Dr. Jayendrabhai Soni, a native of Patan, (North Gujarat), where he spent most of his childhood, but Mumbai was his Karmabhoomi. Facing many hardships in life & struggling out of it, he established himself as a well-known Civil Engineer-Architect in Mumbai and undertook more than 350 projects of diverse nature in his career span of 35 years. By then, having being satisfied of the materialistic life, at the age of 60, he voluntarily retired from his established practice and started devoting a larger part of his time for spiritual gain. However he continued his professional services as a honorary Engineer-Designer for various projects of Pushtimargiya Temples, Mandirs & Bethakjis until the end, and was involved in more than 50 such projects. Inspired by Late Bhagavat Acharya Sant Shri Krishnashankar Shastriji, Jayendrabhai was instrumental to many of the works at Bhagavat Vidyapeeth, Sola-Ahmedabad right from its inception in mid 1970’s. Also Shri Dwarkadhishji Mandir-Patan, Vasai; Shri Ladileshji Mandir-Burhanpur; Bethakji’s of Shri Mahaprabhuji at Dwarka, Chandrasarovar & Radhakund of Vraj etc are some other worth mentioning. The renovation planning of Shri Vishnukanchi Bethakji was his last project undertaken.
The seeds of spiritual upbringing of Jayendrabhai during his childhood came from his Bhagavadiya mother, as well as the studies and teachings that he had at Pushtimargiya Pathshala in Patan. Late Shri Rameshbhai Parikh (of Vaishnav Parivar) was his classmate in the studies at Pushtimargiya Pathshala. The special credit for the vast and indepth knowledge that he acquired on the various scriptures of Shri Mahaprabhuji & Pushtimargiya philosophy goes to his highly learned Acharya & Guru Param Pujya Goswami 108 Shri Vrajesh Kumarji MaharajShri and a very highly learned scholar, Acharya and Guru of Pushtimargiya Sampradaya, Param Puyja Goswami 108 Shri Shyam Manoharji MaharajShri from whom he had the opportunity to learn various texts of Shrimad Acharya’s various granths like Nibandh, Anubhasya etc.
Jayendrabhai was a pioneering pillar and remained a support for the course on “Vallabh Vedanta” started in the year 2005 in collaboration with the Mumbai University, introduced with the efforts of Shri Avinashbhai Parekh of Smt. Bhagirath Charitable Trust, Mumbai. He attended the entire course of four years and completed the Advanced Diploma with Gold Medal. Unsatisfied with his thirst for knowledge, he post-graduated from Mumbai University with a degree of M.A. in “Philosophy” at the age of 69. Subsequently, in 2011, his dissertation was published by an International University (I.O.U.C.M.) and was awarded the degree of ‘Ph.D.’ for his Thesis on “Path of Divine Grace – Philosophy and Practice”. Again in the year 2014 the University of Mumbai also awarded him another Ph.D. for his thesis “Comparative study of Metaphysics of Shri Vallabhacharyaji and that of Shri Aurobindo (Maharshi Arvind)”. Thus he was a double doctorate.
Since many years, he had been writing in different Pushtimargiya Magazines & Newspapers, thoughtful articles on various subjects Pushtimarg, Seva, etc. which were very well appreciated in the Vaishnav fraternity. Compiling various such articles, he published his first book with the name “Pushti Chintan” His other publications included Pushti BalPothi part 1-4 for Shri Vallabh Vidyapeet’s Shudhadvait Pushtimargiya Pathshala, Shuddhadvait-Vedant part 1-4 for the Vallabh Vedant course of Mumbai University, Pushti Parichayika, Pushti Bhav Vardhini, Braj Mohe Bisrat Nahi. After a major heart attack & by-pass surgery in 2015, he continued to write on the teachings of Shri Mahaprabhuji and published Vallabh Vedant & Pushtimarg, Vallabh Vichardhara, Shri Valabh Prati Pacha Valiye, Pushti Vimarsh, Shri Vallabhacharyaji nu Tattva-darshan & Dharm-darshan, Pushti Self Study (English & Gujarati).
Being a thinker, besides his daily Seva, reading, writing etc. he used to take tutorials since 2010 free of cost for the students of “Vallabh Vedanta” of the University of Mumbai. He used to have weekly Satsang at his residence, on Shrimad Bhagwat, Shri Subodhiniji, Nibandh etc. Based on the Satsang of Shrimad Bhagwat & Shri Subodhiniji, skandh 1-4 of many weeks, he compiled it into a book form and published a book “Shrimad Bhagavat Chintan”. Further Satsang on skandha 10 was going on, which remained incomplete.
After his by-pass surgery, he upgraded himself and remaining with modern technology and so also to connect better with the youth, and he began writing short messages on various social media platforms like WhatsApp & Facebook by posting daily messages on various Pushtimargiya topics like Krishna-Leela, Purpose of Seva, Guru, Shikshapatra, Shri Yamunashtakam, Pushti Chintan, Pushti Ratna Kanika, Pushti Siddhant, Vallabha Chintanika, Baal Bodh, Shri VItthalvani, etc. Having an in-depth study of Pushtimargiya doctrine, he could easily explain and solve doubts and questions of many Vaishnavs in a very easy way. His last series “Kaun Banega Krishna Kruparthi” where he used to ask a question every morning became very popular. Vaishnavs eagerly waited for this every morning and for the correct answer with its explanation for it the next day.
Jayendrabhai was the Managing Trustee of Shri Dwarkadhishji Temple Trust – Kandivali, Mumbai and a Trustee of Shri Vakpati Foundation – Vadodara and served for many years. Through Pushti Satsang & studies to achieve its results, he also started an organization called “Vallabh Vedanta Vichar Vahini” to propagate Pushti-Swadhyaya and spread correct Pushti knowledge. The program of Satsang was started in many places also.
Along with his various activities, Jayendrabhai remained fully dedicated to his Pushti Seva and faithfully carried out Ashtayam Seva along with his family members till the end.
And at the age of 82, remaining engaged in his work and Seva till the last moment, taking the name of the Lord, he peacefully attained Shreeji Charan.
Jayendrabhai’s writings, books, thoughts, short messages etc. are available on this website www.pushtichetna.com / www.jayendrasoni.in. You can read / download the same from here.
