Acharya Rajendrasuri
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Acharya Rajendrasuri (1827-1906) was the major reformer of 18th and 19th century in shvetambar sect of Jainism. In 1880 A.D., as the leader of the Tapa Gachchha, lead a movement to restore orders of wandering monks,leading to near extinction of the Jain Yati institutions. Afterwords he restore shraman sanstha by reopening of Agam gachchha or Samakit gachchha,now that is konwn as "Tristutik" gachchha.He opposed worship ofvarious minor gods and goddesses inspite of Jain Tirthankars. Acharya Rajendrasuri bourn on 3rd dec.1827 at Bharatpur in Rajasthan. He wrotte many books on Jainism his one of the most famous achievement is "Aabhidhan Rajendra Kosh" that is only one available Jain encyclopedia or Jain dictionary of Prakrit,Sanskrit,and Palee Jain languages words {used by Jainism}.
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[edit] Biography
Acharya Rajendra suri was born on the 3rd December, 1827 at Bharatpur (Rajasthan) in a family of business man named Rishabhadas Parakh.His bourn name is Ratna Raj. He was Having religious bent of mind he renounced the worldly life and was initiated as Jain yati by Hemavijayaji at Udaipur in 1846 A.D. and he was now known as Ratnavijay (early name of Rajendrasuri). He had studied diligently the Jain scriptures, philosophy, literature, grammar, rhetoric, lexicography, etc. under Acharya Pramodsuri and Jain Monk Sagarchandji, the well-known yatis of the age and soon he acquired proficiency. Jain Acharya Dharanendrasuri was so much impressed by the profound scholarship of Rajendrasuri that he appointed him his daftari and entrusted the task of teaching the groups of yati disciples. But soon Ratnavijay (Rajendrasuri) was disgusted with the princely and luxurious life of Dharanendrasuri, it was an utter disregard and contradiction to the Jain principles of non-possession and non-violence. Consequently Rajendrasuri left Dharanendrasuri in 1864 A.D. and this was a turning point in the life of Rajendrasuri.
Now he raised his voice against the corrupt and luxurious life of the Jain yatis and condemned their abundance of possession and insisted on a pious ideal life in accordance with the principles laid down by Jain Tirthankaras and Jain holy scriptures. After prolonged deliberations, he issued none-point manifes known as Nav-kalama to for the purpose and explained to the Jain world the significance of his nine principles of reform that the Jain yatis had to follow. It was a vigorous attempts to reform the institution of Jain yati and place it on sound, simple and rational principles and get rid of its age old traditions and superstitions. Though opposed in the initial stages, the attempts of Rajendrasuri were ultimately crowned with success. His nine-point manifesto was accepted and recognized by the leading yatis and Jain monk of the age and even Acharya Dharanendrasuri also signed it. As a result of this the Jain yatis/Monk had given up their worldly life and surrendered their princely symbols like silver rods, chanwar, palkhi, arms, etc. to the Jain temples, and tool solemn oath to lead a life of purity, simplicity, celebacy, non-possession, non-violence, teaching and preaching. Thus Rajendrasuri reformed and simplifies the Jain yati/monk institution, Tristutik(tin thui) sect of Jainism, and a new life of revivalism was infused in them.He opposed worship ofvarious minor gods and goddesses inspite of Jain Tirthankars.
Rajendrasuri did not end at the reformation of the Jain yati institution, it was his first task of revival movement. His other achievements were restoration and reconstruction of Jain temples and installation of Jain images and establishment of different socio-religious organizations for the uplift of the Jains and propagation of Jainism. Like a pious, true, diligent monk, devoted to the cause of Jainism. He walked from place to place in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Malwa, etc. teaching, preaching and infusing new spirit of the age among the people. He appealed to the masses by delivering his discourses in simple dialects of the people, the common spoken languages of the masses, - Malwi, Gujarati, Marwari, etc. He inspired the Jain monks to study profoundly the Jain scriptures. He himself devoted to the deep study of Jain works. He was bitterly opposed to the storage of Jain works in isolated places; he eagerly desired to bring them to light for the propagation of Jainism. He himself wrote collected and edited certain important Jain works. He complied the famous Jain encyclopedia "Abhidan-Rajendra Kosh". It is a monumental work in seven volumes with more then 90 thousand pages. This work itself places Rajendrasuri on a high pedestal of Jain scholars and pioneers of religious movements of the nineteenth century.
