Acharya Vidyasagar

Sant Shiromani Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj
Acharya Vidyasagar, a prominent Digambara monk
Religion	Jainism
Sect	Digambara
Personal
Born	Vidyadhar (1946-10-10) 10 October 1946 (age 70) Sadalga, Belgaum district, Karnataka
Parents	Mallappa (Mallinath) (father) Shrimanti (mother)
Senior posting
Predecessor	Acharya Gyansagar
Religious career
Disciple(s)	Pramansagar, Sudhasagar, Kshamasagar, Guptisagar
Works	Mukamati
Initiation	30 June 1968 Ajmer by Acharya Gyansagar
Website	www.vidyasagar.net

Acharya Shri Vidyasagarji Maharaj (Kannada:ಆಚಾರ್ಯ ವಿದ್ಯಾಸಾಗರ, Nagari:आचार्यश्री विद्यासागरजी महाराज) is one of the best known modern Digambara Jain Acharya (philosopher monk). He is known both for his scholarship and tapasya. Despite of being in a modern age, he is known for his hard austerity and long hours in meditation.

Vidyasagar was born as Vidyadhar on 10 October 1946 on Sharad Purnima (full moon) in Sadalga, Belgaum district, Karnataka. His father Mallappa, mother Shrimati, and two sisters took diksha and joined the sangh of Acharya Dharmasagar. Of the three brothers, two of them joined the sangh of Acharya Vidyasagar himself, leaving one brother Mahavira Ashtage, to marry and continue the blood line.

He was initiated as a Digambara monk at the age of 22 by Acharya Gyansagar, who belonged to the lineage of Acharya Shantisagar, at Ajmer in 1968. He was elevated to the Acharya status in 1972.

Acharya Vidyasagara is a scholar of Sanskrit and Prakrit and knows several languages such as Hindi and Kannada. Several researchers have studied his works for masters and doctoral degrees. His works include Niranjana Shataka, Bhavana Shataka, Parishah Jaya Shataka, Suniti Shataka and Shramana Shataka. He also authored nearly 700 Haiku poems which are unpublished. He authored the Hindi epic poem Mukamati. This has been also included in the syllabus of MA Hindi in various institutions. This epic poem has also been translated into English by Lal Chandra Jain and was presented to President of India.