Acharya Vijayanandsuri | |
|---|---|
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| Official name | Acharya Vijayanand Suri |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1837-04-06)6 April 1837 Lehra,Punjab,British India |
| Died | 20 May 1896(1896-05-20) (aged 59) |
| Notable work(s) | Jain Tattvadarsh,Agyana Timira Bhaskara,Tattva Nirnaya Prāsād |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Jainism |
| Sect | Śvetāmbara |
| Initiation | Anandvijay (earlier Atmaram) 1876 Ahmedabad by Muni Buddhivijay |
| Religious career | |
| Successor | Vallabhsuri |
AcharyaVijayanand Suri (6 April 1837 – 20 May 1896), also known asAtmaramji ofGujranwala, was the firstSwetambarMurtipujakaJain monk in modern times to receive the title ofAcharya.[1][2] Born and raised inPunjab, he was initiated as aSthanakvasi monk and later joined the Murtipujaka tradition. He travelled extensively inGujarat,Rajputana and Punjab; he organised and reformed Jain community, ascetic orders and literature. He wrote several books in Hindi and was invited to the first World Parliament of Religions in 1893 which was attended byVirchand Gandhi later.[3]
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He was born on 6 April 1837 CE (Chaitra Shukla 1Vikram Samvat 1893) in Lehara, Punjab to Ganeshchandra and Rupdevi. He was born in a Hindu family.[4] His father was an army official ofRanjit Singh. His father died in his early childhood and he was raised by his mother. He was given to Sheth Jodhmal of Jira, Punjab for education in VS 1903. He studied Hindi and arithmetic. He came into contact with Sthanakvasi monks during his school life. A couple of influential Sthanakavasi monks initiated him in 1853 (VS 1910) at the age of sixteen and was given the name of Atmaram.[2][5][6]
Atmaram began the study of Jain scriptures along with his fellow ascetics. He was later joined by aYati ofTapa Gaccha lineage. After several years of study, he was convinced that the Sthanakavasi position of opposition of Idol-worshiping contradicted the scriptures.[2] Later in 1876 (VS 1943), he was initiated again as a Murtipujaka monk inAhmedabad by Muni Buddhivijay, also known as Buterayji of Tapa Gaccha who himself was Sthanakvasi monk before. He was given a new name, Anandvijay.
In 1886, he was conferred the title ofAcharya by thecongregation ofPalitana during hisChaturmas (four months stay during rainy season) there. This was a notable event because since four centuries, there wasn't an ascetic who was conferred with the title of Acharya. He was the first Acharya of contemporary Jain history as till then onlyYatis were conferred with the title.[5] As a result of reforms advocated by him, the influence ofyatis declined, although the yatis still survive in some locations.[7]
He travelled extensively in Gujarat and Punjab. He convinced to open Jain Bhandaras (libraries) with Jain literature kept closed to people for years and had texts copied and examined by scholars. He brought this literature to light and instilled a sense of identity among Jains. In 1893, he was invited to participate in the first everWorld Parliament of Religions atChicago and since Jain monks do not travel overseas he sentVirchand 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.[8] Based on questions that he had received from the organizers of the Parliament, he wrote a book for the occasion entitledThe Chicago-Prashnottar orQuestions and Answers on Jainism for the Parliament of Religions Held at Chicago USA in 1893. He was instrumental in reviving the tradition of fully initiated monks (Samvegi sadhu). He also convinced many Sthankvasis in the Punjab to join the Murtipujaka tradition. About 15000 people converted to Jainism due to his efforts. He also encouraged the construction and renovation of Jain temples. He had helped orientalistRudolf Hoernlé in his studies on Jainism.[6]
He died inGujranwala (now inPakistan) on 20 May 1896 (Jayeshtha Shukla 8 VS 1953).[5] A memorial shrine dedicated to him was built there by Lala Mayadas Nanakchand Bhabras.[6][9] His footprints along with thechhatri (cenotaph) over them, are moved toLahore Fort Museum. Some artefacts and decorations were also moved.[10][11] The shrine was mistakenly identified as the memorial of Punjab rulerRanjit Singh's grandfather Charat Singh.[12][11]
The shrine came under the local police in 1984 and used as a police station until 2003 when most offices were moved to new place. The central chamber was used as an office of the Gujranwala Deputy Police Superintendent. The building was used by traffic police until 2015.[12] In 2019, it was declared as a protected monument by theGovernment of Punjab, Pakistan.[9][11] The samadhi was visited by Jain Acharya Gachadhipati Dharmadhurandhar Suri on May 28, 2023 along with other Jain munis and lay Jains after a gap to more than 75 years.[13]
He wrote a number of books in Hindi, includingThe Chicago-Prashnottar orQuestions and Answers on Jainism for the Parliament of Religions Held at Chicago USA in 1893 which was translated into English and published in 1918. His other important works areJain Tattvadarsh,Agyana Timira Bhaskara,Samyaktva-shalyadwara andTattva Nirnaya Prāsād.[6]
He used to give more importance to education and established several libraries andPathshala (religious schools) in Punjab. LaterVallabhsuri, his disciple, built many schools, hospitals and educational institutes. He was given the title ofNavyug Nirmata (builder of a new era) by Vallabhsuri.[6]
His monkhood lineage has large number of ascetics which roughly covers1⁄4 of all current ascetics of Tapa Gaccha. Major ascetic groupings are Atma-Vallabh Samuday, Prem-Ramchandra Suri and Prem-Bhuvanbhanu Suri Samuday.[2]
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