1. When and where Acharya Shri Shantisagar ji was born ?
He was born in the night of wednesday, the 25th July, 1872, corresponding to 6th day of the dark fortnight of lunar month 'Asar', 'Vikram Samvat' 1929 in village yelgul (Maharashtra) near Bhojgram (Karnataka) in the house of his maternal grandfather.
2. What was former name of Acharya Shanti Sagarji ?
The former name of Acharya Shantisagar Ji was Saatgowda.
3. What sort of 'Dohla' (intense desire) his mother felt when he was in the mother's womb ?
She felt the intense desire of worshipping Lord Jinendra with 108 thousand - petaled lotuses. Then those lotuses were sent for from the pond near Kolhapur and Jinendra Deva was worshipped with great devotion.
4. What was the name of the parents of Saatgowda ?
The name of his mother was Satyavati and father Bhimgowda Patil (Village Headman). He was fourth Jain by caste.
5. How many brothers and sisters were of Saatgowda ?
There were five brothers and sisters including Saatgowda - Adigowda, Devagowda, Saatgowda (Acharya Shri Shanti Sagarji), Kumbhgowda and sister Krishna Bai.
6. Whether Saatgowda was a married one or a celibate from childhood ?
He was a married celibate from childhood, i.e. he was married in the age of 9 years to a girl of 6 years and it so happened that by chance that girl died after six months. Maharaj Ji once told that he never knew her as his wife. He did not marry afterwards.
7. From when he had inclination of becoming 'Muni' ?
Well, he wanted to become a 'Muni' at the age of 17-18 years but his father had great affection for him. The father told him that he should strive for religious accomplishment living in the house itself till his life, afterwards he might become 'Muni'. Therefore, as per the wish (order) of his father he took 'Kshullaka' inition after his (of father) holy death (Samadhi Maran) at the age of 43 years and became Muni at the age of 48.
8. When Saatgowda paid homage to Shikharji (went to visit Shikharji) and what he renounced there?
He went to Shikarji to pay homage at the age of 32 years and renounced there ghee and oil for the whole life so as to make the memory of that pilgrimage long lasting and resolved to take food once in a day as soon as he returned home.
9. Whether Saatgowda had feelings for the protection of living beings since childhood ?
Yes, he had feeling of protection of living beings. There is an incident of one day. Saatdowda had gone for defecation in the Jungle. When he returned home with the broken metal round pot, he was asked about the breakage of the pot. He told that one snake was rushing towards a frog for swallowing that, so in order to save the life of the frog he immeditately threw the pot in question forcefully on the stone owing to which snake ran away.
When he used to go on the field and birds caused damage to the crop he did not cause them to flee, on the other hand he used to put water for them to drink.
10. What sort of commercial life of Saatgowda was ?
Saatgowda and Kumbhgowda used to sit on the textile shop. When Saatgowda used to sit on the shop and customer came then Saatgowda used to ask him to measure the cloth by himself which he wanted to purchase and keep the cost there. He him -self did not even use to count the money.
11. Saatgowda was without attachment even living in the house, How ?
He lived in the house quite unattached. That is why he did not participate in the marriage ceremony of his younger brother Kumbhgowda and sister Krishna Bai.
12. What sort of compassion and physical strength was of Saatgowda ?
When Saatgowda was visiting Sammed-Shikharji for paying homage, one old woman was seen experiencing difficulty in walking and she could not also engage 'doli' (litter) being penniless. Therefore, Saatgowda seated her on his shoulder and caused to complete her "Vandna' (paying homage) of Sammed Shikarji. In the same way he carried one person to the five hills of 'Rajgrihi'on his shoulder so that he may visit and pay homage there.
13. What sort of journey of abstinence was of Saatgowda ?
(1) Kshullaka Diksha (initiation)-Accepted from Devendra kirti Muni Maharaj on the 13th day of light half of Jetha', 'Vikram Samvata', 1972 (Christian era, 1915) at village Uttoor.
(2) Ailak Diksha - Accepted self at 'Siddha-Kshetra' Girnarji on the fourteenth day of the light half of the lunar month Pausa, Vikram Samvat, 1975 (Christian era Wednessday, January 1919).
(3) Muni Diksha - Took 'Muni-Diksha' from Muni Devendra Kirtiji on the 13th day of the light half of the lunar month 'Falguna', 'Vikram Samvata', 1976 (Christion era Tuesday 2nd March, 1920) at Yarnal on the occasion of 'Panchkalyanaka'
(4) Status of Acharya - At Samdoli on Wednesday, the 11th day of the light half of the lunar month Asvina, 'Vikram Samvata', 1981, corresponding to Christian era, 1924.
(5) Status of Charitra Chakarvarti - At Gajpantha, 'Vikram Samvata', 1994 (Christian era, 1937).
14. When and where 'Ailaka' Shantisagarji renounced travel by vehicle ?
After returning from 'Siddha-Kshetra Girnarji', he arrived at Kundal hill near Sangli and stepped down from there at Alankrit Railway Station and after visiting shrines and paying homage there, he renounced travel by vehicle for the whole life.
15. Where first 'Chaturmas' of Acharya Shantisagarji was held in northern India ?
The Chaturmas (rainy season-stay) of Acharya Shantisagarji was held at Katni (M.P.) in the year 1928.
16. How many fasts Acharya Shantisagarji observed during the period of his Muni-life ?
During 35 years of his Muni-life, he observed fasts for 27 years 2 months and 23 days i.e. 9938 fasts.
17. When and where Acharya Shri Shantisagarji gave up the status of 'Acharya' and to whom he transferred this status ?
Status of'Acharya' was abandoned through a letter at Kunthalgiri. That letter was sent to his first disciple Muni Shri Veersagarji, i.e. he transferred his status of Acharya to Muni Shri Veersagarji on the 9th day of the light half of the lunar month of first 'Bhadra', 'Vikram Samvata', 2012, corresponding to Friday, the 26th August, 1955.
18. When and where the 'Samadhi', i.e. Holy death of Acharya Shri Shantisagarji had taken place ?
Samadhi' of Acharya Shri Shantisagarji Maharaj was accomplished at Kunthalgiri on Sunday, the 2nd day of the light half of the lunar month of second 'Bhadra', 'Vikram Samvata' 2012 corresponding to 18th September, 1955.
19. How many days the 'Sallekhna' (process of holy death) of Acharya Shri Shantisagarji continued ?
'Yama Sallekhna' continued for 36 days. He renounced taking food except water on 14th August after taking food and also renounced even water taking it for the last time on 4th September.
20. From whom Acharya Shri Shantisagarji took initiation of Muni according to Muni Shri Vardhmansagarji (elder brother of Acharya Shri Shantisagarji) ?
Acharya Shri Shantisagarji took initiation of Muni from Bhonsekar Adisagarji Muniraj at yernal.
21. What is the succession of disciples of Acharya Shri Shantisagarji ?
Note : There are some more successions of disciples of Acharya Shantisagarji Maharaj.
22. In which treatise life history of Acharya Shri Shantisagarji is found and who is its author ?
The treatise is Charitra Chakarvati and author is Pt. Sumerchandji Diwakar, Seoni (M.P.).
23. When Charitra Chakarvarti treatise was released ?
It was released in the morning of 4th March, 1953 at Shravanbelgola in the proximity of Acharya Shri Deshbhushan Ji and his congregation. (The Subject - matter of this chapter has been taken almost from 'Charitra Chakarvarti Treatise').
