Acharya Shri Vijyanand Suriswarji M. S.
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| Date of Birth | Chaitra Sudi 1, Vikram Samvat 1894 |
| Place of Birth | Village Lehra, Town Zira, Ferozepur, Punjab |
| Father's Name | Shri Ganesh Chand |
| Mother's Name | Smt. Roopa Devi |
| Original Name | Aatmaram |
| Diksha | Vikram Samvat 1910 (Year 1853) In Malerkotla (Punjab) As Sthanak Vasi Shdhu
Vikram Samvat 1932 (Year 1875) In Ahemdabad As Shwetambar Moorti Pujak Sadhu |
| Acharya Padvi | Vikram Samvat 1943 (Year 1886 ), In Palitana (Gujarat) |
| Demise | Jyeshtha Sudi 7, Vikram Samvat 1953 ( Year 1895) At Gujranwala (Now Pakistan) |
| Titles Bestowed | Navgug Nirmata, Nayayambhonidhi, Punjab Deshodhvarak |
Shri Vijyanand Suri Ji Maharaj was the first leader and guru of the 'Mandir Margi' sect of the Shwetambras. He is regarded as the one of the greatest and the first gurus of the Jains who advocated the worship of idols. He faced many hardships and oppositions in his life. As a child, he possessed extremely sharp memory and an intellectual bent of mind. Inspired by Shri Jiwan Ram Ji Maharaj, he initially took 'sthanak vasi' diksha at the age of 18.
For next ten years he spent his time studying the Jain shastras under the guidance of his guru - Shri Jiwan Ram Ji. He was capable of memorizing 300 shlokas in a single day. Vikram Samvat 1920 (year 1863) was a turning point in his life when he came in contact with Shri Ratanchand Ji Maharaj in Agra. Conversations with him brought about changes in his views in favour of 'Moorti Puja' (idol worship). On the basis of some ancient Jain scriptures and granths, Shri Ratanchand Ji proved to him that idol worship existed many centuries ago. Those were the days, when most of the Jain saints were opposing idol worship.
Aatmaram Ji came to North India and started preaching about his change in views. In the year 1871, he inspired and made 20 sadhus and around seven thousand people of his views. In the year 1874, he discontinued the use of 'moonh-patti' (cloth used to cover the. mouth). In 1875, he took diksha again in Ahemdabad from Shri Buddhi Vijay Ji Maharaj - this time in the Shwetambar 'Moorti Pujak' sect and took the name of Anand Vijay. Now began a new chapter in the life of Shri Anand Vijay Ji. He went on pilgrimage to famous Shatrunjay Teerth. Then, for the next 19-20 years, he spent time penning religious books and composing Jain pujas. He also got many Jain temples made across north and west India (including present day Pakistan).
In 1886, he was bestowed with the title of 'Acharya' in Pa1itana (Gujarat) in the presence of 35,000 people from across India and became 'Shri Vijayanad Suri'. The title of 'Nyayambhonidhi' was conferred upon him by the people of Jodhpur in 1883. In the year 1892, he was invited to Chicago (USA) for 'Vishwa Dharma Parishad' - for which he wrote 'Chicago Prashanottar' (book containing questions and answers on Jainism) and sent Shri Vir Chand Raghay Ji Gandhi as his representative. He passed away at the age of 59 During his lifetime, he wrote 10 granths and composed 7 types of pujas for the Shwetambar Moorti Pujak Sect.
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Information Courtesy : Mr. Siddharth Oswal
146, Seth Sohan Lal Lane, Maharani Jhansi Road, Civil Lines, Ludhina, Punjab-141001
Tele : 0161-5050015, E-Mail : siddharth@india.com
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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
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