Acharya Vidyasagar (1946-2024) was an Indian Digambar Jain Acharya, also known as the Digambar Jain monk. He was known for his great knowledge, asceticism (tapasya) and long meditations. He died on February 18, 2024, at the age of 77, after following Sallekhana.
Wiki/Biography
Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji Maharaj was born on Thursday, October 10, 1946 in Sadargarh, Belgaum District, Karnataka, India (77 years; at death). His zodiac sign is Libra.
Childhood photos of Acharya Vidyasagar
Vidyasagar loved to go to temples and teach his younger siblings religious principles. He studied in a Kannada medium school till class nine.
appearance
Hair color: gray (semi-bald)
Eye color: black
family
He was born into a Kannada-speaking Jain family.
Parents and siblings
His father’s name was Malaappa and his mother’s name was Shrimandi. He has three brothers; elder brother Mahavira Ashtage and two younger brothers Anantanath and Shantiath. He has two sisters named Shanta and Suvarna. He calls his two sisters “Akka” (sister).
Acharya Vidyasagar’s family
religious journey
In 1968, at the age of 22, Vidyasagar became a Digambara monk under the guidance of Acharya Gyansagar (belonging to the lineage of Acharya Shantisagar of Ajmer).
Photos of Acharya Vidyasagar when he was young
Acharya
In 1972, Vidyasagar attained the status of Acharya. The number of monks (munis) and nuns (aryikas) initiated and guided by him exceeds 200 (117 Digambar Muni, 172 Āryikas). To date, he is the only Acharya in the country who has conferred 505 initiations of Muni, Āryika, Ailak and Kshulak. As a traditional Digambara Jain monk, Acharya Vidyasagar tried not to stay in the same place for more than a few days, except during the four months of the rainy season (Chaturmas). He has never revealed his next destination, although people have tried to guess it.
Acharya Vidyasagar leads his sangha during his vihara
In 2016, he was specially invited by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to deliver his Pravachana (reading) in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on July 28, 2016. In 2018, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conferred the honorary title of State Guest on Vidyasagar. In July 2018, processions and celebrations were held in many cities in India to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his enlightenment.
work
Acharya Vidyasagar was fluent in several languages, including Sanskrit, Prakriti, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi and English, and wrote numerous works in these languages. Some of his famous works include Niranjana Shataka, Bhavana Shataka, Parishah Jaya Shataka, Suniti Shataka and Shramana Shataka. He also composed approximately 700 haiku poems, which have not yet been published. One of his important contributions is the Hindi epic Mukamati, which has been included in the syllabus of Hindi MA courses in various institutions. Many researchers have explored his work in their master’s and doctoral theses. He established a school called Pratibhasthali Gyanodaya Vidhyapeeth for girls to impart important life lessons to them besides studies.
die
Vidyasagar passed away at the age of 77 at Sallekhana at Chandragiri Teerth in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh on February 18, 2024. Following his death, the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh governments declared a half-day of national mourning. The Governor and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh expressed condolences on his death.
Samadhi/Salekana
Acharya renounced Acharya status and started Salakana on February 16, 2024 at Chandragiri Tirth in Dongargarh (sallekhana) ceremony. He breathed his last (Samadhi) at the same place on February 18, 2024 at 02:35 AM. He passed on the Acharya title to Niryapak Muni Samaysagar Maharaj on February 6, 2024.
Acharya Vidyasagar after attaining samadhi
In 2024, at the Bharatiya Janata Party National Convention in Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders observed a minute’s silence to mark Acharya’s death and express condolences.
Facts/Trivia
- Acharya Vidyasagar’s childhood name was Vidyadhar.
- During his childhood, he was often called Sukumal, Peelu, Gini (Tota) and Mari.
- His favorite board game is chess. He also enjoys playing carrom.
- The house where he was born has since been remodeled.
- Acharya Vidyasagar followed very strict rules in his ascetic life. He avoided milk, curd, green vegetables and dry fruits. He also limits his water intake to once a day, measured with his finger. His diet consisted mainly of regular dal and roti in small amounts. He mostly traveled across the country on foot.
- As a child, he loved eating fresh butter, which he used to make ghee (clarified butter).
- In 2006, his disciple Muni Kshamasagar wrote a biography of him called Ātmānveśhī, which was translated into English as “In Quest of the Self”.
Cover of the book “Searching for Yourself”
- In November 2018, the documentary “Vidyoday” based on the life of Acharya Vidyasagar was released. The film’s first international screening was at London’s Harrow Safari Cinema.
2018 documentary “Vidyoday” poster
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education