Muni Shri 108 Suyatna Sagarji Maharaj-1981

Muni Shri 108 Suyatna Sagarji Maharaj

Muni Shri 108 Suyatna Sagarji Maharaj was born as Vishal Bhanukumar Dotiya on 16 January 1981 in Mumbai in a respected Jain family. His parents are Shrimati Chandraprabha Dotiya and Shri Bhanukumar Dotiya. He is the second child among two sons and one daughter. At birth, due to his cheerful face and strong physique, he was named Vishal. No one could have imagined that this child would one day spread the fragrance of Jain Dharma across the country through a life of renunciation. When his horoscope was prepared by renowned astrologer Pandit Kanhaiyalal Nareji Shastri, it was predicted that he would bring glory to his family and city. It was also predicted that although he would engage in the jewellery trade, he would eventually renounce worldly wealth and adopt a life of spirituality. From childhood he was deeply influenced by religious values. Along with his formal education, he developed a strong interest in studying, contemplating, and reflecting upon religious scriptures. He actively participated in serving monks, arranging food offerings (chowka), and assisting religious activities. At just 45 days old, he had the opportunity to visit Gommateshwara Bahubali. At a very young age he took a vow of not eating at night from Acharya Shri 108 Vimalsagarji Maharaj. Throughout his life he never consumed root vegetables or tea.
After completing his 10th standard, he joined the spiritual travels of Acharya Shri 108 Kushalsagarji Maharaj at Mahuva and participated in religious service activities. During Chaturmas, he and his brother Prashant Dotiya performed ten fasts, along with 101 other devotees. Along with religious activities, he had a keen interest in sports, especially cricket, and organized many religious programs. He spent a long time serving in the sangh of Acharya Shri 108 Subhadrasagarji Maharaj, performing devotional service and offering food. When the Acharya was unwell, he served him day and night during the time of Sallekhana (final spiritual fast). He observed many religious vows and austerities, including: 1234 Charitra Shuddhi Vrat, Kalyan Mandir Vrat, Chausath Riddhi Vrat, Bhaktamar fasts, Tees Chaubis Vrat Under Acharya Shri 108 Sanmatisagarji Maharaj, he adopted the vow of pure water discipline and observed the Sixteen Causes (Solah Karan) Vrat. During Chaturmas in Borivali, he served monks for four months. Under Acharya Shri 108 Gunadharsandiji, he performed 32 fasts of Solah Karan Vrat. From Muni Shri 108 Punyasagarji Maharaj, he took a one-year Akshay Tritiya vow and completed it despite severe illness. Gradually his detachment from worldly life increased. He even assisted in Keshloch (hair plucking rituals) and served ascetics in different villages. Finally, in 2011, he took the vow of Brahmacharya from Acharya Shri 108 Sunilsagarji Maharaj at Nandishwar Dweep, Borivali (Mumbai). On 29 November 2017, during Ashtanhika festival, he accepted two Pratima vows in Udaipur under Acharya Shri 108 Sunilsagarji Maharaj, along with his mother Chandraprabha Ji.
On 19 October 2018, he offered the initiation coconut to Acharya Shri 108 Sunilsagarji Maharaj in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and received approval for monk initiation. After preparations and ceremonial celebrations in various places across Mumbai, he finally received Muni Diksha on 9 November 2018 (Bhai Dooj) in Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, in the presence of Acharya Shri 108 Sunilsagarji Maharaj and the 48-Pichhi Sangh. He was then given the new monastic name: Muni Shri 108 Suyatna Sagarji Maharaj.
Thus, a prosperous diamond merchant renounced worldly life and dedicated himself completely to Jain Dharma and spiritual practice.

The Journey of Renunciation of Muni Shri 108 Suyatna Sagarji Maharaj
1. On 16 January 1981, a son was born in Bombay in the house of Shrimati Chandraprabha Bhanukumarji Dotiya. He was named Vishal Bhanukumar Dotiya.
2. Your elder brother is Prashant Dotiya and younger sister is Sushma Dotiya. Sushma’s daughter is Kirti and son is Darshan.
3. On 25 February 1981, the first pilgrimage of your life was made to Lord Gomateshwar Bahubali.
4. In the year 1987, under the guidance of Param Pujya Acharya Shri 108 Vimalsagarji Maharaj, you renounced night meals for life.
5. In 1989, Shri Visa Humad organized a pilgrimage to Sammed Shikharji in which you participated wholeheartedly with your body, mind and wealth.
6. In 1993, you again received the opportunity to visit Lord Gomateshwar Bahubali. There you stayed for the purpose of arranging the chowka (food service for monks).
