Jinkavidrasagarsuri

This document is a biographical sketch of Acharya Shri Jinkavindrasagarsuri, written by Sadhviji Shri Sajjanshreeji 'Visharad'. It details his life from childhood to his passing and highlights his significant contributions to Jain literature and the Jain community.

Here's a breakdown of the key information:

Early Life and Renunciation:

• Spiritual Inclination from Childhood: Even as a child, Dhanpat (his birth name) showed great intelligence and a strong inclination towards spirituality.
• Early Loss of Father: He lost his father at the tender age of 10, which was a turning point that fostered his detachment from worldly life.
• Desire for Renunciation: Motivated by this event and his mother's grief, Dhanpat expressed his desire to take diksha (initiation into monkhood) and be placed under a good Guru.
• Mother's Decision: His mother, after a visit to her sister, who was a renowned scholar and had also taken diksha, decided to take Dhanpat to meet Sadhviji Shri Ratnashreeji M. Sa.

Diksha and Education:

• Initiation into Jain Monkhood: Under the guidance of Sadhviji Shri Ratnashreeji M. Sa., the young Dhanpat was inspired by tales of renunciation and received diksha. He was given the name Kaveendrasagar and became a disciple of Ganadheesh Shri Harisagarsuri M. Sa.
• Comprehensive Education: He studied various subjects including grammar, logic, poetry, lexicography, prosody, and rhetoric. He also gained a deep understanding of Prakrit and Gujarati languages and, importantly, Jain scriptures.
• Talented Poet: True to his name ("Kavi" meaning poet), he began composing poetry at the age of 16 and quickly became a prolific and skilled poet in Sanskrit and Hindi.
• Philosophical and Devotional Compositions: He authored numerous philosophical and devotional works, including stotras (hymns), sthavans (devotional songs), and pujas (worship rituals), which are considered invaluable contributions to Jain literature. His ability to simplify complex philosophical concepts made them easily accessible to readers.

Spiritual Practices and Asceticism (Tapascharya):

• Austerity and Yoga: Kaveendrasagar was deeply devoted to self-realization through yoga and meditation. He spent time in secluded mountain caves and hills for his spiritual practices.
• Ascetic Prowess: Despite his intellectual pursuits, he was also a practitioner of intense austerity. He spent 30 out of his 41 years of monastic life under the direct guidance of his Guru. He undertook extensive tours across various regions of India, spreading the Jain faith and visiting pilgrimage sites.
• Record of Fasts: He observed numerous fasts, including long fasts like mas-g, panchudhyaman, acahiyai, and pancholi, with the number of shorter fasts being uncountable.

Literary Contributions:

• Extensive Literary Output: He composed hundreds of devotional songs, hymns, and sthavans, as well as detailed pujas for various deities and occasions, including specific pujas for the Ratnatraya (three jewels of Jainism), Panchkalyanaks of Parshvanath and Mahavir, and Chaushathprakari Puja.
• Attribution to Gurus: Notably, many of his compositions were not attributed to himself but to his revered Guru, his spiritual brothers, or his preceptors, showcasing his humility and respect.
• Eloquent Preacher: His sermons were described as powerful, philosophical, and easy to understand, with a natural flair for poetic expression and rhetorical devices.

Leadership and Passing:

• Appointment as Acharya: Following the sudden demise of Acharya Shri Jin Anandasuriji M. Sa., the community unanimously appointed Kaveendrasagar as the head of the sect.
• Humility in Leadership: Despite being offered the Acharya post, he humbly declined, stating that his spiritual brother, Shri Anandasagarsuri M. Sa., was more suited to hold such a position, emphasizing his own preference to remain as a disciple.
• Tragic Demise: He passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on March 14, 1962 (Fagan Shukla 5, Vikram Samvat 2018) in Mudha village near Mandsaur, while preparing for a religious ceremony. He was meditating and chanting the Navkar Mantra at the time of his passing.
• Legacy of Hope: His untimely demise was a great loss to the Jain community, leaving them without a leader. The document concludes with a heartfelt wish for the peace of his soul and for the community to be empowered to follow his virtuous path.

In essence, Acharya Shri Jinkavindrasagarsuri is portrayed as a multifaceted personality – a scholar, a poet, a yogi, a devout ascetic, and a humble leader who dedicated his life to the propagation and enrichment of Jainism. His literary works continue to be a valuable resource for spiritual and intellectual edification within the Jain tradition.