Works
Kshamasagar wrote "In Quest of the Self: The Life Story of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar" (आत्मान्वेषी), a biography of his teacher Āchārya Vidyadagar and was published by Bhartiya Jnanpith. [6]
His poems have been collected and published in Hindi and English. His poetry works include the following published books.
- "Pagdandi Suraj Tak" (1992)
- "Muni Kshamasagar ki Kavitayen" (1996). [7]
- Mukti (2000) [8]
- "Apna Ghar" (2005) [9]
- "Aur Aur Apna" (2016) [10]
- "Karam Kaise Karein" is a collection of his discourses. [11]
- He also wrote "Jain Darshan Paribhashika Kosh". [12]
There is a famous quote dedicated to Acharya Vidyasagar by him. [13]
दीप उनका, रौशनी उनकी, मै जल रहा हूँ |
रास्ते उनके, सहारा भी उनका, मै चल रहा हूँ |
प्राण उनके हर साँस उनकी, मै जी रहा हूँ | [13]
Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji Maharaj was an Indian Digambara Jain Acharya. He was recognized both for his scholarship and tapasya (austerity). He was known for his long hours in meditation. While he was born in Karnataka and took diksha in Rajasthan, he generally spent much of his time in the Bundelkhand region where he is credited with having brought about a revival in educational and religious activities. He wrote the epic Hindi poem "Mukamati".
Acharya Shri Shantisagar Ji (1872–1955) was an Indian monk of the Digambar Jain faith. He was the first Acharya (preceptor) and a leader of his sect in the 20th century. Shanti Sagar ji revived the teaching and practice of traditional Digambara practices in North India. He was lustrated as a kshullaka into the Sangha by Devappa (Devakirti) Swami Ji. He took his ailaka deeksha before an image of the Tirthankara Neminatha. In about 1920, Shantisagar Ji became a full muni (monk) of the Digambara sect of Jainism. In 1922, at Yarnal village, Belgaum district, Karnataka, he was given the name "Shanti Sagar Ji".
Jainism is an ancient Indian religion belonging to the śramaṇa tradition. It prescribes ahimsa (non-violence) towards all living beings to the greatest possible extent. The three main teachings of Jainism are ahimsa, anekantavada (non-absolutism), aparigraha (non-possessiveness). Followers of Jainism take five main vows: ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha. Monks follow them completely whereas śrāvakas (householders) observe them partially. Self-discipline and asceticism are thus major focuses of Jainism.
Kshullak Ganeshprasad Varni was one of the foundational figures of the modern Indian Digambara intellectual tradition during the early 20th century. He was the founder of several schools and institutions of advanced learning including Syadvad Mahavidyalaya at Varanasi in 1905, Varanasi and Satark-Sudhataringini Digamber Jain Pathshala, now Ganesh Digamber Jain Sanskrit Vidyalaya at Sagar.
"Shri Ramachandra Kripalu" or "Shri Ram Stuti" is a Stuti verse from his work called Vinaya Patrika, written by Goswami Tulsidas. It was written in the sixteenth century, in a mix of Sanskrit and Awadhi languages. The prayer/ode glorifies Shri Rāma and his characteristics to the best.
Acharya Chandana, known as Tai Maharaj by her devotees, is an Indian Jain nun of the Amarmuni Sampradaya. Chandana is the first Jain sadhvi to be awarded the title of Acharya and the Padma Shri. Chandana is known for her social engagement and for popularising the notion of 'seva' among the Jain community. She is the founder of Veerayatan, a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Rajgir with centers in over ten countries.
Bhaktamal, written c. 1585, is a poem in the Braj language that gives short biographies of more than 200 bhaktas. It was written by Nabha Dass, a saint belonging to the tradition of Ramananda.
Sahityacharya Dr. Pandit Pannalal Jain was a distinguished Jain scholar. Dr. Kasturchand Kasliwal has regarded him as among the 20 most distinguished of the Jain scholars of 20th century His teaching career spanned 70 years, from 1931 to 2001.
Muni Tarun Sagar was an Indian Digambara monk. His lectures are termed Kadve Pravachan because they can be candidly critical of common practices and views. His lectures have been compiled and published in book series also titled Kadve Pravachan. Excerpts from his discourses are often published by newspapers. Unlike most other Digambar Jain monks, his audience often included a majority of non-Jains. His discourses often addressed family or society issues.
Acharya Guptinandi Ji is a Digambara monk initiated by Acharya Kunthusagar.
Munishri Pramansagarji Maharaj is a Digambar monk of Terapanth sub-sect. He is an able disciple of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj. He has set free the religion from traditional abstruseness and made it practicable in life. Through his sermons and initiatives, the process of a qualitative change in society has begun. He led a campaign to save the Jain tradition of Santhara also known as Sallekhana in the year 2015, in which millions of Jain community members took out massive silent rallies in several cities and towns all over the world against the Rajasthan High Court decision. Gunayatan is one of his important religious initiatives which is going to become a centre for self-development in the true sense. His pravachans and Shanka Samadhan programme are aired on Jinvani Channel and Paras TV Channel.
Acharya Deshbhushan was a Digambara Jain Acharya of 20th century who composed and translated many Kannada scriptures to Hindi and Sanskrit. He initiated and elevated several Jain monks and nuns like Shwetpichhi Acharya Vidyananda ji and Gyanmati Mataji. He is renowned for his remarkable translations of Kannada scriptures to Sanskrit and Hindi. He is the first Digambara Acharya to visit and address the Indian Parliament in the year 1974 along with the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Muni Shri 108 Pragya Sagar Ji Maharaj is a Digambara monk.
Upadhyaya Shri Guptisagarji is a Digambara monk who currently has the rank of an Upadhyaya. Born in 1957, he took ailak diksha under Acharya Vidyasagar ji in 1980, Muni diksha in 1982 also under Acharya Vidyasagar. He was initiated an Upadhyaya by Acharya Vidyanand ji in 1991. He is the inspiration behind Gupti Dham Jain Mandir, Ganaur, Sonipat.
Muni Shri Sudhasagar Maharaj is a Digambar monk who was initiated by Acharya Vidyasagar.
Nainagiri is a major pilgrimage site for Jainism in India. It is located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, it is 12 km from Dalpatpur and 25 km from Bukswaha. This tirth, also known as Reshandigiri, is a Siddha Kshetra where five ancient saints including Varadatta had attained nirvana.
Bade Baba Temple, Kundalpur is a temple in Kundalpur, a pilgrimage town for Jains, in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh. It is 35 km from Damoh. The Bade Baba Temple was formally known as Shri Digamber Jain Siddha Kshetra Kundalpur.
Siddhantacharya Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri was a Jain scholar, writer, editor, freedom fighter, social reformer and an intellectual giant in the field of Jainism. He is best known for dedicating a major part of his life in translating to Hindi the foremost and the oldest Digambara Jain Canon Shatkhandāgama and Kasayapahuda and its commentaries Dhavala, Maha-Dhavala and Jai-Dhavala. He was also an active member of Indian National Congress during the Indian freedom struggle. He was also a strong advocate and proponent of abolishing many evils within the Jain community. Panditji was also the founding member of many institutes of learning and scholarship. As a recognition of his contribution to Jain philosophy, he was conferred a title of "Siddhantacharya" at Jain Siddhant Bhavan, Ara (Bihar) in 1962 by the Governor of Bihar Ananthasayanam Ayyangar.