7. In 1994, under the guidance of Muni Shri 108 Kalpadrumsagarji Maharaj, you performed the Kalpavruksha Mahamandal Vidhan and always arranged food offerings and even organized vihars up to Lonavala.
8. In 1995, in the Under Nineteen Team of Mumbai, you were honored with the title “Best Player of the Year”. You were also honored in many places in cricket.
9. In 1996, in Mumbai you were honored with the title “Young Future of Cricket”.
10. In 1997, after completing the tenth standard exam, you traveled with Acharya 108 Shri Kunthusagarji Maharaj from Mahuva to Mumbai and received religious benefits by staying with him.
11. In 1997, with the blessings of Param Pujya Acharya 108 Shri Kunthusagarji Maharaj, you started the business of diamonds in the Diamond Market.
12. In 1997, Param Pujya Acharya 108 Shri Kunthusagarji Maharaj honored him during his Chaturmas with the title of “selfless servant and devoted disciple”.
13. In 1997, under the guidance of Acharya 108 Shri Kunthusagarji Maharaj, during the Dash Lakshan festival both brothers performed ten fasts. Your elder brother Prashant Dotiya also observed ten fasts.
14. In 1998, under the guidance of Acharya 108 Shri Bhutbali Sagarji, you observed ten fasts during Dash Lakshan festival. During the entire Chaturmas you arranged chowka and received the benefit of offering food to monks and were honored with the title “Durlabh Bhakt”.
15. In 1999, under the guidance of Acharya 108 Shri Shubhsagarji Maharaj, you again performed ten fasts during Dash Lakshan and also observed several other vows and received the opportunity of offering food to monks.
16. In 2000, under the guidance of Acharya 108 Sumatisagarji Maharaj, you practiced the austerity of ten fasts during Dash Lakshan.
17. In 2001, under the guidance of Muni Shri 108 Pushpasagarji Maharaj, you were honored with the title “Patra Ratna” at the Panch Kalyanak Pratishtha Mahotsav in Dehgaon.
18. In 2002, through the arrangement of relative Jaanvanti Ji Pindwa Mamaji, you gained religious benefit from the pilgrimage to Sammed Shikharji and performed three pilgrimages.
19. In 2003, your father Bhanukumarji Manmalji Dotiya passed away, and you had to live a life of struggle.
20. In 2003, Acharya 108 Shri Punyaratnasagarji Maharaj honored you with the title “Dharm Prabhavak”. During Chaturmas you arranged chowka at your home for all four months.
21. In 2005, under the guidance of Param Pujya Tapasvi Samrat Acharya 108 Shri Sanmatisagarji Maharaj, you arranged chowka for four months and received the opportunity of serving the Acharya, gaining knowledge and religion. Under his guidance you observed the Solah Karan vow for one month and also took the vow of pure water. You also received the opportunity of installing an idol at Nandishwar Dweep and continued performing the Solah Karan vow every year with his blessings.
22. In 2005, under the guidance of Acharya 108 Shri Kunthusagarji Maharaj, you installed the crystal idol of Moolnayak Chandraprabhuji in Ratna Mandir.
23. In 2006, again at Gomateshwar Bahubali you arranged chowka and received the opportunity to offer food to many renunciants and organized pilgrimage for Acharya Gunanandi. Param Pujya Charukeerti Bhattarakji honored you with the title “Seva Yogi”.
24. In 2006, with the blessings of Param Pujya Gurudev Acharya 108 Shri Sanmatisagarji Maharaj, you observed the Solah Karan vow with one fast and one ekasan.
25. In 2007, under the guidance of Param Pujya Acharya 108 Shri Gunadharnandi Ji Maharaj, you observed 32 fasts of the Solah Karan vow. During Chaturmas you received the opportunity of arranging chowka for four months. On the occasion of the fasts, a 5.25 feet idol was installed on Sumeru mountain with an amount of 3,33,333.
26. In 2008, during Chaturmas of Param Pujya Acharya 108 Shri Viragsagarji Maharaj, you arranged chowka for six and a half months and received the benefit of knowledge, service, and food offering.
27. In 2008, from Akshay Tritiya of 2008 to Akshay Tritiya of 2009 (1 year, 1 month and 7 days), you continuously practiced the austerity of ekasan under Muni Shri Punyasagarji Maharaj.
28. In 2008, from Param Pujya Acharya 108 Shri Viragsagarji Maharaj, you took the lifelong vow of eating only five grains and moved further on the path of restraint.
29. In 2009, Muni Shri Punyasagarji Maharaj honored you with the title “Yuva Tapasvi”.
30. In 2009, in the presence of Niryaapak Acharya of Muni 108 Shri Punyasagarji Maharaj, you served day and night during the Samadhi of Acharya 108 Shri Subhadrasagarji Maharaj.