[edit] Books
Some of Important books with "Abhidhan Rajendra Kosh (7 Voloum with 90 thousand pages), Written by Acharya Rajendrasuri are as follows:
- 1. Shri Abhidhan Rajendra Kosh
- 2. Prakrit Vyakruti (Commentary on Grammar)
- 3. Sri Kalpasutra Prabodhini (Commentary on Kalpasutra)
- 4. Khartar Taskar Prabandh (Unpublished)
- 5. Bhagawati Sutra Sateek
- 6. Gachchhar Payanna
- 7. Terapanth Prashnottar Vichara
- 8. Shri Mahanishitha Sutra(fifth)
- 9. Brahata sangrihani
- 10. Upasaka Dashanga Sutra
- 11.Prakrit Sahbda Rupawali
- 12.Deepmalika Katha (Story of Diwali Festival)
- 13.Holika Katha (Story of Holi Festival)
- 14.Shri Ganhdharvad
- 15. Karma Vichar (Unpublished)
- 16. Tatva Vichar (Unpublished)
- 17. Sri Kalpasutra Balavabodh
- 18. Sri Jinupadesh Manjiri
- 19. Kalyanmandir Stotra (Commentary)
- 20. Jyotirya Kalpalata
- 21. Swarodhya-gyan and Yantravali
- 22. Vichar-sar Prakranam
- 23. Sanskirt Vyakarnam (SanskritGrammar)
- 24. Laghu Sanghgrahani
- 25. Amarkosh (Original)
- 26. Navpad Puja Prasnothar
- 27. Upadhan Vidhi
- 28. Sratakatriyam (Bhatruhari)
- 29. Chandrika Vyakaranam
- 30. Kavyaprakash Mulamam
- 31. Varnamala
- 32.Upasaka Dashang Sutra
- 33.Ek Sou Aath bol
- 33.Upadesh Ratna saara
- 34.Treloyaka Deepika Yantravali
- 35.Karna Granth (four)
- 36.Saptati Shatasthan Yantravali
- 37.Dwashisth Margana Yntravali
- 38.Shada Dravya Vichara
- 39.Sidhnta Prakash
- 40.Asthanhika Vyakhyana
- 41.Sindura Prakara-satika
- 42.Bhayhara Stotra
Thw original copy of All the books are stored in Gayna Bhandar of Ahore in Rajasthan,Javara,Mohankheda in M.P. and Tharad &Ahmedabad in Gujrat
[edit] Nirvana (Swargarohan)
On the 21st December Friday 1906 A.D.,Vikram Samvat 1963 Pous Shukla Saptami ,the great helping nature, Religious-Preacher Acharya Rajendrasuri laid down his body for the Moksha Prapti (for heaven) till death in a still Samadhi.A great saint who was in his own a different kind having same date of birth and death.
[edit] Samadhi Mandir
After the 100 years of Nirvana, Shri Mohan Kheda Tirth(Rajgadh-Dhar, M.P.)is most reputed holy place all over the world. Every year devotees from all over world (in lakhs) gather here to attain the Spiritual and Chamatkarik Aarti of Acharya Rajendrasuri on his birth and Nirvana day by hindu calender month posha shukla Saptami.
The year 2006 is celebrating as Shatabdi Mahotsava,in memory of 100 years of Nirvana of Rajendra suri at Mohan Kheda Tirth in Dhar district of Madhya Pradeesh in India.
[edit] Following Acharya's
The follwoing Jain Acharya's of Rajendrasuri according Jain tradition are as follows-
- Acharya Dhanachandra suri(1839-1920)
- Acharya Bhupendra suri(1887-1936)
- Acharya Yatindra suri(1883-1960)
- Acharya Viddhachandra suri.(1906-1982)
- Acharya Jayantsen Suri.(1936-current)
[edit] References and Sources
- 1.RajendraSuri Smaraka Granth[1]
- 2.[2]
- 3.[3]
- 4.'Kathāmr̥tanidhi'-By Anantabhaṭṭ & Rama Saksena(ISBN 8170813417)[4]
- 5.'Jainism in Rajasthan'-By Kailash Chand Jain,Published in 1963 by
Gulabchand Hirachand Doshi.
- 6.'Jaina Grantha Bhandārs in Rājasthān'-Written By Kastoor Chand Kasliwal,Published in 1967 by Shri Digamber Jain Atishaya Kshetr(Shri
Mahavirji).
- 7.'Acharya Rajendra Suri, the revolutionary Jain saint' Written By Kasturchand M Jhabak.
