Buddhisagarsuri (1874 – 1925) was a Jain ascetic, philosopher and author from British India. Born in a Hindu family, he was influenced by a Jain monk and later was initiated in asceticism, and later elevated to the title of ''

Acharya In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a religious teacher in Hinduism and Buddhism and a spiritual guide to Hindus and Buddhists. The designation has different meanings i ...

''. He wrote more than a hundred books.

Biography

Buddhisagar Suri Jain monk Guru Mandir Dadawadi Mehsana Gujarat India 4

Buddhisagarsuri was born Bechardas Patel in a Hindu family of Shivabhai and Ambaben in 1874 at

Vijapur Vijapur is a city and a municipality in the Mehsana district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Gujarat. Notables 1.Vijapur heritage sahi Eidgah mosque years 1602 , Vijapur 2.Vijapur is the birthplace of Jain monk Buddh ...

in north Gujarat. He studied till sixth standard. He met Muni Ravisagar, a Jain monk, and became his disciple. He studied at the Yashovijayji Jain Sanskrit Pathshala, a school for religious studies, in

Mehsana Mehsana (), also spelled Mahesana, is a city and the headquarters of Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Established in 14th century, the city was under Gaekwad dynasty, Gaekwads of Baroda State from 18th century to the independen ...

. He took a job of religious teacher in Ajol. Following the death of Ravisagar in 1898, his spiritual quest intensified. Ravisagar's disciple, Sukhsagar initiated him as a Jain monk in 1901. He was given a new name, Muni Buddhisagar. He was conferred with an informal title of ''Yoga-nishtha'', literally "firm in

Yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...

". He was elevated to the title of ''Acharya'' in 1914 in Mansa. He established the

Mahudi Mahudi is a town in Mansa taluka of Gandhinagar district, Gujarat, India situated on the banks of Madhumati river, a tributary of Sabarmati River. It is a pilgrimage centre of Jainism, Jains and other communities visiting the temple of Jain dei ...

Jain temple in 1917. He was invited by the royals of

Baroda Vadodara (), also known as Baroda, is a city situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River in the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Vadodara district. The city is named for its abundance of banyan ...

, Idar and Pethapur to preach there. He died at Vijapur in 1925. The Jain temple and a memorial shrine were built where Buddhisagarsuri was later cremated in Vijapur.

Works

He wrote more than a hundred books. He wrote about 2,000 poems, including a large number of poems about

Sabarmati River The Sabarmati River is one of the major west-flowing rivers in India. It originates in the Aravalli Range of the Udaipur District of Rajasthan and meets the Gulf of Khambhat of the Arabian Sea after travelling in a south-westerly direction acr ...

. His first book was ''Jain Dharma Khristi Dharmano Mukablo'', a comparison between

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...

and

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

. He criticised Christianity and its missionary activities in Gujarat. He was involved in several debates regarding icon worship during those time. He defended it and authored a booklet ''Jain Sutroma Murtipuja'' (Icon Worship in Jain Scriptures). He termed icons as a form of love and devotion.

Selected works

* ''Samadhi Shatak'', a hundred stanzas on meditation * ''Yog Deepak'', the guide on

yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...

* ''Dhyan Vichar'', a book on meditation * ''Adhyatma Shanti'', a work on spiritual peace * ''Karmayog'', a theory of

karma Karma (, from , ; ) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called ...

* ''Adhyatma Geeta'' * ''Atma Shakti Prakash'' * ''Atma Darshan'' * ''Shuddhopayog'' * ''Samya Shatak'' * ''Shishyopanishad'' * ''Atmana Shasan'' * ''Anandghan Pad Bhavarth Sangrah'', a collection of hymns of Anandghan, a Jain mystic poet, and its meaning * ''Shrimad Devchandraji'', a biography of Devchandra * ''Kumarapala Charitra'', a biography of

Chaulukya The Chaulukya dynasty (), also Solanki dynasty, was a dynasty that ruled parts of what are now Gujarat and Rajasthan in north-western India, between and . Their capital was located at Anahilavada (modern Patan). At times, their rule extended ...

, ruler of Kumarapala * ''Yashovijay Charitra'', a biography of Yashovijay * ''Adhyatma Bhajan Sangrah 1–14'', a collection of songs

References

{{Authority control People from Mehsana district 20th-century Indian philosophers 1874 births 1925 deaths 20th-century Indian Jain writers Indian Jain monks 20th-century Indian Jains 20th-century Jain monks 20th-century Indian monks Gujarati-language writers Śvetāmbara monks

Biography

Works

Selected works

See also

References