31. In 2010, under Muni 108 Shri Punyasagarji Maharaj, you performed austerity by observing ekasan for four months during Chaturmas.
32. In 2011, you received the opportunity to bring Acharya 108 Shri Kushalsagarji Maharaj to Aurangabad as the leader of the Mumbai Sangh.
33. In 2011, from Param Pujya Charya Chakravarti Acharya 108 Shri Sunilsagarji Maharaj, on 4 April 2011 (Gudi Padwa), you took the vow of lifelong brahmacharya.
34. In 2012, you received knowledge, religion and the opportunity of offering food under Muni 108 Shri Dharmbhushanji Maharaj and Aryika 105 Shri Shubhmati Mataji. You also received the benefit of Chaturmas of Muni 108 Shri Amarkirti Ji and Muni 108 Shri Upamyakirti Ji Maharaj.
35. In 2013, under Muni 108 Shri Dharmbhushanji Maharaj, on 9 October 2013 you took the first Pratima vow (Darshan Pratima). Your mother Chandraprabha Dotiya also took the Darshan Pratima vow along with you.
36. In 2015, under Aryika Shri 105 Prasannmati Mataji, the Chausath Riddhi vow was completed.
37. In 2016, under Param Pujya Acharya Pavitraanandji Maharaj, you observed five fasts of Panch Meru and completed them, and for four months you received the opportunity of offering food to monks.
38. You organized the travel of Acharya 108 Shri Tirthnandji Maharaj from Mumbai to Kolhapur.
39. In 2017, with the blessings of Gurudev, you renounced the diamond business and moved your life toward the path of restraint.
40. In 2017, under Charya Chakravarti Acharya 108 Shri Sunilsagarji Maharaj, in Udaipur Visa Humad Bhavan, on 29 November 2017 during Ashtanhika festival on Navami, you took the vow of two Pratimas.
41. In 2017, the completion of the 1224 vows was performed in Navratri under the guidance of Acharya 108 Shri Nirnaysagarji Maharaj’s disciple Shivdattasagarji and Aryika Saubhagyamati and Dharmmati Mataji. This vow was completed over six years.
42. In 2018, under Param Pujya Muni Shri Sambhushansagarji and Shri Sakshmasagarji Maharaj, the Kalash Sthapana was performed in Ladnun. You also performed the Keshloch of Maharaj Shri Sakshmasagarji and observed Solah Karan vow with fast and ekasan while spreading religion. Despite intense heat in Ladnun for 32 days, the vow was successfully completed.
43. By the infinite grace of the Lord and the foresight of Gurudev, the aspirant Ba. Br. Vishal Bhaiya Dotiya received divine inspiration and by the command of the Guru on 20 October 2018 he moved forward on the path of renunciation.
44. The final journey of worldly life was made to Lord Gomateshwar Bahubali and the ceremony of God Bharai was performed on 1 November 2018 in the presence of 125 monks. When he was only 45 days old he had first visited Gomateshwar Bahubali. At a young age he had renounced night meals under Acharya Vimalsagarji Maharaj and had never eaten root vegetables or drunk tea in life.
45. On 2 November 2018 he went for the darshan of Acharya 108 Shri Kushasagarji Maharaj and left for Mumbai at night and reached on 3 November 2018.
46. On 3 November 2018 the God Bharai ceremony was also performed by the community at Kalbadevi temple.
47. In 2018, under the guidance of Param Pujya Acharya 108 Shri Vishwasagarji Maharaj, the entire community organized the God Bharai ceremony at Gulalwadi temple.
48. On 4 November 2018, under the guidance of Param Pujya Acharya Shri 108 Anugrahasagarji Maharaj, the God Bharai ceremony was performed by the community and Visa Humad society at Shri 1008 Adinath Bharat Bahubali Digambar Temple Borivali.
49. On the evening of 4 November 2018, he departed from Mumbai to Gandhinagar and on the morning of 5 November 2018 he surrendered himself at the feet of Acharya Shri 108 Sunilsagarji Maharaj. It was the auspicious day of Dhanteras.
50. The son of Shrimati Chandraprabha Bhanukumarji Dotiya and Bhanukumarji Manmalji Dotiya, Ba. Br. Vishal Bhanukumar Dotiya, received monk initiation on 9 November 2018 (Bhai Dooj), Kartik Shukla Paksha, on the day of the knowledge Kalyanak of Lord Pushpadant, in Vikram Samvat 2075 (2545 years after Mahavir Nirvana) from Param Pujya Acharya 108 Shri Sunilsagarji Maharaj.