1. Who was Shri Gyansagar Ji Maharaj ?
The first disciple of Acharya Shri Shantisagar ji was Acharya Shri Veersagar ji, the first disciple of Acharya Shri Veersagar ji was Acharya Shri Shivsagar ji and the first disciple of Acharya Shri Shivsagar ji was Acharya Shri Gyansagar ji.
2. What is the general introduction of Acharya Shri Gyansagar ji ?
His former name - Bhooramalji
Second name - Shantikumar
Mother - Smt. Ghritvari Devi
Father - Shri Chaturbhuj Chhabra
Grand Mother - Smt. Gatto Devi
Grand Father - Shri Sukhdev ji
Brother - They were total five brothers - Chhaganlal, Bhooramal, Gangaprasad, Gourilal and Devidutta
Birth - Vikram Samvat, 1948, Christian era, 1891
Place - Ranoli,
District - Seekar (Rajasthan)
Death of the father - In the year 1902
Education - Primary education in a village school and the education of Shastri level in Syadvad Mahavidylaya, Banaras
3. How the earlier life of Acharya Shri Gyansagar ji had been ?
It is said that the goddess of wealth and goddess of knowledge do not live together. This saying did happen with Gyansagar ji in toto. He received elementary education in a village primary school. Due to want of means, he did not prosecute his further study and along with his elder brother arrived at Gaya for search of some work, there began to work in a Seth's shop for earning the livlihood, but by mind he wanted to study further. By chance, students of Syadvad
Vidhyalaya came Gaya for taking part in some celebration. Observing their very effective 1. i.e. Gyansagar Ji Maharaj programmes, Bhooramal ji thought of going to Varansi for study. Considering his earnest intence desire, his elder brother permitted him to go to Varansi.
He used to sell towels on the bank of river Ganges for arranging money for the expenses on study and food, and used to meet this expenditure from the income thus earned. Afterwards some body told him that he will get the expenses from the college, but Bhooramalji refused being a person of leading a self-support life. Passing out Shashtri examination from Varansi, he deeply studied several treatises of Sanskrit grammar, literature, doctrines / theories and spiritual texts.
After returning from Banaras, he composed several treatises in Sanskrit & Hindi by reflecting, writing and careful study of literary works with great perseverance. In the modern century, his name deserves special mention among learned who have kept alive the tradition of composition of epics in the Sanskrit language. Great learned of Kashi have reacted saying "It is a great pleasure that even in this period there exists learned of such a superior status who can confront with poets like Kalidas and Magh". Thus he spent 50 years in the service of "Jinwani", (i.e. spiritual doctrines of Jainism as revealed in the resonant preaching of Lord Jinendra Deva). But according to the 'Mantra' "the knowledge is like a burden without action", he for practising it in the real life, engaged himself on the path of renunciation.
4. What type the conduct-path of Acharya Shri Gyansagar ji was ?
- The model stage of celibacy (Brahmacharya Pritima) - In the form of vow - in 1947 Vik. Sam. 2004.
- Initiation of Kshullaka - Taken himself on 25 April, 1955, the third day of light half of lunar month Baisakh (Akshya Tritiya), Vik. Sam. 2012 in Parswanath temple at Mansoorpur, Mujaffarnagar.
- Initiation of Ailaka - In 1957 from Acharya Deshbushanji Maharaj.
- Initiation of Muni - On the second day of dark half lunar month Asar, 22 June, 1959, Monday, Vik. Sam. 2016 at Khaniyaji, Jaipur (Raj.).
- Preceptor granting Initiation - Acharya Shri Shivsagar Ji.
- When endowed with position of Acharya - On the 7th Feb., 1969, Fifth day of dark half of Falguna, Vik. Sam. 2025, Friday, at Naseerabad (Raj.) granted by jain community. One adept was also granted as Muni-initiation who was named as Viveksagarji.
- Renunciation of the position of Acharya and accepting vow of "Sallekhna" (Holy death) - Granted position of Acharya to his first disciple Muni Shri Vidyasagar ji on 22 Nov. 1972, 2nd day of dark half of the lunar month Magsir, Vik. Sam. 2029 at Naseerabad and requested him for "Sallekhna".
- Holy death - 15th day of dark half of the lunar month of Jeyeshtha, 1 June, 1973, Friday Vik. Sam. 2030 at Naseerabad (Rajasthan).
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Time of Holy death - At 10.50 morning.
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Period of "Sallekhna" - Six months 13 days (according to days of lunar month).
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Period of "Sallekhna" - Six months 10 days (according to english dates).
5. Which literature Acharya Gyansagar has composed ?
In Sanskrit language -
Epics - Dayodaya, Jayodaya and Veerodaya.
Biographical character verse - Sudarsanodaya, Bhadrodaya and Muni Manoranjanashiti.
Jain doctrines - Samayakatvasarshatkam.
Religious scriptures - Pravachansar Pratiroopaka.
In Hindi language -
Biographical character verse - Rishabhvatar, Bhagyodaya, Vivekodaya and Gun Sundar Vratant.
Religious scriptures - Kartavyapath Pradarshan, Sachitta Vivechan, Sachitta Vichar, Tattvarthasutra - Teeka (commentary) and Manav Dharma.
Translation in verse - Devagama stotra, Niyamsar and Astapahuda.
Others - Swami Kundkund, Sanatan Jain Dharma and Jain Vivah Vidhi.
6. Whom Acharya Gyansagar ji imparted knowledge of scriptures ?
He taught scriptures to many ascetics, Aryikayen, Ailakas, Kshullakas, Brahamchari and Shravakas, in the congregation of Acharya Veersagar ji, in the congregation of Acharya Shivsagar ji, in the congregation of Dharamsagar ji, Acharya Ajitsagar ji and in present Acharya Vidyasagar ji is an excellent example of this.
7. How Sallekhna (Procedure for physical emaciation for holy death) of Gyansagar ji was accomplished ?
First of all Acharya Gyansagar ji renounced his office (position) of Acharya (preceptor head) and gave that position to Muni Vidyasagar ji and he requested Acharya Vidyasagar ji for accomplishing his Sallekhna. In fact there is a rule that Acharya Parmesthi ji should go to other congregation for accepting Sallekhna, then why he did not go, a thought struck me that Acharya Gyansagar ji taught / instructed everything to disciple Vidyasagar ji, i.e. how disciples are taught ? how disciples are admitted (in the congregation)? how initiation is granted ? how the congregation is conducted etc.? but he did not teach him the procedure of Sallekhna as to how the vow of Sallekhna is given ? Hence he himself took (accepted) Sallekhna from Vidyasagar ji so that he may learn it.
Even the son who inherited property amounting crores of rupees would not have served his father in the manner in which Acharya Shri Vidyasagar ji served his Guru. Acharya Shri Gyansagar ji was suffering from pain of sciatica due to which he was not sleeping outside even in the hot days of summer. Then also Acharya Vidyasagar ji used to sleep with him inside the room in that hot weather. Gyansagar ji always remained in the state of awakening. He had renounced food grains about six months before holy death and with four fasts the Yama Sallekhna was concluded in the terrible hot of summer of Rajasthan.
Edited by Vidyasagar.Guru
