Digambar Jain Mahasabha


Digambar Jain Mahasabha or Shri Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha is the oldest organisation of lay Jains in India.

History

The Digambar Jain Mahasabha was founded in 1894 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. It is considered a traditionalist organisation. 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. 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. 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.

Publications