Shantisagar

Acharya Shri Shantisagar Ji (1872–1955) was an Indian Acharya of the Digambara monk faith. Shanti Sagar ji revived the teaching and practice of traditional Digambara practices in North India. He was lustrated as a kshullaka into the Sangha (holy order) by Devappa (Devakirti) Swami Ji. He took his ailaka deeksha (religious vows) by Acharya Shri 108 Aadisagar Ji (Ankalikar), who was the first acharya of 20th century, after visiting Shri Girnar Ji Siddhkshetra. In about 1920, Shantisagar Ji became a Digambara muni (sadhu). In 1922, at Yarnal village, Belgaum district, Karnataka, he was given the name "Shanti Sagar Ji".

Early life Shantisagar Ji was born in 1872 near Bhoj village in what is now Belgavi district in Karnataka, India. His father either worked as a farmer or was employed in the clothing business. At age eighteen, having read religious texts and undergone several pilgrimages, Shantisagar Ji decided to dedicate his life to a religious order.

Shantisagar Ji's parents died in 1912. He then traveled to the Jain holy place, Shravanabelagola, a town in Hassan district, Karnataka, India. In 1918, whilst in Shravanabelagola, Shantisagar Ji was initiated as a kshullaka into the Sangha (holy order) by Devappa (Devendrakirti) Swami Ji. He took his ailaka deeksha (religious vows) by Acharya Shri 108 Aadisagar Ji (Ankalikar), who was the first acharya of 20th century, after visiting Shri Girnar Ji Siddhkshetra In about 1920, Shantisagar became a muni (monk) of the Digambara sect. In 1922, at Yarnal village, Belgaum district, Karnataka, he was given the name "Shanti Sagar".

He preached the principles of digamber religion in various parts of India and became an Acharya. His disciples also called him "Charitra Chakravarti" ("Emperor of good character"). He has also been called "muniraj" ("King among Ascetics"), and "silasindhi" ("Ocean of Observances").

He began a hunger strike to oppose restrictions imposed on Digambar monks by the British Raj.

His Vihar throughout India

He was the first Digambar Jain monk in the 20th Century to wander throughout India. The wandering of a digamber monk is termed "Vihara" an old sramanic term. Padmanabh Jaini writes:

Acharya Shantisagar Ji took last breath on 18 September 1955 at 6:50 am at Kunthalgiri, Osmanabad district, Maharashtra, India.

Based on the accounts given by Sumeruchandra Diwakar Shantisagar was born in 1872 to Bhimagauda Patil and Satyavati at Bhoj Village in Belgavi dist., Karnataka, India. His birth name was Satgauda. He was married at the age of nine. His wife died six months after the marriage. In 1905, he made a pilgrimage to Digambar Teerth Sammed Shikharji accompanied by his sister.

Acharya Aadisagar Ankalikar Ji (1809–1887) He was the first acharya of the 20th Century and he took munidiksha at Kunthalgiri siddhkshetra all alone by himself and became the first acharya in the year 1915 (the same year in which Acharya shanti sagar ji received muni diksha) at Kadgemela, Jaisinghpur, Maharashtra. He revived digambar Jain ascetic tradition. He used to have only one food item (for example mango juice, aamras) that too in 8 days. Acharya shri Mahavirkirtji, Acharya Vimalsagar Ji (1915–1994) belonged to his lineage followed by Tapasvi samrat Acharya shri 108 Sanmati sagar ji maharaj, who did the most tapasya (penance) after Tirthankar Mahavir, followed by Acharya shri 108 Sunil sagarji maharaj, who is the current leader of the ascetic lineage.

Acharya Shantisagarji Chhani Acharya Shantisagar Ji is sometimes termed Acharya Shantisagar Ji (Dakshin) to contrast him with Acharya Shantisagar Ji "Chhani" (North) (1888–1944). Chhani is a district in Udaipur. They were thus contemporary. Sarakoddharak Acharya Gyansagar Ji (born 1957) was initially initiated by Acharya Vidyasagar Ji as a Brahmachari, later he was initiated as a Digambar Muni by Acharya Sumatisagar Ji (1917–1994) belonging to the lineage of Acharya Shantisagar Ji Chhani.