Acharya Shri Anand Rishi Ji M. S.

Early Life : He was born as Nemichand in Chichondi village of Pathardi tahsil of Ahmednagar district on 27 July 1900. It was the day of Shravan Shukla Pratipat (ekam). His father was Devichandji Gugale and mother was Hulsabai. He also had elder brother Uttamchandji. He was pious from his childhood, and started taking religious lessons at an early age under the guidance of Ratna Rishiji Maharaj who was also his mentor.

Consecration and Life as Sadhu : At the tender age of 13, Nemichand decided to spend the rest of his life as a Jain sant. His diksha (consecration) took place on 7 December 1913 (Margashirsha Shukla Navami) at Miri in Ahmednagar district. He was then given the name Anand Rishiji Maharaj. He started learning Sanskrit and Prakrit Stotras under the guidance of Pandit Rajdhari Tripathi. He gave his first pravachan to the public in 1920 at Ahmednagar.

Together with Ratna Rishiji Maharaj, Anand Rishiji had started promoting Jainism. According to Jainism, a sadhu or sadhvi cannot stay at one place (excluding medical condition or old age), and they walk from one place to another, called as vihar. In chaturmas the saints stay in one place as per the resident's request. Chaturmas means four months of spiritual enhancement for uplifiting spirit of dharma. He was called as Guru Dev by his followers.

After mentor Ratna Rishiji Maharaj's santhara death in Alipur in 1927, Anand Rishiji was devastated. However, he never forgot his mentors words "Never be sad, and always work towards well-being of mankind". His first chaturmas without his mentor was in Hinganghat in 1927. In 1931, he used to have religious discussions with Jain dharma divakar Chuathmalji Maharaj, who realized Anand Rishiji's capability to become Acharya, and conveyed his wish it to his followers.

Anand Rishiji started many programs to benefit for Shravaks. While in Ghodnadi for chaturmas, he thought to establish a religious center, called as Shri. Tilok Ratna Sthanakvasi Jain Dharmik Pariksha Board (श्री. तिलोक रत्न स्थानकवासी जैन धार्मिक परीक्षा बोर्ड). It was established in Ahmednagar on 25 November 1936.

In 1952, at Sadri Sadhu Sammelan in Rajasthan, Anand Rishiji was declared as the Prime Minister of Jain Shraman Sangha. In 1953, many renowned Jain sadhus came together for a common chaturmas in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. On 13 May 1964 (Phalguna Shukla Ekadasi), Anand Rishiji became second Acharya of Shraman Sangha. The ceremony took place in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

After his chaturmas in 1974 in Mumbai, Anand Rishiji arrived in Pune. A huge welcome ceremony took place at Shaniwar Wada. On 13 February 1975 (Maagha shukla dvitiya), he was awarded the title Rashtra Sant by Maharashtra's chief minister Vasantrao Naik. This was also the year of his 75th birthday. The same year Anand Foundation was established. 1987 was the diamond jubilee year of his consecration as a sadhu. It was celebrated with nine consecrations, and in the presence of Pujya Shankaracharya and Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan.

One more divine thing about the revered Acharya is that he had a PADAM symbol in his foot middle. He would exhibit that only to those devotees who forbid one of his habit or vowed some PRAN for lifetime.

Chaturmaas Locations

Year Place State
1914 Manmad Maharashtra
1915 Lasalgaon Maharashtra
1916 Wagholi Maharashtra
1917 Mhasa Maharashtra
1918 Belwandi Maharashtra
1919 Aalkuti Maharashtra
1920 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1921 Pathardi Maharashtra
1922 Kalam Maharashtra
1923 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1924 Karmala Maharashtra
1925 Chanda Maharashtra
1926 Bhusaval Maharashtra
1927 Hinganghat Maharashtra
1928 Nagpur Maharashtra
1929 Amravati Maharashtra
1930 Chandurbazar Maharashtra
1931 Bodvad Maharashtra
1932 Pratapgarh Madhya Pradesh
1933 Mandsor Madhya Pradesh
1934 Pathardi Maharashtra
1935 Khadki Maharashtra
1936 Ghodnadi Maharashtra
1937 Kandavadi, Mumbai Maharashtra
1938 Ghatkopar, Mumbai Maharashtra
1939 Panvel Maharashtra
1940 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1941 Bori Maharashtra
1942 Wambori Maharashtra
1943 Chanda Maharashtra
1944 Jalna Maharashtra
1945 Amravati Maharashtra
1946 Bodvad Maharashtra
1947 Belapur Road Maharashtra
1947 Chichondi Maharashtra
1949 Byavar Rajasthan
1950 Udaipur Rajasthan
1951 Bhilwara Rajasthan
1952 Nathdwara Rajasthan
1953 Jodhpur Rajasthan
1954 Bari Sadri Rajasthan
1955 Badnor Rajasthan
1956 Pratapgarh Madhya Pradesh
1957 Shujalpur Madhya Pradesh
1958 Pathardi Maharashtra
1959 Belapur, Shrirampur Maharashtra
1960 Wambori Maharashtra
1961 Ashvi(Sangamner) Maharashtra
1962 Ghatkopar, Mumbai Maharashtra
1963 Shajapur Madhya Pradesh
1964 Jaipur Rajasthan
1965 Chandni Chowk Delhi
1966 Ludhiana Punjab
1967 Jammu Jammu and Kashmir
1968 Maler Kotla Punjab
1969 Sabji Mandi Delhi
1970 Badaut Uttar Pradesh
1971 Kushalpura Rajasthan
1972 Shujalpur Madhya Pradesh
1973 Nagpur Maharashtra
1973 Kandavadi, Mumbai Maharashtra
1975 Ghodnadi Maharashtra
1976 Pune Maharashtra
1977 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1978 Jalna Maharashtra
1979 Secunderabad Andhra Pradesh
1980 Nashik Maharashtra
1981 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1982 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1983 Nashik Maharashtra
1984 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1985 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1986 Pune Maharashtra
1987 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1988 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1989 Kedgaon (A'Nagar) Maharashtra
1990 Ahmednagar Maharashtra
1991 Ahmednagar Maharashtra

Moksha (Death) : He accepted Santhara before his death on 28th March, 1992 in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Every year for his death anniversary a series of lectures by renowned experts is organized for a whole week from 21 March to 28 March.

Anand Rishiji Hospital : Anandrishiji Hospital has been built in Ahmednagar in his memory. The hospital has been built on the land which was reserved for slaughterhouse. The land of death has been converted to the land of new life due to Anand Rishiji Maharaj's blessings who spread the message of Ahinsa (nonviolence).

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Information Courtesy : Mr. Amit U. Jain, S/o Prof. Udaya Jain
"Sajjan - Kanchan", 3, Greater Tiruapti Colony, Indore-452 018
Phone : 0731-498381 (R), 0731-5090103(O)
E-Mail : amitujain@infosoftin.com

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
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