Acharya Shri 108 Shantisagar Chani (Uttar)-1888

Taking initiation in the womb of Digambara is the highest form of abstinence. In the twentieth century the Jain monk tradition had become somewhat obstructed, especially in North India. It was impossible to see the form that the sages studied in the scriptures. This impossible situation was made possible by three great Acharyas, who are Acharya Adisagar Ankalikar, Acharya Shanti Sagar (Charitra Chakravarti) and Acharya Shanti Sagar Chhani. In this, the rise of both Acharya Shanti Sagar (Charitra Chakravarti) and Acharya Shanti Sagar Chhani was synchronous. From whose tradition today we get the privilege of seeing monks and consider our birth blessed.

What a coincidence that both the Acharyas are oceans of peace. Both the Acharyas have increased Muni Dharma and Muni tradition throughout India. Even in Vybar (Rajasthan), the union of both was held together in Chaturmas.

Prashant Murthy Acharya Shanti Sagar ji Chhani (North) was born on Kartik Vadi Ekadashi Vikram Samvat 1945 (the year 1988) in village Chhani District Udaipur (Rajasthan). While traveling all over India, preaching the magnificent creatures, he made his travel area all over India, especially in North India. His childhood name was Kewaldas Jain which he actually alerted. In Vikram Samvat 1979 (1922) in Garhi, District Banswara, he received Kshullak initiation and Bhadra pad Shukla Chaudas Samvat 1980 (1923) Muni Diksha in Sagwada and after that Vikram Samvat 1983 (1926) received the post of Acharya in Giridih. After Diksha, Acharya Maharaj did many viharas. He was rich in influential personality. He tried to remove the evil people from the society. He vehemently opposed the practice of beating the chest after death, the dowry system, the sacrificial system, etc. The Zamindar of Chhani, influenced by his non-violence lecture, had prohibited violence for Sadeva in the state and adopted Jainism as non-violence.

There were also severe upasarg on Acharya Shri, which he suffered with equanimity. He composed books like Mularadhana, Agam Darpan, Shanti Shatak, Shanti Sudha Sagar etc., which were published by the society, due to which today our Shrut tradition is safe and enhanced. Acharya Shri Shanti Sagar ji Chhani died in the samadhi of Jyeshtha Vadi Dashami Vikram Samvat 2001 (in 1944) Sagwada (Rajasthan). In the Chhani tradition, Acharya Shri Suryasagar ji, Acharya Shri Vijaysagar ji.

Namami Shantisagaram

In the twentieth century, the Digambar Jain monk tradition had become somewhat blocked in the whole of India. Digambara Sadhana was only visible in the idols, or in the tales of the scriptures. It is also a very auspicious and inspiring incident that the rise of Aditya, the spiritual practice of Acharya Shri 108 Shantisagar (Charitra Chakravarti) and Acharya Shri 108 Shantisagar Chhani, is synchronous.

The life story of Prashammurti, Vatsalya Varidhi, Bal Brahmachari, Taponidhi Saint, the first Digambara Acharya of North India, Shri Shantisagar Ji Chhani, is a living saga of faith, loyalty, courage and determination. He was such a great sage of this century, who acquainted the whole of North India with the importance of Digambar Sadhana and dedicated his entire renunciation life to self-realization as well as sophistication of public consciousness. Pujyapad Chhani Maharaj engraved his footprints on the Ratnatrayi Sadhana Path - for the first time on the soil of North India and revived the Digambar Saint tradition, as well as introduced the people to the philosophy of Samyaktva.

Rise of Jyotirdhar Yugpurush

Swarnabhadra Cut (Lord Parshvanath Tonk) Acharya Shri Shantisagar Ji Chhani (North) was born on Kartik Vadi Ekadashi Vikram Samvat 1945 (October 31, 1888) in village Chhani, Tehsil Kherbara, District Udaipur (Rajasthan). He was born in the Dasha humad samaj family. He was born to Mr. Bhagchand ji and Smt. Maanikbaai. Kewaldas as a child was of sharp intellect and had a philosophical nature quite different from the normal children. When the elder brother Khemji and the two sisters Phulbai and Ratanbai and his brother-in-law Gulabchand Sahab, resident of Bikaner, used to discuss the dispassionate incidents of Nemi Purana, the waves of self-dispassion in the mind of Kewaldas, who had grown from a child to a teenager, used to ring his conscience. A life of renunciation was his desire; as time passed by pure food, limitation of things were gradually increasing their self-power. One night in a dream, he realized his infinite self-power, infinite effort, being empowered and inspired by this, he left for the darshan of the eternal Tirtharaj Sammed Shikhar - in spite of all the adversities. After performing the five obeisance's to the mountain he sat down at the feet of the lord Paarshv on the Suvarnabhadra koot. He started to do keshlonch by his hands. With complete ruthlessness and took a resolution - accepting the Lord's feet as a witness, adopting the seventh idol fast with complete celibacy.

