Shantisagar: Difference between revisions

| honorific-prefix = ''Charitra Chakravarti Pratham[[Acharya (Jain)|Acharya]] 108  Shri''| honorific-suffix=''Ji Maharaj''

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1955|09|08|1872}} (Samadhi-maran)

'''Acharya Shri Shantisagar''' (1872–1955) was an Indian [[monk]] of the [[Digambara]] school of the [[Jainism|Jain]] faith. He was the first [[Acharya (Jainism)|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 (holy order) by Devappa (Devakirti) Swami. He took his ailaka deeksha (religious vows) before an image of the Tirthankara Neminatha. In about 1920, Shantisagar 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 Sagara" ("Ocean of Peace").

Shantisagar Ji's parents died in 1912. He then traveled to the Jain holy place, [[Shravanabelagola]], a town in [[Hassan district]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. In 1918, whilst in [[Shravanabelagola]], Shantisagar Ji was [[lustration|lustrated]] as a kshullaka into the [[Sangha (Jainism)|Sangha]] (holy order) by Devappa (Devendrakirti) Swami.{{sfn|Desjarlais|Eisenberg|1996|p=82}}<ref>[https://jainqq.org/explore/012022/162?highlight=%22devappa%20svami%22 Acharyashi, ek yugapurusha, A.N. Upadhye, Acharya Shantisagar Janma Shatabdi Mahotsav Smruti Granth. 1973, p. 133]</ref> He took his ailaka (religious vows) before an image of the [[Tirthankara]] [[Neminatha]]. In about 1920, Shantisagar became a full muni ([[monk]]) of the [[Digambara]] sect of [[Jainism]].{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=56}} In 1922, at [[Yarnal]] village, [[Belgaum district]], [[Karnataka]], he was given the name "Shanti Sagara" ("Ocean of Peace").{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=185}}{{sfn|Desjarlais|Eisenberg|1996|p=82}}

{{blockquote| Shantisagara has owned nothing, not even a loincloth, since 1920. He has wandered on foot over the length and breadth of India, receiving food offerings but once a day, and then with only his bare hands for a bowl; he has spoken little during daylight hours and not at all after sunset.{{sfn|Jaini|1998|p=1}}|[[Padmanabh Jaini|Padmanabh S. Jaini]]}}

Based on the accounts given by Sumeruchandra Diwakar<ref name="Diwakar2006" /> and Dharmachanda Shastri,<ref>Br. Dharmachanda Shastri, Ed., Charitra Chakravarti, 1989</ref> Shantisagar was born in 1872 to Bhimagauda Patil and Satyavati at Bhoj Village in Belgavi dist., [[Karnataka]], India.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=185}} His birth name was Satgauda. He was married at the age of nine. His wife died six months after the marriage. In 1905, he made a pilgrimage to [[Sammed Shikhar]]ji accompanied by his sister.<ref name="Diwakar2006" />

In 1925, Shantisagar was present in Kumbhoj township. He attended the [[Mahamastakabhisheka]] (grand consecration) at [[Shravanbelgola]], [[Karnataka]]. In 1926, he visited [[Nanded]] city, [[Maharashtra]]. In 1927, he visited Bahubali, [[Maharashtra]] and then [[Nagpur]] which was then the capital of the Central provinces. Shantisagar then travelled in east India. He had a [[Panchakalyanaka]] blessing at Sammed Shikhar, [[Jharkhand]], a [[Jainism|Jain]] pilgrimage site. He also travelled to [[Champapur]] and Pavapur.

{{blockquote|It is 23 August 1955. On the holy mount of Kunthalagiri, in the state of Maharashtra in India, a man of great soul called Shantisagara (Ocean of peace) is ritually fasting to death. He is the Acharya (spiritual leader) of the Digambara Jain community; now, after thirty-five years as a mendicant, he is attaining his mortal end in the holy manner prescribed by the great  Mahavira almost 2,500 years earlier. From August 14 until September 7 he takes only water; then, unable to drink without help, he ceases even that. At last, fully conscious and chanting the Jain a litany, he dies in the early morning of September 18.  The holiness and propriety of his life and of the manner of his death are widely known and admired by Jainas throughout India.{{sfn|Jaini|1998|p=1}}|[[Padmanabh Jaini|Padmanabh S. Jaini]]|source=}}

He had handed over the leadership to the next Acharya Virasagar (1955–1957). He was followed by, in sequence, Acharya Shivasagar (1957–1969), Dharmasagar (1969–1987), Ajitasagar (1987–1990) and then Vardhamansagar (since 1990) who currently leads his sangha. There are numerous Digambar Jain monks who belong to this tradition.<ref>Fluegel, Peter [ed.]. Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues. London: Routledge, 2006, pp. 312–398</ref> Acharya [[Gyansagar]], the guru of [[Acharya Vidyasagar]], was initiated by Acharya Shivasagar.<ref>[https://www.patrika.com/bhopal-news/know-how-vidyasagarji-s-childhood-was-spent-7131640/ एक करवट सोते हैं आचार्य, पीते हैं अंजुली भर जल, Patrika Bhopal, Oct 20, 2021]</ref>

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