Vidyananda
| Acharya Shri Vidyananda Ji Maharaj | |
|---|---|
Muni Vidyananda (1963)
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| Religion | Jainism |
| Sect | Digambara |
| Personal | |
| Born | Shri Surendra Kumar Ji 22 April 1925 Shedbal, Karnataka |
| Parents |
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| Religious career | |
| Predecessor | Acharya Deshbhushan |
| Initiation | 25 July 1963 Delhi by Acharya Deshbhushan |
| Website | www |
Acharya Vidyanand ji (Hindi: आचार्य विद्यानंद) (Born 22 April 1925) is one of the senior most principal thinker, philosopher, writer, composer, editor, curator and a versatile Jain monk who has dedicated his entire life in preaching and practicing the noble concept of nonviolence (Ahimsa) through Jainism. He is the disciple of Acharya Deshbhushan. He has written may books and articles. He is now about 90 years old. He has spent his past four chaturmas (4 months stay during the rainy season) in Delhi. Several institutions like D.J. Muni Vidyanand Shodhpith, Baraut, Uttar Pradesh are named after him. He has many monk disciples like Muni and lay disciples like Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain, Dr. Jay Kumarji Upadhye, a renowned Jain Scholar. Ahinsa Sthal in Delhi was established at the initiative of Acharya Vidyanandji on the land granted by the late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Vidyanand was a notable figure in voicing the opinions of Digambara in the Bahubali affair. There have been several distinguished Jain monks with the same name in history. One of whom is commentator of Tattvartha Sutra and Aptmimamsa, lived during 800 CE.
Born and brought up in a Jain family at Shedbal village in the southern state of Karnataka, India. His Primary education was in Marathi medium at Dhanwad Maharashtra and Higher education was in Kannada medium at Shedbal Karnataka but later he decided to Join Shanti Sagar Chatra Ashram in Shedbal for his higher studies in mastering multiple languages. After completing his initial education he got placed in Ordnance Factory in Pune by his uncles reference. After few months he finds it uncomfortable to contribute in manufacturing of any kind of weapons. So he quit that job and joined a Biscuit manufacturing factory in Pune. Unlike most of the youth in those days Surendera was also a strong believer that India's National freedom can only be achieved by Non-Violent movement and get inclined towards Nobel path of Ahimsa.This was the time when he had decided to dedicate his life towards spreading the concept in its root form as practiced in Jainism.
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