Vijayanandsuri
| Acharya Vijayanandsuri | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Official name | Acharya Vijayanand Suri |
| Religion | Jainism |
| Sect | Svetambara |
| Personal | |
| Born |
April 6, 1837 Lahara, Firozepur district, Punjab |
| Died | May 20, 1896 (aged 59) Gujranwala, Punjab |
| Religious career | |
| Successor | Vallabhsuri |
| Works | Jain Tattvadarsh, Agyana Timira Bhaskara, Tattva Nirnaya Prāsād |
| Initiation | Anandvijay (earlier Atmaram) 1876 Ahmedabad by Muni Buddhivijay |
Acharya Vijayanand Suri (1837–1896), also known as Atmaramji of Gujranwala, was the first Swetambar Murtipujaka Jain monk in modern times to receive the title of Acharya. Born and raised in Punjab, he was initiated as Sthanakvasi monk who later joined Murtipujaka tradition. He travelled extensively in Gujarat, Rajputana and Punjab; and organised and reformed Jain community, ascetic orders and literature. He wrote several books in Hindi and was invited to the first World Parliament of Religions in 1893 which was attended by Virchand Gandhi later.
He was born on 6 April 1837 CE (Chaitra Shukla 1 Vikram Samvat 1893) in Lehara, Punjab to Ganeshchandra and Rupdevi. He was born in a Brahmakshatriya Hindu family. His father was an army official of Ranjit Singh. His father died in his early childhood and he was raised by his mother. He was given to Sheth Jodhmal of Jira, Punjab for education in VS 1903. He studied Hindi and arithmetic. He came into contact with Sthanakvasi monks during his school life. A couple of influential Sthanakavasi monks initiated him in 1853 (VS 1910) at the age of sixteen and was given the name of Atmaram.
Atmaram began the study of Jain scriptures along with his fellow ascetics. He was later joined by a Yati of Tapa Gaccha lineage. After several years of study, he was convinced that the Sthanakavasi position of opposition of Idol-worshiping contradicted the scriptures. Later in 1876 (VS 1943), he was initiated again as a Murtipujaka monk in Ahmedabad by Muni Buddhivijay, also known as Buterayji of Tapa Gaccha who himself was Sthanakvasi monk before. He was given a new name, Anandvijay.
In 1886, he was conferred the title of Acharya by the congregation of Palitana during his Chaturmas (four months stay during rainy season) there. This was a notable event because since four centuries, there wasn't an ascetic who was conferred with the title of Acharya. He was the first Acharya of contemporary Jain history as till then only Yatis were conferred with the title. As a result of reforms advocated by him, the influence of yatis declined, although the yatis still survive in some locations.
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