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{{Short description|Indian jain scholar (1901–1991)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox writer
| honorific_prefix = Siddhantacharya Pandit
| image = Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri in 70s.jpg
| caption = Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri in 70s
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1901|4|11}}
| birth_place = [[Lalitpur district, India|Silawan]], [[North-Western Provinces]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1991|8|31|1901|4|11|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Roorkee]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] (now in [[Uttarakhand]]), [[India]]
| pseudonym =
| subject = [[Jainism]]
| language = [[Sanskrit]], [[Prakrit]], [[Hindi]], [[Bundelkhandi]], [[Apabramsha]]
| occupation = Author
| notableworks = [[Satkhandagama]], [[Kasayapahuda]], ''Varna, Jati aur Dharma, Jain Tattvamimansa''
| awards = Awarded the title of ''Siddhantacharya''
}}

Siddhantacharya Pandit '''Phoolchandra Shastri''' (11 April 1901 – 31 August 1991) was a Jain scholar, writer, editor, freedom fighter, social reformer and an intellectual giant in the field of [[Jainism]].<ref name=Satish>Jain, Satish Kumar (1975), p. 93</ref><ref>Jain, Prakash (2011), p. 156</ref><ref>Jaini, Padmanabh (2000), p. 24</ref> He is best known for dedicating a major part of his life in translating to Hindi the foremost and the oldest [[Digambara]] Jain Canon, ''[[Shatkhandagama|Shatkhandāgama]]'' and ''[[Kasayapahuda]]'', and its commentaries, ''Dhavala'', ''Maha-Dhavala'' and ''Jai-Dhavala''.<ref name=Wiley>Wiley, Kristi (2006), p. 194</ref><ref name=Prakash67>Jain, Prakash (2020), p. 67</ref> He was also an active member of the Indian National Congress during the Indian struggle for freedom.<ref name=Wiley/> Panditji was a strong advocate and proponent of abolishing many evils within the Jain community <ref name=Prakash67/> and was 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 [[M. A. Ayyangar|Ananthasayanam Ayyangar]].<ref name=Wiley/><ref name=Prakash67/>

==Early life==
Panditji was born in the village of Silawan, [[Lalitpur district, India|District Lalitpur]] which is part of [[Bundelkhand]] in the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]] on 11 April 1901.<ref name=Prakash66>Jain, Prakash (2020), p. 66</ref> Singhai Daryavlal Jain and his wife Jankibai were his parents.<ref name=Satish/> He completed his studies in 1920 from Shri Mahavir Digambar Jain Pathshala in Sadhumal, Lalitpur.<ref name=Prakash66/> Despite financial constraints, Panditji ensured that he completed his education. He was motivated and financially helped by Sheth Laxmichand Jain (1856–1920) a [[zamindar]] and businessman of Lalitpur.<ref>Jain, Prakash (2020), p. 55</ref> He did his graduation from Shri Gopal Digambara Jain Sanskrit Vidyalaya, [[Morena, Madhya Pradesh|Morena]] in 1922.<ref>Jain, Prakash (2020), p. 62</ref> He got married in 1923 at the age of 22 years. He migrated from Silawan to Bina and from there he migrated and settled in [[Varanasi]].<ref>Jain, Prakash (2020), p. 70</ref> He lectured in [[Jain Philosophy]] at [[Banaras Hindu University]] and Syadvad Digamabara Jain Mahavidyalaya, Varanasi from 1924 to 1928.

