Introduction to the life of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji
- Who was Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj? PM Modi is also devotee of them.
- Do you know who Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj is and what his life was like? Also how and how much he struggled in his life. Read on for full details
- These great men are the beacons of mankind, who do the great work of inspiring mankind to religion, removing the darkness of their lives and showing them the path of salvation.
- In fact, it is these great souls who symbolise the life – values of humanity. People have strong faith in the blessings of such a Guru.
- Today, every human being yearns for peace and happiness and wants to lead a stress-free life.
Table of Content
Introduction to the life of Acharya Shri Vidyasagaar Ji
Brief Introduction
Introduction/Birth
Eminent / Famous / Who is?
The beginning of the spiritual journey and initiation
Knowledge of many languages
Spiritual practice and the emergence of the spirit of renunciation
Childhood events Interest in dharma-vachan
Religious work and articles
Social work
When is the birthday of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar ji celebrated
The journey from Vidyadhar to Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj, to whom Modi ji also bowed down
The idol of renunciation devoid of the most difficult, infatuation Vidyasagar ji’s life is as follows.
His Journey /yatra
Biographical book of Acharya Vidyasagar
Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj Took Samadhi PM Modi said – Generations will remember his invaluable contribution
Brief Introduction
- Previous name: Shri Vidyadhar Ji
- father: Shri Mallappaji Ashtage (Munishri Mallisagarji)
- Mother: Shrimati Shrimantiji (Aryakashree Samayamatiji)
- Brother / Sister: Four brothers and two sisters
- Birth place: Chikkodi (Village – near Sadalga) Belgaum (Karnataka)
- Date of Birth: Ashwin Shukla Purnima (Sharad Purnima) 2003, 10-10-1946, Thursday, 12.30 p.m.
- Birth Nakshatra: Uttar Bhadrapada.
- The mother tongue: Kannada.
- Education: 9th Matriculation (in Kannada Language)
- Brahmacharya Vrat: Shri Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra, Chulagiri (Khaniyaji) Jaipur (Rajasthan)
- Statue: Seven (from Acharya Shri Deshbhushanji Maharaj)
- Sthal: Shravanabelagola, Hassan (Karnataka) in 1966
- Deeksha Sthal: Ajmer (Rajasthan)
- Muni initiation date: Ashadha Shukla Panchami, V.S. 2025, 30-06-1968, Sunday
- Acharya Padat: Margashirsha Krishna II-VS 2029, dated 22-11-1972, Wednesday
- Acharya Pada Sthal: In Nasirabad (Rajasthan), Acharya Shree Gyan Sagar ji gave his Acharya post.
Introduction/Birth
Muni Vidyasagar was born on the moonlit night of Ashwin Shukla Poornima on Thursday, October 10, 1946, in Chikkodi village near village Sadalga in Belgaum district of Karnataka.His mother was Aryakasri Samayamati and his father Munisri Mallisagarji were both very religious.
Eminent / Famous / Who is?
- Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj is a highly revered Digambara Jain Acharya (Digambara Jain monk)
- He was known for his extraordinary erudition, deep spiritual insight and unwavering commitment to a life of austerity and discipline.
- He embraced spirituality from an early age and renounced worldly life at the age of 21 to take diksha in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
- Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagarji Maharaj is an ardent, ascetic, thinker, hard seeker, writer from the land of India.
- Vidyadhar is today known as Sant Shiromani Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji Maharaj and is an effective spokesperson of religion and spirituality and an unparalleled symbol of that bright stream of Shramana culture.
- Which is still intact as the oldest civilization of the Indus Valley and is telling its glory story to the whole world.
The beginning of the spiritual journey and initiation
- Munishree received education in Kannada language till class IX and at the age of 9, she was attracted towards religion and resolved to follow the spiritual path at the same time.
- In those days, Vidyasagar ji used to listen to the discourses of Acharya Shantisagar ji Maharaj.
