Vijayanandsuri

Acharya Vijayanand Suri
Name (official) Acharya Vijayanand Suri
Personal Information
Born April 6, 1837
Lehara, Punjab
Died May 20, 1896 (aged 59)
Gujranwala, Punjab
Initiation
New name given Ānandavijaya (earlier Sant Atmaram)
Initiated by Muni Buddhivijay
Initiated on Vikram Samvat 1875
After Initiation
Rank Acharya
Works Tattva-darsha, Agyana Timira Bhaskara, and Tattva Nirnaya Prāsād

Acharya Vijayanand Suri (1837–1896) also known as Atmaram was the first Swetambar Murtipujak Jain monk in modern times to receive the title of Acharya.[1][2] He was given the title of Navyug Nirmata (Builder of a new era) by his disciple Vallabhsuri.

Vijayanandsuri

Early life

Vijayanandsuri
Vijayanandsuri with his disciples in Ajmer in VS 1946

He was born in 1837 CE in western part of Punjab. He was born in a Hindu family. His father was an army official of Ranjit Singh. During his time, there was a public dispute between the two Svetambara groups of Sthanakvasi and Murtipujaka. A couple of influential Sthanakvasi monks initiated him in 1853.[2]

Ascetic life

He was initiated at the age of sixteen and was given the name of Atmaram. Jivanram, his teacher, was an uneducated person. Atmaram began the study of Jain scriptures along with his fellow ascetics. He was later Joined by a yati of Tapa Gachha lineage. After several years of study, he was convinced that the Sthanakvasi position of opposition of Idol-worshiping contradicted the scriptures.[2] Later in Vikram Samvat 1875, he was initiated again by Muni Buddhivijaya of Tapa Gachchha. In 1886, he was conferred the title of Acharya. This was a notable event because since four centuries, there wasn't an ascetic who was conferred with the title of Acharya. In 1886, the Murtipujaka Sangh of Palitana honoured him with Acharya Vijayānandasuri title. In 1893 he was invited to participate in the first ever World religions Parliament at Chicago and since Jain Monks do not travel overseas he sent Virchand Gandhi to United States to participate in the World Parliament of Religions. He won silver medal in 1893 at Chicago and was covered by many USA periodicals.[3] Acharya Atmaramji used to give more importance to education. Later Vallabhsuri,his disciple successfully nationally built many schools, hospitals and educational institutes.The village he was died in now lies in Pakistan.GUJRANWAL

Legacy

Currently nearly 10,000 Monks and Nuns owe their allegiance to Guru Atam. Major streams following him are - Atma Vallabh Samuday, an ascetic grouping, Prem -Ramchandra Suri and Prem- Bhuvan Bhanu Suri samuday.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mangilal Bhutoria, Itihas ki Amar Bel- Oswal, Priyadarshi Prakashan, Calcutta, 1988
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 John Cort (November 16, 2009). Framing the Jina : Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History. Oxford University Press. pp. 5–8. ISBN 978-0-19-973957-8. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ Jainism: The World of Conquerors By Natubhai Shah, 1998 Sussex Academic Press

External links