==Career as a Jain Pandit==

As noted by Prakash Jain in his book Jain Community of Bundelkhand,<ref name=Prakash66/> one of the main objectives of ''Jain Sanskrit Vidyalayas''—many of them set up by ''Kshullaka'' [[Ganeshprasad Varni]]—was to produce a large number of Jain Pandits or lay scholars well versed in the ancient languages of Prakrit and Sanskrit as well as Jain doctrine to study and conduct research on the vast body of untapped ancient texts preserved in temple complexes and ''shastra bhandars'' for centuries. However, the life of these Pandits was a difficult one due to the irregular source of income and constant migration in search of work. They were also expected to live a simple, austere and conservative lifestyle befitting a Jain Pandit. Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri was one such quintessential Jain Pandit who led a simple and austere life and left behind a vast legacy of works by translating, editing and writing books.<ref name=Prakash66/>

Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri had an excellent understanding of Jain philosophy and was considered as one of the greatest exponents of the [[Karma in Jainism|Jain theory of Karma]].<ref>Jain, Duli Chandra (1989), p. 2</ref> He enunciated on philosophical and controversial topics in Jainism such as caste, ''stri-mukti'' (the liberation of women) and the inherent purity of souls. These topics were a matter of great debate between Digambara Pandits of Varanasi during the first few decades of the [[Independence of India|post-independence]] era.<ref>Jain, Padmanabh (2019), p. 52</ref> As noted by the Jain scholar, Prof. [[Padmanabh Jaini]], Panditji's publishing of his research on ''niyativada'' based on various ancient Jain texts resulted in a great deal of debate amongst the Jain scholars. His interpretation of the philosophical concept of ''niyati'' or pre-destination, opened up a new field of research for the comparative study of [[Ajivika]] and Jain doctrines of bondage and salvation.<ref>Jaini, Padmanabh (2000), p. 108-09</ref> He, along with his close friends and colleagues Pandit Kailash Chandra Shastri and Pandit Jaganmohan Lal Shastri, were famously known as the ''Ratnatrayi'', that is, the three jewels of Jainism. He was a protégé of the noted Jain scholar and philosopher [[Ganeshprasad Varni]].<ref name=Cort>Cort, John (2006), p. 269</ref> While he belonged to the [[Digambara Terapanth]] tradition, his ecumenical and non-sectarian approach helped him in reducing tensions between the Samaiya community of [[Taran Panth]] and his own [[Parwar (Jain community)|Parvar community]] of [[Digambara Terapanth]] to which he belonged.<ref name=Wiley/><ref name=Cort/>

Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri is best known for editing and translating the ''[[Shatkhandagama]]'' and the ''[[Kasayapahuda]]''.<ref name=Wiley/><ref name=Prakash67/> These texts represent the most important [[Digambara]] [[Jain literature|Jain canonical literature]] which was made accessible to modern society through the efforts of Panditji and a team of eminent Jain scholars like Dr. Hiralal Jain, Dr. [[A.N. Upadhye]], Pt. Kailash Chandra Shastri, Pt. Hiralal Shastri, Pt. [[Balachandra Shastri]], Pt. [[Nathuram Premi]] and Pt. Devakinandan Nayak. The entire work was carried on the basis of ancient palm leaf manuscripts. It continued from 1939 to 1985. Padmanabh Jaini notes that the ''Shatkhandagama'' and the ''Kasayapahuda'' along with their commentaries ''Dhavala'', ''Mahadhavala'' and ''Jayadhavala'', which were translated into Hindi by Pandit Phoolchandra, were of epic proportions consisting of 172,000 ''shlokas''.<ref>Jaini, Padmanabh (2000) p. 139</ref> He has also authored numerous books on Jainism like ''Varna, Jati Aur Dharma'' and ''Jain Tattvamimamsa.'' Besides the translation of ''Shatkhandagama'' and ''Kasayapahuda'', he edited and translated numerous Jain ancient texts like the ''[[Tattvarthasutra]]'', the ''Ratnakaranda Shravakachara'' and the ''Sarvarthasiddhi''.<ref name=Prakash67/> He also edited Journals like ''Shanti-Sindhu'' published by Acharya Shanti Sagar Sarasvati Bhawan, Natepute (Solapur) from 1935 to 1937 and another journal ''Jnanodaya'' published by Bharatiya Jnanpith, Kashi from 1949 to 1952.

