Buddhisagarsuri (1874 – 1925) was a

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

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 preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a ...

''. He wrote more than 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 state of Gujarat. Notables 1.Vijapur is the birthplace of Jain monk Buddhisagar Suri. Buddhisagarsuri (1874–1925) was an ascetic, philosopher and author of the ear ...

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 municipality in Mehsana district, in the Indian state of Gujarat. Established in 14th century, the city was under Gaekwads of Baroda State from 18th century to the independence of India in 1947 ...

. He took a job of religious teacher in

Ajol Ajol is a village in Mansa Taluka of Gandhinagar district, Gujarat, India. It is well known for its silk weaving. Demographics As of the 2001 India census, Ajol had a population of 5,844. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48% ...

. Following 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 (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consci ...

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

Mansa Mansa may refer to: Places In India * Mansa, Gujarat, a town in northern Gujarat, Western India; the capital of: ** Mansa, Gujarat Assembly constituency ** Mansa State, a princely state under the Mahi Kantha Agency in India * Mansa district, ...

. 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 Jains and other communities visiting temple of Jain deity, Ghanta ...

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

Baroda Vadodara (), also known as Baroda, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Vadodara district and is situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River, from the state capital ...

Idar Idar may refer to: People * Idar Andersen (born 1999), Norwegian road racing cyclist * Idar Kreutzer (born 1962), Norwegian businessperson * Idar Kristiansen (1932–1985), Norwegian poet, novelist, short story writer and non-fiction writer * ...

and

Pethapur Pethapur State was a small princely state belonging to the Mahi Kantha Agency of the Bombay Presidency during the era of the British Raj. It was centered on Pethapur village, in present-day Gandhinagar district of Gujarat State, a place reno ...

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 hundred books. He has written about 2000 poems. He has written a large number of poems about Sabarmati river. His first book was ''Jain Dharma Khristi Dharmano Mukablo'', a comparison between

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...

and

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

. 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 stanza on meditation * ''Yog Deepak'', the guide on

yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consci ...

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

karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means 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 descriptivel ...

* ''Adhyatma Geeta'' * ''Atma Shakti Prakash'' * ''Atma Darshan'' * ''Shuddhopayog'' * ''Samya Shatak'' * ''Shishyopanishad'' * ''Atmana Shasan'' * ''Anandghan Pad Bhavarth Sangrah'', a collection of hymns of

Anandghan Anandghan was a 17th-century Jain monk, mystical poet and hymnist. Though very little is known about his life, his collection of hymns about philosophy, devotion and spirituality in vernacular languages are popular and still sung in Jain temples ...

, 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 Kumarapala * ''Yashovijay Charitra'', a biography of

Yashovijay Yashovijaya (, 1624–1688), a seventeenth-century Jain philosopher-monk, was a notable Indian philosopher and logician. He was a thinker, prolific writer and commentator who had a strong and lasting influence on Jainism.Dundas, Paul (2004) p. ...

* ''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 Śvētāmbara monks