Acharya Chandana

Acharya Chandana (born Shakuntala; 26 January 1937 – 22 April 2026), known as Tai Maharaj by her devotees, was an Indian Jain nun of the Amarmuni Sampradaya. Chandana is the first Jain sadhvi (female renunciant) to be awarded the title of Acharya and the Padma Shri. Chandana is known for her social engagement and for popularising the notion of 'seva' (human service) among the Jain community. She is the founder of Veerayatan, a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Rajgir with centers in over ten countries.

Early life

On 26 January 1937, Chandana was born as Shakuntala, in the Kataria family in the village of Chaskaman in the Pune district of Bombay Presidency. Her mother was Premkunwar Katariya, and her father was Manikchand Katariya. She received formal education until the third grade. From childhood, she longed to aid and serve those in need.

Monastic life Shakuntala's maternal grandfather persuaded her to be initiated as a sadhvi by Sumati Kunvar. At the age of fourteen, she received Jain diksha and was named sadhvi Chandana.

In 1968, she left the order she was initiated into and joined the lineage of Amar Muni.

In 1998, Chandana delivered the opening prayer at the National Federation of Asian Indians of North America convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the only known female renunciant in Jainism's history to do so. The mayor of Cleveland honored her with an award for helping to spread peace.

Veerayatan In 1973, Chandana, at the age of 36, established Veerayatan in Rajgir, under the spiritual guidance of Amarmuni. The word "veer ayatan" is a combination of two words: "Veer" (meaning "Mahavira") and "ayatan" (meaning "sacred place").

In 1984, Netra Jyoti Seva Mandiram (NJSM), was established to provide free eye care. Today, over 2 million patients have been treated at NJSM.

Veerayatan set up emergency relief camps and programs to help people get back on their feet after the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, the tsunami in India in 2004, the Surat floods in 2006, the Kosi River floods in Bihar in 2008, and the Nepal earthquake in 2015.

Other work In 1980, Chandna assisted in the establishment of a museum at the Leicester Jain Centre in the United Kingdom.

She was also a member of Selection Jury of Mahaveer Awards presented by Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, Chennai.

Death Chandana died on 22 April 2026, at the age of 89.

Recognition and awards On 26 January 2022, Chandana was awarded Padma Shri Award, the fourth-highest civilian award by the Indian government, for her contribution to humanitarian service and social work. On 5 September 2002, she was awarded Shri Devi Ahilya National Award by the central minister, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan for her services to humanity in the fields of health, education, population, pollution control, and natural disasters through Veerayatan. JAINA Presidential Award was presented for Veerayatan's service in extending Mahavir's work to all through compassion, education, and nonviolence.