Aatam Deep: Departure on the path of Sadhana

After visiting Sammed Shikharji Brahmachari Kewaldas reached Rajasthan, the pure land of spirituality. At the time of the Dhai Dweep Vidhana ceremony in Garhi village near Banswara, in front of the statue of Lord Adinath, the auspicious feeling of spiritual departure arose in his mind and he expressed his good wishes for the adoption of Kshullak initiation in front of the whole society. After the acceptance of the society, the Brahmachari Kewaldas was transformed to Kshullak 105 Shantisagar. Since there were no Digambara monks available, he considered the idol of Lord Adinath as a witness, and gave diksha to himself in the midst of the entire Digambar Jain society on Vikram Samvat 1979; i.e. in the year 1922. His vihara were completed in the villages of the Bagad region and the cry of non-violence began to be expressed in his voice. His enlightenment had such a wide impact that the villagers voluntarily gave up meat and alcohol. A wonderful positive transformation began to be seen in the life of addicted people. The first Chaturmas of Kshullak Shri on the holy land of Partapur, Vikram Samvat was being completed in 1980 (year 1923).

In the holy moments of the Dashlakshana festival, the devotional state was chiming in your conscience and the convex waves of Vairagya Vaaridhi were washing his mind in harmony. In the same year, on Anant Chaturdashi, V.S. 1980 i.e. on September 23, 1923, Kshullak Shri adopted the form of Digambar Muni among the entire Jain society, in front of Lord Adinath, and emerged as the first Digambara Jain Muni 108 Shantisagar Ji Maharaj of North India, whom people had named as Chhani Maharaj.

Vando Digambar Muni Charan

108 Shantisagar ji Maharaj in the form of a sage started acquainting the Jain society with the various dimensions of Digambar Muni's practice, spiritual practice of his basic qualities and austerity. People were getting overwhelmed, seeing the Laghu Nandan of Mahavira. The Digambara Muni tradition, which had become extinct due to the ill effects of time, was revived; Especially in North India. Muniraj was always engaged in the practice of self-welfare; He was also fully conscious towards social reform. His sensory mind was hurt by the sale of girls in form of marriage. He succeeded in stopping this practice indiscriminately in the Bagad area of Mewar region. Pujyavar reached Indore, the heart of Malwa and there his Mangal Varsha Yoga was completed. In Indore itself, Pujyavar gave diksha to Suryasagar ji in the form of Ailak. After the Vihar, Guruvar along with his disciple came to Lalitpur and completed his Mangal Varsha Yoga. Gurudev's auspicious enlightenment made wonderful religion impact and also wonderful sophistication of public consciousness. While visiting Gurudev Vihar, he reached Lucknow and Gorakhpur and with his teachings, he expanded a new consciousness.

Munishri continued to live with his dharma-sangh; While roaming on the land of North and East India, they reached Giridih in while doing vihar for Sammed Shikhar Ji. Situated near the Eternal Teerthraj Sammed Shikhar, the religious community of this city did religious rituals in the presence of the great personality; In Vikram Samvat 1983 (year 1926), he was also honored with the position of Acharya with Sarvanumodana. Local Brahmachari Suvalal ji was also influenced by his simplicity and spiritual practice and was given Muni diksha. Acharyashree Sangh were doing vihar through Champapuri, Mandargir, Gunava, Rajgriha, Kundalpur, Pawapuri, Palganj and it was here that Muni Veerasagar ji accepted his discipleship and became a member of his Sangh. The vihar of Acharyashree took place at Gaya, Rafiganj, Kashi, Mirzapur, Allahabad, Barabanki, Banda, Mauranipur, Baruasagar, Jhansi, Sipri, Bajranggarh, Vyawar, Guna, Ruthwai, Sarangpur, Ujjain, Badnagar, Ratlam, Khandu, Sagwara etc. There has been an unprecedented change in the way of thinking, contemplating and living of all the residents of the places where his holy feet were lied. The Jainatar brothers were also fascinated by his penance and enlightenment. His call to give up meat-liquor, dinner, seven-addictions was being accepted very readily. Social evils were going away and a new consciousness was emerging.

