Anandji Kalyanji Trust

Anandji Kalyanji Trust (Gujarati શેઠ આનંદજી કલ્યાણજી પેઢી) is the largest and the oldest Jain trust, managed by lay Jains,[1] with headquarters at Ahmedabad which manages more than 1200 Jain temples.[2][3] 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.[4]

Not to be confused with Kalyanji Anandji.

Shet Anandji Kalyanji Trust Donation Receipt
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History

Initially founded to manage the Shatrunjaya Palitana temples, it now manages numerous Jain tirthas and temples belonging to the Shvetambara tradition.[5] 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.[6] 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.[2][6] 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.[7]

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.[6]

The available documentation takes the history of the trust to samvat 1777 (1720 AD).

Management
Shatrunjaya Temples
Ranakpur temple

The trust manages the following tirthas or temples.[8]

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 Shvetambara 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.[6]

References
  1. Not including the Digambara Bhattaraka institutions, some of which go back several centuries. The Humcha Battaraka seat goes back to 8th century.
  2. "Ahmedabad mourns demise of industry doyen, philanthropist Shrenik Lalbhai". The Indian Express. Ahmedabad. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  3. Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhino Itihas 1, Ratilal Dipchand Desai, Shilchandrasuri,Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi Ahmedabad 1983
  4. Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhino Itihas 1, Ratilal Dipchand Desai, Shilchandrasuri,Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi Ahmedabad 1983; pp:6
  5. Dharna Vihara, Ranakpur, Saryu Doshi, Thomas Dix Opus, Vol. 17, Edition Axel Menges, 1995
  6. Yagnik, Bharat (22 November 2013). "The silent force behind Shwetamber Jains". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  7. Bhanvarlal Nahta Abhinadan Granth, Ed. Ganesh Lalvani, 1986, p. 172-178
  8. શેઠ આણંદજી કલ્યાણજી પેઢીનો ઇતિહાસ ભાગ 2,Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhino Itihas Part 2, Ratilal Dipchand Desai, Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi Ahmedabad, 1986
  9. Sunil Siddharth Lalbhai: The Life and Times of Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, Global Education & Leadership Foundation (tGELF), Oct 16, 2013
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