Vijayanandsuri

Vijayanandsuri Biography

Acharya Vijayanand Suri fondly called Atmaram was a Jain monk. He was the first Swetambar Murtipujak Jain monk in modern times to receive the title of Acharya. Later his disciple Vallabhsuri addressed him as ‘Navyug Nirmata’. Currently nearly 1000 out of 1400 Jain monks are belongs to Atma Vallabh Samuday, an ascetic grouping. He gave full preference to education.

He was born on April 6, 1837 in a Hindu family in Lehara of Punjab as the son of an army official of Ranjit Singh. There was a public dispute between the two Svetambara groups of Sthanakvasi and Murtipujaka and a couple of Sthanakvasi monks initiated him in 1853 at the age of 16. He was given the name Atmaram. He received education from Jivanram, an uneducated person. He started the study and research of Jain scriptures. He was assisted by his fellow ascetics. Later a follower of Tapa Gachha lineage joined his association. He spent numerous years in the study of scriptures and reached at a conclusion that the Sthanakvasi position of opposition of Idol-worshiping contradicted the scriptures.

In Vikram Samvat of the year 1875, he was initiated again by Muni Buddhivijaya of Tapa Gachchha. In 1886, he was conferred the title of Acharya. It was a very significant event then, as in the past four centuries no other ascetic has been conferred with the title of Acharya. Thus he became the first Swetambar Murtipujak Jain monk in modern times to receive this title. He received the title - Acharya Vijayanandasuri.

In 1893 he was invited to participate in the first ever World religions Parliament at Chicago. As per religious beliefs of Jains, they never travel overseas, he sent Virchand Gandhi to United States to represent him. He won silver medal in 1893 at Chicago and appeared in several international newspaper headlines as well. As he truly believed in the principles of education, later his disciple Vallabhsuri built many schools, hospitals and educational institutes. He died on 20 May 1896 in Gujranwala, Punjab aged 59.

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Updated: December 24, 2013