- Similarly, by acquiring knowledge of Dharma, taking steps on the path of Dharma, Munishri took muni diksha at the age of just 22 years in Ajmer (Rajasthan) on 30th June 1968 under the discipleship of Acharya Shri Gyan Sagar Ji Maharaj.
Knowledge of many languages
Digambar Muni Sant Vidyasagar ji had kept his command on many other languages. He has written in Hindi language, Bengali, English, Sanskrit, Tamil and Telugu.
Spiritual practice and the emergence of the spirit of renunciation
- Vidyadhar used to practice sadhana and control over mind and senses since childhood, but as soon as he stepped on the threshold of youth, the seed of vairagya germinated in his mind.
- Leaving home at the tender age of just 20 years, you reached Jaipur (Rajasthan) and took a lifelong vow of celibacy from Virajit Acharya Shri Deshbhushanji Maharaj and lived in his association and practiced dharma, swadhyaya and sadhana
Childhood events, Interest in dharma-vachan
- Vidyasagar’s childhood was full of surprising incidents that won the hearts of the people at home and in the villages.
- At the age of playing, he used to go to the temple with his parents. Listening to religious discourses, eating pure sattvic food, memorizing difficult Sanskrit sutras and verses by muni order had gradually become a part of his life.
- These habits were indicative of his following the spiritual path. Be it studies or homework, everyone was satisfied by completing everything in a disciplined and orderly manner.
- Apart from this, from childhood, sages used to sit in asanas and meditation on the pretext of bathing in the stepwell and swimming in the water with the feeling of seeing the Charya, practicing it themselves.
- While visiting the idol enshrined in the temple, they used to try to know the greatness hidden in it.
- His determination and resolve can be gauged from the fact that he was once bitten by a scorpion, but despite the unbearable pain, he did not cry but ignored it.
- Not only this, despite suffering, he did all the work along with the religious work included in his daily routine as he used to do every day.
Religious work and articles
- Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj was deeply immersed in the study and practice of Jain scriptures and philosophy.
- His mastery of Sanskrit, Prakrit and many modern languages enabled him to write many practical poems and spiritual treatises.
- His works, including Niranjana Shatak, Bhavana Shatak, Parisaha Jaya Shatak, Suniti Shatak and Shramana Shatak, were widely studied and revered within the Jain community.
- Vidyasagar’s epic poem ‘Mookamati’ is the most famous. It is taught in post-graduate Hindi courses in many institutions.
- Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj was famous for his rigorous ascetic practices and unwavering dedication towards spiritual growth.
- His commitment to non-violence, self-discipline and equanimity had earned him the deep respect and admiration of countless devotees and spiritual seekers.
- His teachings, imbued with wisdom and compassion, inspired individuals to adopt a life of spiritual perfection.
- Acharya Shri Vidyasagar ji is pure and happy like water and always smiles.
Social work
- Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj’s influence extended far beyond the realm of spirituality.
- He was instrumental in promoting education and social welfare initiatives in the Bundelkhand region of India.
- His efforts led to the establishment of schools, hospitals and community centres, which transformed and uplifted the lives of countless individuals.
- With the inspiration and blessings of Maharaj ji, many gaushalas, swadhyaya shalas, dispensaries have been set up today. Construction work is going on at many places.
- Acharya Shree is also running a public awareness campaign against animal meat export
- Maharaj Shree has done many notable works to save livestock, declare cow as the national animal, stop meat export.
- At the same time, a disabled free help center is running in Amarkantak in the name of ‘Sarvodaya Tirtha’.
When is the birthday of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar ji celebrated
Ashvin Shukla Purnima (Sharad Purnima) is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of the great poet and ascetic saint of Jainism, Acharya Vidyasagarji Maharaj.
The journey from Vidyadhar to Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj, to whom Modi ji also bowed down
- Following the path of renunciation, penance and hard practice, Vidyasagar took muni diksha from Acharya Gyan Sagar Maharaj in Ajmer on 30 June 1968 at the age of just 22.
