Acharya Gyansagar

Lifetime

Passed away: 01.06.1973 @ Naseerabad

About

Acharya Jnansagar or Gyansagar (आचार्य ज्ञानसागर)

is the best known of the Digambar Jain Acharyas of 20th century for composing many Sanskrit epics.
He initiated the Acharya Vidyasagar Muni.

Biography

He was born as Pt. Shri Bhooramal Ji Chhabda (पंडित श्री भूरामल जी छाबड़ा).
His father was Shri Chaturbhuj and mother Shrimati Ghritbhari devi. He was second of five brothers (Chhaganlal being the eldest and Gangaprasad, Gaurilal and Devdatt being the younger brothers).
After completing primary studies in his village, he further studied Sanskrit and swadwad in Banaras. He was initiated a kshullak (Junior monk) by Acharya Veersagar ji who belonged to the lineage of Acharya Shantisagar ji. He was then named kshullak Gyanbhusan ji. He remained a kshullak for 2 years and 2 more years as Ailak before becoming a Muni (Full monk).
He was initiated a monk by Acharya Shivsagar ji who also belonged to the lineage of Acharya Shantisagar ji, in Khaniya ji, Jaipur in 1959. He was further elevated to the Acharya status in 1968 at Naseerabad Rajasthan.
He attained Samadhi on June 1st, 1973 in Naseerabad.

Names

He was born as Pt. Bhurmal ji Chhabda. The word Bhura means brown colour.
He was then renamed to Gyan bhusan and Gyan sagar. The word Gyan means knowledge, Bhusan means ornament and Sagar means sea.
So the literal meanings of his name are whose ornament is knowledge and the sea of knowledge suiting perfectly to him.
He is also called Mahakavi Gyansagar. Mahakavi means great poet.

Works

As an expert in Sanskrit, he had been a great composer in Sanskrit. At least 30 researchers have studied his works and were honored doctoral degrees. At least 300 scholars have presented research papers on his work.
His works includes 4 Sanskrit epics and 3 more Jain Granthas and that too in the time when the Sanskrit composition was almost obsolete. These creations have always surprised the modern Sanskrit scholars.[2]

Tradition

He belongs to the tradition established by Acharya Shantisagar:
Acharya Shantisagar -> Acharya Virsagar -> Acharya Shivsagar -> Acharya Gyansagar (self) -> Acharya Vidyasagar (present)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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