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{{Infobox religious biography
| honorific-prefix = Acharya
| name = Vijayanandsuri
| image = Vijayanandsuri Muni Atmaramji Jain monk.jpg
| caption =
| religion = [[Jainism]]
| sect = [[Svetambara]]
| official_name = Acharya Vijayanand Suri
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1837|4|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lehra, [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1896|5|20|1837|4|6|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Gujranwala]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]
| initiation_name = Anandvijay (earlier Atmaram)
| initiator = Muni Buddhivijay
| initiation_place = [[Ahmedabad]]
| initiation_date = 1876
| works = ''Jain Tattvadarsh'', ''Agyana Timira Bhaskara'', ''Tattva Nirnaya Prāsād''
| successor = [[Vallabhsuri]]
}}

Acharya '''Vijayanand Suri''' (4 June 1837– 20 May 1896), also known as '''Atmaramji of [[Gujranwala]]''', was the first [[Swetambar]] [[Murtipujaka]] [[Jain]] monk in modern times to receive the title of [[Acharya]].<ref>Mangilal Bhutoria, Itihas ki Amar Bel- Oswal, Priyadarshi Prakashan, Calcutta, 1988</ref><ref name="Cort2009" /> Born and raised in [[Punjab]], he was initiated as [[Sthanakvasi]] monk who later joined Murtipujaka tradition. He travelled extensively in [[Gujarat]], [[Rajputana]] and Punjab; and 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 by [[Virchand Gandhi]] later.

==Early life==
[[File:Atmaramji Appreciation 01.jpg|left|thumb|Vijayanandsuri]]
[[File:Atmaram Disciples.jpg|thumb|left|Vijayanandsuri with his disciples in [[Ajmer]] in [[Vikram Samvat|VS]] 1946]]
{{Jainism}}
He was born on 6 April 1837 CE (Chaitra Shukla 1 [[Vikram Samvat]] 1893) in Lehara, Punjab to Ganeshchandra and Rupdevi. He was born in a [[Brahmakshatriya]] Hindu family.<ref>[https://openlibrary.org/books/OL1835357M/The_Chicago_prashnottar_or_questions_and_answers_on_Jainism_for_the_Parliament_of_Religions_held_at_ The Chicago prashnottar, or questions and answers on Jainism for the Parliament of Religions held at Chicago, U.S.A. in 1893 1st ed. by Ātmānanda, Published by Atmanand Jain Pustak Pracharak Mandal, Agra, 1918 ]</ref> His father was an army official of [[Ranjit 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.<ref name="Cort2009">{{cite book|author=John Cort|title=Framing the Jina : Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MDBpq23-0QoC&pg=PA7|access-date=June 24, 2013|date=November 16, 2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-973957-8|pages=5–8}}</ref><ref name="University2001">{{cite book|author=John E. Cort|title=Jains in the World : Religious Values and Ideology in India: Religious Values and Ideology in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PZk-4HOMzsoC&pg=PA42|access-date=6 August 2014|date=22 March 2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-803037-9|pages=42–46}}</ref><ref name="CP">{{cite book|author=Vijayanandsuri|title=The Chicago-Prashnottar: Or Questions and Answers on Jainism for the Parliament of Religions Held at Chicago, U.S.A. in 1893|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BY9QAQAAMAAJ|year=1918|publisher=Atmanand Jain Pustak Pracharak Mandal|pages=iii–vi|chapter=Short account of Life of Shrimat Vijayanandsuri, popularly known as Atmaramji}} [https://archive.org/details/chicagoprashnott00atma Alt URL]</ref>

==Ascetic career==
[[File:Shrine of Vijayanandsuri Atmaramji Gujranwala.jpg|thumb|left|Memorial shrine in [[Gujranwala]]. From Chicago Prashnottar, 1918]]

Atmaram began the study of Jain scriptures along with his fellow ascetics. He was later joined by a ''Yati'' of [[Tapa Gaccha]] lineage. After several years of study, he was convinced that the Sthanakavasi position of opposition of Idol-worshiping contradicted the scriptures.<ref name="Cort2009" /> Later in 1876 (VS 1943), he was initiated again as a Murtipujaka monk in [[Ahmedabad]] 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 of [[Acharya]] by the [[Sangha (Jainism)|congregation]] of [[Palitana]] during his [[Chaturmas]] (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 only ''Yati''s were conferred with the title.<ref name="University2001"/> As a result of reforms advocated by him, the influence of [[yati]]s declined, although the yatis still survive in some locations.<ref>The Penguin Handbook of the World's Living Religions
Penguin reference library, Penguin UK, 2010</ref>