==Freedom Fighter and other Social Causes==
Along with his career as a lecturer and Jain Scholar, Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri took part in the [[Indian independence movement|freedom struggle of India]]. He became an active member of the [[Indian National Congress]] during the [[British Raj|British rule in India]]. He volunteered as an office bearer at Bina, Sagar, [[Solapur]] and [[Amravati]], District Congress Committees. At the Amravati Congress Committee, he held the post of Joint Secretary. He also took part in various Congress conventions held at [[Yavatmal]], [[Poona]] and Natepute. Panditji took an active part in the [[Quit India movement]] for which he was jailed.<ref name=Wiley/> Panditji wore only [[Khadi]] clothes and was a strong proponent of the [[Swadeshi movement]].<ref name=Prakash67/><ref name=Cort/>

Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri also took an active part in social issues. He opposed many evil practices and customs prevalent in Jain society. He championed the cause of right of entry for untouchables into Jain temples. He supported the widely opposed Harijan Temple Entry Bill, 1949 on the grounds of the Jain doctrine which does not believe in the caste system. He also opposed unnecessary expenditure in the name of religion, especially on ''Gajraths'', the processions of elephant-drawn chariots.<ref name=Prakash67/>

Panditji was a founding member of many institutions. He was one of the founding members and the first working joint-secretary of All India Digambara Jain Vidvat Parishad held in 1944. He was also instrumental in founding the Shri Ganesh Varni Inter College, Lalitpur, U.P. in 1946 which was funded by Seth Jineshvardas Taraiya of Lalitpur. In 1946 he became the founding member and secretary of Shri Sanmati Jain Niketan, Naria, Varanasi. He later founded the Shri Ganesh Varni Digamber Jain (Research) Institute, Varanasi in 1971. He was also a founding member and Joint Secretary and Editor of Shri Ganesh Prasad Varni Jain Granthmala in Varanasi.<ref name=Prakash67/>

{{Gallery
|width=200
|height=200
|align=center
|File:Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri German scholars.jpg|Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri with visiting German scholars studying Jainism
|File:Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri Ganesh Varni Granthamala.jpg|Panditji at the Shri Ganesh Prasad Varni Granthmala
|File:Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri Sanmati Jain Niketan.jpg|Panditji coming out of the Sanmati Jain Niketan, Varanasi
}}

==Awards and Accolades==

Panditji was conferred the title of ''Siddhantacharya'' at the Jain Siddhant Bhavan, Arrah (Bihar) in 1962 by the Governor of Bihar [[M. A. Ayyangar|Dr. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar]].<ref name=Wiley/> Panditji was given the honorific ''Siddhantaratna'' by the Vice-President of India [[B. D. Jatti|Basappa Jatti]] in 1974 on the occasion of the 2500th [[Nirvana]] celebrations of Bhagavan [[Mahavira]].
A felicitation volume was presented to him in 1985 in the presence of Acharya Vidyanand Muni.<ref name=Prakash67/> A silver plaque was presented to him in 1987 by the All India Digambar Jain Mahasangha. He was honoured with the ''Prakrit Jnan Bharti'' award by Svasti Shri Charukirti Bhattaraka at the First National Prakrit Conference, Bengaluru, 1990.

==Personal life==
[[File:Pandit_Phoolchandra_Shastri_with_his_wife_Putlibai.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri with his wife Smt. Putlibai in the 80s]]
Panditji's wife's name was Putlibai. They had four children. The eldest was a daughter, late Dr. Shanti Jain (M.B.B.S., M.D.), who was married to Late Dr. Gyan Chand Jain (Computer Science). Their second daughter, Smt. Sushila Jain, MSc, (retd Principal, Government College, Bhopal), is married to a renowned advocate and former judge, Mr. Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bhopal. Their third daughter Mrs. Pushpa Jain is married to Prof. Nemi Chand Jain, living in Arizona, USA. Their youngest is son Prof. Ashok Kumar Jain, PhD a nuclear scientist and formerly professor of Physics at IIT Roorkee. Dr. Ashok is married to Mrs. Neerja Jain, MSc, BEd Currently, Dr. Ashok Jain looks after the institutions created by Panditji and has been trying to preserve his writings. The Pandit Phool Chandra Shastri Foundation has been established in Panditji's honour. It publishes books on Jainism.