Vision of Yugcheta: Self-realization and world awareness

Acharyashree's Chaturmas was organized in Partapur and here you also did literary practice. He created a poetic book called Shantivilas, in which a thousand spiritual couplets and savas were written. Apart from this, you have also edited texts like Moolaradhana, Agam Darpan, Shanti Shatak, Shanti Sudha Sagar etc., due to which our Shrut tradition has not only been protected but has also increased. Due to his auspicious inspiration, religious schools were established in which night classes were organized for people of all age groups. After completing Chaturmas in Partapur (District Banswara), he came to Eider while giving Dharmopadesh at places like Garhi, Sagwara, Daluka, Ajna, Arthona, Galiakot, Cheetari, Kauva, Peeth, Bakrol, Bamanvadas, Bakaner, Bhiloda, Chintamani Parshvanath, Mureti, Gorel etc. It was because of your inspiration that Jain boarding, Shravikashram, Granthmala, and Saraswati Bhawan were established in Eider. The Pad Vihar of Gurudev continued continuously. His divine vision was also towards removing social evils. He stopped the inauspicious practice of beating the chest while weeping at the time of death. Due to his inspiration, this practice started to stop rapidly. He stayed at Chhapalpur, Dakrel, Badhali, Amonra, Sri Kadiadara, Chotasan, Cheeriwad, Tankatunka, Bhiloda, Bhuleti, Kukdiye, Jadar, Bhadrasen, Chittoda, Savadi, Kotoda, Jambudi, Nava doing Vihar through Tarang Ji. He gave Dharmopadesh at places like Sonasan, Orna, Lakroda, Sitwade, Dasara, Pilpur, Kalol, Aluya, Balasan, Bhalak, Jatral, Nagfni Parshvanath etc. Wherever your feet fell, the contemplation and consciousness of that place were affected by your enlightenment. Whether it is the practice of animal sacrifice, the weeping of women after death, the use of black clothes, the consumption of meat and liquor; Due to his influence, all these came to a halt rapidly. While traveling all over India and preaching to the magnificent creatures, he refined the public consciousness in the whole of North India - by doing constant footsteps and becoming an example of the precision of Veetaragi Sadhana.

Mamta Harak, Samta Dharak: Moksha Prachaarak

In Beawar city of Rajasthan, two great Acharyas of this era, Charitra Chakravarti, Acharyashri Shantisagar ji (South) and Prasham idol Acharyashri Shantisagar ji (Chhani) completed their Varshaayog together. Both Digambara Acharyas did unprecedented spiritual practice of equanimity, taught the lessons of equality and coordination to the people and cultured the people - without any creed distinction, without any pride; Whatever it was, it was only and only harmony. These two great sages of this era also met in Taranga ji and both of them did spiritual practice together and did sophistication of public consciousness.

Pujyapad Acharyashree was well versed in the art of meditation of Videha while living in the body. Unparalleled seeker of the 'fasting' art of being completely independent of the body, close to the soul. During his sadhana period, he completed a long series of 32 fasts and observed thousands of fasts during the entire sadhana period. They were also upasarg conquerors; He used to answer any adversity with his equanimity style. Whether it was the ill-fated attempts to get him motorized in Barwani or an attempt to get him bitten by poisonous snakes –he faced all these incidents with equanimity, without getting angry. He has always forgiven those who disrespected him. After visiting Beawar, Acharyashree again reached Mewar region and his two Chaturmas were completed in Rishabhdev (Keshriya ji). While visiting Pujyavar Vihar, reached Sagwara. While there he had an outbreak of fever and it gradually worsened. Simple fever turned into pneumonia and his health deteriorated day by day. There was an infinite peace on the face of the priest. There was no pain or depression anywhere; nor was there any anxiety. Two days before Samadhi, he gave up all kinds of food etc. Sanghasth Muni Namisagar ji and all the sages used to complete ten devotional lessons in front of Acharyavar with great diligence and readiness. Jyeshtha Badi Dashami of Vikram Samvat 2001, accordingly, on 17th May 1944, the Pujyavar, accepting Sallekhna, left his body in samadhi - with unparalleled peace among all his Sanghastha Sadhus, Brahmacharis and renouncers and the entire society.

Vande Shantisagaram

The tradition of Sanpujya Charan Acharya Shri Shantisagar Ji Chhani Maharaj is expansive. Second Pattacharya Suryasagar ji was a great scholar. He composed about thirty-five texts. After him Acharya Shri Vijaysagar ji, Acharya Shri Vimalsagar ji (Bhind) and Acharya Shri Sumatisagar ji appeared, who expanded their tradition. Acharyashree Vidyabhushan Sanmatisagar ji was the disciple of Acharyashree Sumatisagar ji, who gave his blessings for the creation of a unique composition of Triloktirtha in Baragaon. The current sixth tradition of Chhani Maharaj is Pattacharya Pujyapad Shri Gyansagar Maharaj, with whose holy blessings and inspiration the Diamond Festival of Acharya Pravar's Samadhi is being organized all over the country. On the topic of Diamond Festival of Revered Gurudev's Samadhi, he has an incantation, Namostu. Addresses year-long events; Greetings to the glory of his splendid wisdom-paramita, felicitation of knowledge-characteristic effort of revered Acharya Shree, who is rich in wisdom and talent, so that such an excellent sense of respect is created in the minds of people, which dissolves the ego. Namostu to such a great personality..

Table of Varsha Yoga of Acharya Shri 108 Shantisagar Ji Maharaj Chhani