He travelled extensively in Gujarat and Punjab. He convinced to open Jain Bhandaras (libraries) with Jain literature kept closed for people since years and had texts copied and examined by scholars. He brought these literature to light and instilled sense of identity among Jains. In 1893, he was invited to participate in the first ever [[Parliament of the World's Religions#1893 Parliament|World Parliament of Religions]] 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.<ref>Jainism: The World of Conquerors By Natubhai Shah, 1998 Sussex Academic Press</ref> Based on questions that he had received from the organizers of the Parliament, he wrote a book for the occasion entitled ''The Chicago-Prashnottar'' or ''Questions 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 orientalist [[Rudolf Hoernlé]] in his studies on Jainism.<ref name="CP"/>

He died in [[Gujranwala]] (now in [[Pakistan]]) on 20 May 1896 (Jayeshtha Shukla 8 VS 1953).<ref name="University2001"/> A memorial shrine dedicated to him was built there by Lala Mayadas Nanakchand Bhabras.<ref name="CP"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2019-05-28|title=The legend of Atmaram Ji's Samadhi|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/402564/the-legend-of-atmaram-jis-samadhi/|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Daily Times|language=en-US}}</ref> His footprints along with the ''chhatri'' (cenotaph) over them, are moved to [[Lahore Fort]] Museum. Some artefacts and decorations were also moved.<ref>[https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8047/8112713857_fc1c0c0fa8_b.jpg Foot prints of Atmaram ji]</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Samadhi of Atmaram Ji declared as 'special premises' {{!}} Pakistan Today|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/05/27/samadhi-of-atmaram-ji-declared-as-declared-as-special-premises/|access-date=2020-06-30|website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk}}</ref> The shrine was mistakenly identified as the memorial of Punjab ruler [[Ranjit Singh]]'s grandfather Charat Singh.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=orientalarchitecture.com|title=Atmaramji Shrine, Gujranwala, Pakistan|url=https://www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/1220/pakistan/gujranwala/atmaramji-shrine|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Asian Architecture|language=EN}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

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 a office of the Gujranwala Deputy Police Superintendent. The building was used by traffic police until 2015.<ref name=":2" /> In 2019, it was declared as a protected monument by the [[Government of Punjab, Pakistan]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==Works==
He wrote a number of books in Hindi, including ''The Chicago-Prashnottar'' or ''Questions 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 are ''Jain Tattvadarsh'', ''Agyana Timira Bhaskara'', ''Samyaktva-shalyadwara'' and ''Tattva Nirnaya Prāsād''.<ref name="CP"/>

==Legacy==
He used to give more importance to education and established several libraries and ''Pathshala'' (religious schools) in Punjab. Later [[Vallabhsuri]], his disciple, built many schools, hospitals and educational institutes. He was given the title of ''Navyug Nirmata'' (builder of a new era) by Vallabhsuri.<ref name="CP"/>

His monkhood lineage has large number of ascetics which roughly covers {{1/4}} of all current ascetics of Tapa Gaccha. Major ascetic groupings are Atma-Vallabh Samuday, Prem-Ramchandra Suri and Prem-Bhuvanbhanu Suri Samuday.<ref name="Cort2009" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/55511 The Chicago-prashnottar (English) on Digital Library of India]
* [http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=75830 Biographical article of 1935 on Atmaram]
* [http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=79541 Invitation of 1893, World religion Parliament to Acharya Vijayanandsuri/Muni Atmaram]

{{Jain Gurus}}
{{Jainism topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jain acharyas]]
[[Category:Nonviolence advocates]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:1821 births]]
[[Category:1896 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Jain monks]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian Jain writers]]
[[Category:19th-century Jain monks]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian monks]]
[[Category:People from Gujranwala]]
[[Category:Jain reformers]]
[[Category:Śvētāmbara monks]]

Vijayanandsuri - Revision history

Juliivg: expanded content

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