Shantisagar ji was born in 1872^[1] near Bhoj village in what is now Belgavi district in Karnataka, India.^[2] His father either worked as a farmer^[3] or was employed in the clothing business.^[4] At age eighteen, having read religious texts and undergone several pilgrimages,^[2] Shantisagar Ji decided to dedicate his life to a religious order.

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 lustrated as a kshullaka into the Sangha (holy order) by Devappa (Devendrakirti) Swami Ji.^[4][5] 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.^[3] In 1922, at Yarnal village, Belgaum district, Karnataka, he was given the name "Shanti Sagara" .^[2][4]

He preached the principles of Jainism in various parts of India and became an Acharya.^[2] His disciples also called him "Charitra Chakravarti" ("Emperor of good character").^[4] He has also been called "muniraj" ("King among Ascetics"), and "silasindhi" ("Ocean of Observances").^[3]

He began a hunger strike to oppose restrictions imposed on Digambar monks by the British Raj.^[3]

He was the first full Digambar monk and Acharya to wander throughout India. The wandering of a Jain monk is termed "Vihara" an old sramanic term.^[6] Padmanabh Jaini writes:

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.^[7]

— Padmanabh S. Jaini

Acharya Shantisagar Ji took last breath on 18 September 1955 at 6:50 am at Kunthalgiri, Osmanabad district, Maharashtra, India.^[4][8]

Based on the accounts given by Sumeruchandra Diwakar^[9] and Dharmachanda Shastri,^[10] Shantisagar was born in 1872 to Bhimagauda Patil and Satyavati at Bhoj Village in Belgavi dist., Karnataka, India.^[2] 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 Shikharji accompanied by his sister.^[9]

In 1925, Shantisagar Ji 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 Jain pilgrimage site. He also travelled to Champapur and Pavapur.

In 1928, Shantisagar ji visited central India.^[9] He visited towns including Katni in Madhya Pradesh state, Jabalpur, Sleemanabad, Nohta, Kundalpur and Sagar. In Dronagir, Shantisagar encountered a tiger. By 1929, Shantisagar Ji was in Lalitpur. In Sonagir, four ailaks (researchers). By 1929, Shantisagar Ji was visiting Gwalior and Murena.

Shantisagar Ji travelled to north India.^[9] In Rajakheda, Uttar Pradesh, Shantisagar was attacked by a violent crowd. Shantisagar Ji visited Agra, Hastinapur and Firozabad. In 1930, Shantisagar Ji visited Mathura and received a blessing. Shantisagarji's presence in Delhi in 1931 is marked by a memorial at Lal Mandir.

In the 1930s, ShantisagarJi travelled through Western India.^[9] He visited the Shri Mahaveer Ji temple, a Jain pilgrimage site. ShantisagarJi visited Jaipur in 1932, Byavur in 1933, Udaipur in 1934, Goral in Gujarat in 1935, Pratapgarh in 1936 and Gajpantha in Maharashtra in 1937. Around this time, Shri Shantisagar Charitr was written by Muni Kunthusagar in Sanskrit and in Gajpantha, Shantisagarji was given the title, "Charitra Chakravarti". In 1938, Shantisagarji visited Baramati, Indore city in Madhya Pradesh. In 1939, he visited Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh.

In the 1940s, Shantisagar Ji travelled through Maharashtra state.^[9] He visited Goral in 1940, Akluj in 1941, Korochi in 1942, Digraj in 1943, Kunthalgiri in 1944, Phaltan in 1945, and Kavalana in 1946. Then in 1947, at the time of Partition, Shantisagarji was in Sholapur. In a miracle, in Shantisagarji's presence, a mute young man began to speak. In 1948, Shantisagarji was in Phaltan. He was in Kavlana in 1949.

In the 1950s, Shantisagarji continued to travel in Maharashtra state. He was in Gajpantha in 1950, Baramati in 1951, Lonand in 1952, and Kunthalgiri in 1953. In 1953, Sumeruchandra Diwakar's book, Charitra Chakravarti was published. In 1954, there was preservation of the Dhavala books.^{[clarification needed]}

In 1955, Shantisagarji arrived in Kunthalgiri town.^[9] On 18 September 1955, he completed the practice of Sallekhana, a gradual reducing of intake of fluid and food leading to death. Sumeruchandra Diwakar, Bhattarakas Lakshmisen and Jinasen arrived in the town. Acharya Shantisagarji attained utkrushta samadhimaran after the 35th / 36th day of fasting. The title of Acharya pada (teacher of philosophy) was awarded to Muni Virasagarji.

Padmanabh Jaini writes about his Sallekhana:

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.^[7]

— Padmanabh S. Jaini

He had handed over the leadership to Acharya Virasagar Ji (1856–1957). He was followed by, in sequence, Acharya Shivsagar Ji (1888–1969), Acharya Dhramsagar Ji (1914–1987), Acharya Ajitasagar Ji (1987–1990) and then Acharya Vardhamansagar Ji (since 1990) who currently leads his sangha. There are numerous Digambar Jain monks who belong to this tradition.^[11]

Acharya Gyansagar Ji, the guru of Acharya Vidyasagar Ji, was initiated by Acharya Shivsagar Ji.^[12]

Acharya Shantisagar Ji is sometimes termed Acharya Shantisagar Ji (Dakshin) to contrast him with Acharya Shantisagar Ji "Chhani" (North) (1888–1944).^[13] Chhani is a district in Udaipur. They were thus contemporary.^[14] Modern Acharya Gyansagar Ji (born 1957) was initially initiated by Acharya Vidyasagar Ji as a Kashullaka, later he was initiated as a full Digambar Muni by Acharya Sumatisagar Ji (1917–1994) belonging to the lineage of Acharya Shantisagar Ji Chhani.^[15]

Contemporary to both of them, there was a third Jain Acharya Aadisagar Ankalikar Ji(1809–1887). Acharya Vimalsagar Ji (1915–1994), belonged to his lineage.^[16][17]

• Bhadrabahu ji
• Kundakunda ji

Citations edit

Sources edit

• Desjarlais, Robert R.; Eisenberg, Leon (1996) [1995], World Mental Health: Problems and Priorities in Low-income Countries, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-977219-3
• Dundas, Paul (2002) [1992], The Jains (Second ed.), Routledge, ISBN 0-415-26605-X
• Jaini, Padmanabh S. (1998) [1978], The Jaina Path of Purification, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-1578-5
• Shah, Natubhai (2004) [1998], Jainism: The World of Conquerors, vol. I, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-1938-1

•   Media related to Shantisagar at Wikimedia Commons