Anandji Kalyanji Trust (Gujarati શેઠ આનંદજી કલ્યાણજી પેઢી) is the largest and the oldest Jain trust, managed by lay Jains,Not including the Digambara Bhattaraka institutions, some of which go back several centuries. The Humcha Battaraka seat goes back to 8th century. with headquarters at Ahmedabad which manages more than 1200 Jain temples.Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhino Itihas 1, Ratilal Dipchand Desai, Shilchandrasuri, Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi Ahmedabad 1983 The original charitable trust is said to have been founded somewhere in decades of 1630–40 AD and is running under name Anandji Kalyanji ni Pedhi or Anandji Kalyanji Trust since decade of 1720.Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhino Itihas 1, Ratilal Dipchand Desai, Shilchandrasuri, Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi Ahmedabad 1983; pp:6
History Initially founded to manage the Shatrunjaya Palitana temples, it now manages numerous Jain tirthas and temples belonging to the Śvetāmbara tradition.Dharna Vihara, Ranakpur, Saryu Doshi, Thomas Dix Opus, Vol. 17, Edition Axel Menges, 1995 It is said to have been founded by Shantidas Zaveri and its leadership has been in the same family for generations, who have been the Nagar-seths of Ahmedabad. Kasturbhai Lalbhai, an industrialist and educationist, who was the eleventh generation member, headed the trust for 50 years, followed by Shrenik Kasturbhai Lalbhai for 30 years. Samveg Lalbhai now heads the trust. Bhavarlal Nahta has written that the organization for restoring the Satrunjaya temples was originally founded by Acharya Devachandraji as mentioned in Devavilasa.Bhanvarlal Nahta Abhinadan Granth, Ed. Ganesh Lalvani, 1986, p. 172-178
The name Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi would suggest that it is a business house belonging to Sheth Anandji, the son of Kalyanji. However, the names are imaginary and they refer to the role of the trust bringing Anand – pleasure and Kalyan- bliss to the Jain pilgrims.
The available documentation takes the history of the trust to samvat 1777 (1720 AD).
Management
The trust manages the following tirthas or temples.શેઠ આણંદજી કલ્યાણજી પેઢીનો ઇતિહાસ ભાગ 2, Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhino Itihas Part 2, Ratilal Dipchand Desai, Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi Ahmedabad, 1986
Banaras Kothi Chittorgarh Sattavis Dehra Temple Girnar Kumbhariya Maksi (shared with Digambaras) Muchhal Mahavir Temple Ranakpur renovated in 1933. Sunil Siddharth Lalbhai: The Life and Times of Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, Global Education & Leadership Foundation (tGELF), Oct 16, 2013 Rikhabdeo (shared with Digambaras and Locals) Sammet Shikhar (shared with Digambaras under disputes, shwetambars does not recognise admin authority of Digambars) Shatrunjaya Sherisa Taranga (hill shared with Digambaras, the Ajitnath temple is in exclusive possession of shwetambars. Renovated in 1963. Vamaj
A sister organisation, Seth Kalyanji Parmanandji Pedhi of Sirohi manages temples at Mt. Abu at Delwada, Bamanvad and Mundalstha.
The trust also publishes books related to Śvetāmbara Jain Tirthas.
The trust spends more than Rs 150 million every year in repair works of various Jain temples. The trust members meet twice a year.
References
External links