Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha (DBJS), also known as the South Indian Jain Association, is a religious and social service organization of the

Jains Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. The organization is headquartered at

Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarter of the Kolhapur district. In, around 2 C.E. Kolapur's name was 'Kuntal'. Kolhapur is kn ...

, Maharashtra, India. The association is credited with being one of the first Jain associations to start reform movements among the Jains in modern India. The organization mainly seeks to represent the interests of the native Jains of Maharashtra (

Marathi Jains Jainism has been present in Maharashtra since ancient times. The famous Ellora Caves demonstrate that Jainism was part of a thriving religious culture in Maharashtra in premodern times. History Jainism in Maharashtra has a long history. Th ...

), Karnataka (

Kannada Jains Karnataka, a state in South India has a long association with Jainism, a religion which enjoyed patronage of major historic kingdoms in the state such as the Rastrakuta Dynasty, Western Ganga, Kadamba and Chalukya dynasties and the Hoysala ...

) and Goa.

History

The organization was founded in 1899. It was originally found to represent the Jains of the southern Maratha Country of the Bombay Presidency, including Kolhapur State, Belgaum and Sangli. The organization was established for the socio-economic and educational betterment of the Jain community. It has been credited for fostering a stronger sense of Jain identity and for ushering in social reforms in the Jain community. The association sought to invest authority in lay persons rather than in ascetics, this resulted in mobilization of the community to build schools and improve education. The current president of the organization is Raosaheb A. Patil.

Community service

The organization has been involved in securing the status of an independent and minority religion for

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current ...

in India. The organization funds various educational institutions. They also offer scholarships to meritorious Jain students from South India. They also honor distinguished people from the Jain community annually. The ''Karmveer Bhaurao Patil Samaj Seva Puraskar'' awards are given annually to notable personalities. There are also awards presented for excellence in journalism. Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha runs several boarding houses for young Jains that provide free or low cost accommodation with social and religious activities. These include * Digamber Jain Boarding Hubli, est. 1909 * Sheth R. D. Dawada Digamber Jain Boarding, Sangli, 1918 * Digambar Jain Boarding, Kolhapur, 1905. (associated with Dr. A. N. Upadhye, Veerachary Babasaheb Kuchnure) * Manikbag Digambar Jain Boarding, Belgaum, 1911 * Digamber Jain Boarding, Ichalkaranji, 1923 * Jain Shravikashram, Kolhapur, 1908 * Shrimatibai Kalantre Jain Mahilashram , Sangli, 1918 * Late Sou. Sumanbai Rajabhau Kala Jain Shravikashram, Aurangabad The boarding houses served an important function by uniting Jains of different communities, as reported in Pragati ani Jinavijaya, 23 November 1919:

At mealtime affairs were conducted beautifully, as they were at the opening of the Jain Boarding in Pune. All the old and new members who came were seen eating together in one line with great love and open minds. It was seen that the roots of division were disappearing from this tiny community.

Publications

''Pragati Ani Jinvijay'' is published by the organization as its main organ. It was first published in 1902. The magazine is published in Marathi and Dr. Subhash Chandra Akkole was its past editor. It is published monthly from Kolhapur. The noted Marathi author, Veeranuyayi Appa Bhau Magdum was a contributor to this magazine.

References

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History

Community service

Publications

See also

References

Further reading