Anandji Kalyanji Trust (Gujarati શેઠ આનંદજી કલ્યાણજી પેઢી) is the largest and the oldest Jain trust, managed by lay Jains, with headquarters at Ahmedabad which manages more than 1200 Jain temples. 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 Ananadji Kalyanji Trust since decade of 1720.
Contents
History
Initially founded to manage the Shatrunjaya Palitana temples, it now manages numerous Jain tirthas and temples belonging to the Shvetambara tradition. It is said to have been founded by Shantidas Zaveri and its leadership has been in the same family for generations. Kasturbhai Lalbhai, an industrialist and educationist, who was the elevanth generation member, headed the trust for 50 years, followed by Shrenik Kasturbhai Lalbhai for 30 years. Samveg Lalbhai now heads the trust.
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.
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.