|region_served = {{IND}}
|language = Hindi and English
|general = Prakash Chand Badjatya
|leader_title = Chairman of the Board
|leader_name = Nirmal Kumar Jain Sethi
|key_people = Various Jains
|main_organ = Board of directors
|affiliations = Various Jain organisations
|website = {{URL|http://digjainmahasabha.org}}
|remarks = Oldest organisation of lay Jains
}}
{{Jainism}}
'''Digambar Jain Mahasabha''' or '''Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha''' is the oldest organisation of lay [[Jain community|Jain]]s in [[India]].

==History==
The Digambar Jain Mahasabha was founded in 1894 in [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>Trilokchand Kothari, Di. Jain Mahasabha ka Atit (1895-1980), Pub. Digambar Jain Mahasabha karyalaya, 2007</ref> It is considered a traditionalist organisation.<ref>Facets of Jainology: Selected Research Papers on Jain Society, By Vilas Adinath Sangave Published 2001, Popular Prakashan.</ref> Its two main branches are ''Dharm Sanrakshini Mahasabha'' and ''Teerth Sanrakshini Mahasabha''.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}<ref>[https://www.isjs.in/sites/all/themes/school/images/jain_in_india_a_d_Abroad.pdf Jain in India and Abroad, Praksh Jain, ISJS, p. 109]</ref>

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.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020905051123/http://www.dsmahasabha.com/s.htm table of Presidents since 1894]</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digjainmahasabha.org/?page_id=737 |title=Founders, Past Presidents | Welcome To Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha |publisher=Digjainmahasabha.org |access-date=2012-05-26}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/abhinandan-varthaman-to-be-awarded-bhagwan-mahavir-ahimsa-puraskar-2001962|work=NDTV|date=3 March 2019|access-date=4 March 2019|title=Abhinandan Varthaman To Be Awarded Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-pilot-abhinandan-varthaman-to-be-awarded-with-bhagwan-mahavir-ahimsa-puraskar/story-GiK9UnxsuTL9hlqAfA46SM.html|work=The Times of India|date=3 March 2019|access-date=4 March 2019|title=Abhinandan Varthaman to get Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-pilot-abhinandan-varthaman-to-be-awarded-with-bhagwan-mahavir-ahimsa-puraskar/story-GiK9UnxsuTL9hlqAfA46SM.html|work=Hindustan Times|date=3 March 2019|access-date=4 March 2019|title=IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to be awarded with Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digambarjainonline.com/org/sbdjms.htm |title=Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha |publisher=Digambarjainonline.com |date=1998-02-05 |access-date=2012-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502155352/http://www.digambarjainonline.com/org/sbdjms.htm |archive-date=2 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=XubfClGnIAUC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=Jain+Gazette&source=bl&ots=xuFZ84TxZ0&sig=XXQQpJm1z8obyt6J-TIkwvDjkSk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGtqbSpsvfAhWM7oMKHa-JB5cQ6AEwEXoECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=Jain%20Gazette&f=false Historical Dictionary of Jainism, Kristi L. Wiley, Scarecrow Press, 2004, p.42]</ref>
* ''Jain Mahiladarsh'': a weekly women's magazine published since 1922, founded by Pandita [[Chandabai]] of Arrah and Magan Bai of Mumbai.<ref>Jain Mahiladarsh, April 2017, p.3</ref><ref>[http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=82810 Life and Work of Shrimati Magan Bai, The Jaina Gazette, January 1935 (Vol. XXXII, No. 1, pp. 1-8).]</ref>
*''Prachin Jain Tirth Jirnoddhar'': A monthly devoted to Jain history and archaeology since 2003.<ref>[http://jainpracheenteerth.org/magzine/index.php?id=Nzg=#book5/page1 Prachin Jain Tirth Jirnoddhar, Nov 2018, p.1]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Mula Sangh]]
* [[Kashtha Sangh]]
* [[Chandabai]]
* [[Vishwa Jain Sangathan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.jaingajat.com/ Jain Gazettee website]
* [http://jainpracheenteerth.org Prachin Jain Tirth Jirnoddhar website]

{{Jainism Topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jain organisations]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1894]]
[[Category:Religious organisations based in India]]
[[Category:1894 establishments in India]]

Digambar Jain Mahasabha - Revision history

>Tom.Reding at 22:21, 24 March 2021