==Works and Publications==
{{Jainism}}

===Books Authored===
Books authored by Panditji:<ref name=Wiley/><ref name=Premchandra>Jain, Dr. Premchandra; Jain, Asha (2018)</ref>
* Jain Dharma Aur Varna Vyavastha – Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Parishad, Delhi, 1945.
* Vishvashanti Aur Aparigrahvaad – Shri Ganesh Varni Granthmala, Varanasi, 1946.
* Jain Tattvamimansa – Ashok Prakashan Mandir, Varanasi, 1960.
* Jain Tattvamimansa (revised and extended edition) – Ashok Prakashan Mandir, Varanasi, 1978; (third revised edition), – Siddhantacharya Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri Foundation, Roorkee, 1996.
* Varna, Jati Aur Dharma – Bhartiya Jnanpeeth, 1963;
* Jain Tatva Samiksha ka Samadhan – Pandit Todarmal Smarak Trust, Jaipur, 1987.
* Akinchitkar, Ek Anushilan – Ashok Prakashan Mandir, Varanasi, 1990.
* Parvar Jain Samaj ka ltihaas – Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Parvar Sabha, Jabalpur, 1992.

===Translator and Editor===
In addition to above, Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri also edited or translated the following texts:<ref name=Wiley/><ref name=Prakash67/><ref name=Premchandra/>
*Ratnakarandaka Shravakacara of Acarya Samantabhadra, Shri Jain Sahitya Hindi Prasarak Karyalay, Mumbai (1935)
*[[Shatkhandagama]] (Dhavala) (translator and editor) published by S.S.L.C. Jain S. Fund, Vidisha, M.P. and J.S.S. Sangha, Solapur in the years 1939–1959 and 1973–1985.
*[[Kasayapahuda]] (Jai-Dhavala) Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Sangha, Mathura, U.P.(1941–86)
*Mahabandha, Bhartiya Jnanapeeth, New Delhi. (1944–70)
*Prameyaratnamala – Chaukhamba Sanskrit Series, Banaras, 1928.
*Aalap Paddhati, Shri Sakal Digamber Panchan Natepute ( Solapur), 1934.
*Saptatikaprakarana (Edited with Hindi commentary)- Aatmanand Jain Pracharak Pustakalaya, Agra,1948.
*Tattvarth Sutra (Edited with Hindi commentary) Ganesh Prasad Varni Jain Granthamala, Varanasi,1950, Shri Ganesh Varni Sansthan, Varanasi, 1981
*Panchadhyayi (Hindi commentary) – Ganesh Prasad Varni Granthamala, Varanasi, 1950.
*Jnanpeeth Pujanjali – Bhartiya Jnanpeeth Prakashan, Kashi, (second edition) 1957, 1977, 1982.
*Sarvarthasiddhi – ( edition and translation) – Bhartiya Jnanpeeth, New Delhi, 1960, 1985.
*Samayasaarakalasha (with meanings) – Shri Digambar Jain Svadhyay Madir Trust, Songarh, 1964.
*Shri Kahanji Swami Abhinandan Granth (Editor) – Digamber Jain Mumukshu Mandal, Mumbai, 1964.
*Khaniya Tattva-Charcha (Book One) – Acharyakalp Pandit Todarmal Granthmala, Jaipur, 1967.
* Khaniya Tattva-Charcha (Book Two) – Acharyakalp Pandit Todarmal Granthmala, Jaipur, 1967.
* Samyagyan-Dipika (Edited and translated) – Shri Digambara Jain Mumukshu Mandal, Bhavnagar, 1970.
* Labdhisaar-Kshapanasaar – Shrimad Rajchandra Aashram, Agaas, 1980.