- On 22 November 1972, in Ajmer itself, Guruvar had given him the status of Acharya Vidyasagar from Muni Vidyasagar by giving the title of Acharya.
- After taking the samadhi of Guruvar on 1 June 1973, Muni Vidyasagar Acharya became a saint of the Jain community with the title of Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj.
- People believe that since the renunciation of home, without being disturbed by cold, rain and heat, Acharya had done hard penance and it was his renunciation, penance and tapobala that not only the Jain community but the whole world is bowing down to him. This includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.
The idol of renunciation devoid of the most difficult, infatuation Vidyasagar ji's life is as follows
- There is no bank account, no trust, no pocket,
- no illusion, billions of rupees on which the Guru never touched the money.
- Lifetime sacrifice of sugar,
- lifetime sacrifice of salt,
- lifetime sacrifice of mat,
- lifetime sacrifice of green vegetable,
- lifetime sacrifice of fruit,
- lifetime sacrifice of English medicine, limited grass food,
- limited anjuli water,
- lifetime sacrifice of curd once in 24 hours, 365 days,
- lifetime sacrifice of dry fruits,
- lifetime sacrifice of oil,
- lifetime sacrifice of all kinds of material resources,
- lifetime sacrifice of spitting,
- sleeping on one side without bed sheets, mattresses, pillows only in any weather.
- One of the most learned saints in the whole of India,
- who is revered in all religions,
- an Acharya in the whole of India, whose entire family is walking on the path of salvation with restraint,
- doing his sadhana on the banks of the river or on the hills in the open fields away from the city,
- doing irregular vihari
Acharya Bhagavan, who thinks so far not only for the upliftment of human society, but also for the silent creatures, has equal place in his compassionate heart.
The brightness of the body is such that the brightness of the sun also fades in front of it and the moon also fades in the darkness.
In this way, all of us bow down at the feet of Tirthankar Sam Sant Shiromani Acharya Shri Vidya Sagar.
We are blessed to have such a great teacher.
Be it the Prime Minister or the President, Gurudev is engaged in sadhana unaffected by everyone’s position
Efforts were made to protect thousands of cows, to build gaushalas and modern schools for thousands of girls.
His Journey /yatra
- As a traditional Digambara Jain monk, Acharya Vidyasagar never stays in one place for more than one day except during the four months (Chaturmas) of the rainy season.
- He never announces where he will be next, although people try to guess his next destination.
- Since his initiation in 1968, he had seven Chaturmas in Rajasthan (1968-74), one in Uttar Pradesh (1974), seven in Madhya Pradesh (1976-1982), one in Bihar (1983), nine in Madhya Pradesh Gayan (1984).
- He stayed for two years in Maharashtra (1993-94), one in Madhya Pradesh (1995), one in Gujarat (1996), 11 in Madhya Pradesh (1997-2007), once again in Maharashtra (2008) and again in Madhya Pradesh (2009-2016).
- The fiftieth anniversary of his initiation was celebrated with parades and celebrations in several cities of India in July 2018.
- Commemorative pillars (Swarna Kirti Stambh) were erected at Ajmer, Rewa, Shravanabelagola and other places on the occasion.
Biographical book of Acharya Vidyasagar
His disciple Muni Kshemasagara wrote his biography (Atmanveshi) which was translated into English as In the Quest of Self and published by Bharatiya Jnanpith.
Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj Took Samadhi PM Modi said - Generations will remember his invaluable contribution
Acharya Vidyasagar ji of Digambar Muni tradition had given up his post of Acharya in full awakening and had observed a three-day fast and observed unbroken silence, after which he took his last breath at 2:35 pm on Saturday (17th February) i.e.Sunday (18th February) 2024, at 2: 35 pm at Chandragiri Shrine in Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh
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