A monk is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many religions and in philosophy across numerous cultures.
Agrawal is a Bania caste. The Banias of northern India are a cluster of several communities, of which the Agarwal Banias, Maheshwari Banias, Oswal Banias, Khatri Banias and Porwal Banias are a part.
Acharya Vidyasagar was an influential Indian Digambara Jain acharya (monk), credited with having brought about a revival in educational and religious activities in Digambara Jainism. He wrote the epic Hindi poem Mukamati.
Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community and can be divided into two major denominations: the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara. The monastic practices of the two major sects vary greatly, but the major principles of both are identical. Five mahāvratas, from Mahavira's teachings, are followed by all Jain ascetics of both the sects. Historians believe that a united Jain sangha (community) existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the moksha (liberation) of Mahavira. The community then gradually divided into the major denominations. However, no evidences indicate when the schism between the Digambaras and the Śvetāmbaras happened.
Acharya Shri Shantisagar Ji (1872–1955) was an Indian Acharya of the Digambara monk faith. He was the first Acharya (preceptor) and a leader of his digamber 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 (sadhu) of the Digambara. In 1922, at Yarnal village, Belgaum district, Karnataka, he was given the name "Shanti Sagar Ji".
Mūrtipūjaka, also known as Derāvāsī ("temple-dweller") or Mandir Mārgī, is the largest sect of Śvetāmbara Jainism. Mūrtipūjaka Jains differ from both Śvetāmbara Sthānakavāsī and Śvetāmbara Terāpanthī Jains in that they worship images of the Tīrthaṅkaras. Mūrtipūjaka may also generally describe members of both the Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions who use idols (mūrti) in their worship (pūjā).
In Jainism, ahiṃsā is a fundamental principle forming the cornerstone of its ethics and doctrine. The term ahiṃsā means nonviolence, non-injury, and absence of desire to harm any life forms. Veganism, vegetarianism and other nonviolent practices and rituals of Jains flow from the principle of ahimsa. There are five specific transgressions of Ahimsa principle in Jain scriptures – binding of animals, beating, mutilating limbs, overloading, and withholding food and drink. Any other interpretation is subject to individual choices and not authorized by scriptures.
Jain texts assign a wide range of meaning to the Sanskrit dharma or Prakrit dhamma. It is often translated as “religion” and as such, Jainism is called Jain Dharma by its adherents.
Saman Suttam is the religious text created in 1974 by a committee consisting of representatives of each of the major sects of Jainism, Digambaras and Svetambaras, to reconcile the teachings of the sects. After a gap of about nearly two thousand years following composition of Tattvartha Sutra by Acharya Umasvati this was the first text to be recognized by all Jain sects. At Umaswati's time, although multiple orders existed, there was no clear sectarian division. By the 20th century however, Jainism had gradually been divided into several sects. For someone to compile a text at this time, and for it to be approved by all sects, was an exceptional event.
Acharya Jnansagar or Gyansagar (1891–1973) was a Digambara Jain Acharya of 20th century who composed many Sanskrit epics. He initiated Acharya Vidyasagar in 1968 as a monk and 1972 as an Acharya.
Agrawal Jains are an Indian Jain community who originated from Agroha near Hisar, Haryana. In Sanskrit inscriptions and texts, the community is termed Agrotakanvaya.
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.
In Jainism, Pratima is a step or a stage marking the spiritual rise of a lay person (shravak). There are eleven such steps called pratima. After passing the eleven steps, one is no longer a sravaka, but a muni (monk).
Gurudev ShreeChitrabhanu was a prominent figure in American Jainism. He was one of the co-founders of JAINA.
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 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 Kshamasagar ji Maharaj was a Digambara monk initiated by Shri 108 Acharya Vidyasagar ji Maharaj. He is also known for his poetry and writings which are widely quoted.
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.