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book |last= Cort |first= John |editor= Peter Flügel |date= 2006 |title=Studies in Jaina History and Culture |url= |location= |publisher=Taylor & Francis |page= |isbn=9781134235520 |chapter=A fifteenth century Digambara Jain mystic and his followers }}
*{{cite journal |last1= Jain|first1=Duli Chandra |date=April 1989 |title=Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness in Jainism |url=https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5Qaf6TIlIRDU2LH0rCWZHFSxBp8cqF9VaAQ6a1-LAO08cfHVtjH2MrUevQ39a0sI2Kfo9P535kNjTIdbVA3S9OlFxztURarFkmXux4x5JxQsuoknfVkIh6ybfXtHNPkN45f77wVqQCkr0fIt5W_AehS7E3lOC_PNO0OJIZW-CyXhGkaRtEp0Nw7pDvh3uXi9yQ9IX-IW6ZY7dC-c07VlygiKhVYOYC-DN0lTpfvi1MxmSN_i4kgw |journal=Darshan |volume=VI |issue= 4 |pages= |doi= |access-date=13 June 2021}}
* {{cite book |last=Jain |first=Prakash |author-link= |date=2011 |title=Jains in India and Abroad: A Sociological Introduction |url= |location=Delhi |publisher=Shipra Publications |page= |isbn=978-93-88691-41-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Jain |first=Prakash |author-link= |date=2020 |title=Jain Community of Bundelkhand: Socio-economic and Cultural Change |url= |location=New Delhi |publisher=International School for Jain Studies |page= |isbn=978-81-86715-79-6}}
*{{cite book |last1=Jain |first1=Dr. Premchandra |last2=Jain |first2=Asha |author-link= |date=2018 |title=Vidvat-trayi: Trio of Scholars |url= |location=Varanasi |publisher=Shri Ganesh Varni Digambar Jain Sansthan |page= |isbn=978-8186957530}}
* {{cite book |last= Jain|first= Satish Kumar |author-link= |date=1975 |title=Progressive Jains of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dm0AAAAAMAAJ |location= |publisher=Shraman Sahitya Sansthan |page= |isbn=}}
*{{cite book | last =Jaini | first =Padmanabh |author-link= | title =Collected Papers on Jaina Studies | publisher =Motilal Banarsidass Publ. | date =2000 | location =Delhi | isbn =81-208-1691-9 }}
*{{cite book | last =Jaini | first =Padmanabh |author-link= | title =Coincidences (Yogayoga): Memoirs of Padmanabh S. Jaini| publisher =Hindi Granth Karyalaya | date =2019 | location =Mumbai | isbn =978-81-88769-72-8 }}
*{{cite book | last =Wiley | first =Kristi | title =The A to Z of Jainism | publisher =Vision Books (originally published by Scarecrow Press) | date =2006 | location =Delhi | isbn =81-7094-690-5 | oclc =422763446 }}

===Websites===

*{{cite web |url= https://www.jainsamaj.org/content.php?url=Pandit_Phoolchandraji_Shastri |title=Pt. Phoolchandraji Shastri |author= |date=|website=Jain Samaj |publisher=Ahimsa Foundation |access-date=13 June 2021|quote=}}
* {{cite web |url= https://en.encyclopediaofjainism.com/index.php/PT._PHOOL_CHANDRA_SIDHANTASHAS1RI|title=Pt. Phool Chandra Siddhantashastri |author= |date= |website=ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JAINISM |publisher= |access-date=13 June 2021|quote=}}

{{Modern Jain writers}}
{{Jainism topics}}

[[Category:Scholars of Jainism]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Jain writers]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian translators]]
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1991 deaths]]

Phoolchandra Shastri - Revision history

PriscillaNair10 at 13:40, 28 January 2026