Vijayanandsuri Atmaramji

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, focusing on the life and legacy of Acharya Shri Vijayanandsurishwarji (also known as Shri Atmaramji), as presented in the document:

The text, taken from the "Shramana Bhagwantos" series, details the life and significant contributions of Acharya Shri Vijayanandsurishwarji (Shri Atmaramji Maharaj), a prominent and influential Jain monk of the last two centuries.

Early Life and Initiation:

• Born in the Kapur Brahmakshatriya caste in the village of Lehra near Jinanagar, Punjab, on a Tuesday in Chaitra Sud 15 of V.S. 1892.
• His birth name was Dittaram. His parents were Rupadevi and Ganeshchandra.
• His father, Ganeshchandra, was a soldier in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army.
• A unique aspect of his early life involved his father's attempt to protect him from a local Sikh guru's desire to make him a religious leader. This led to his father's imprisonment, escape, and eventual death in a conflict.
• Despite these adversities, Dittaram was raised by his father's friend, Jethmal Oswal. He was drawn to Jain religious practices and the teachings of monks Gangaramji Maharaj and Jeevanramji Maharaj.
• At the age of 18, in V.S. 1910, he took initiation (diksha) from Jeevanlalji Maharaj in Malerkotla and was given the name Atmaramji.

Intellectual Prowess and Scholarly Contributions:

• Atmaramji Maharaj was an exceptionally brilliant and influential young monk.
• He possessed a remarkable aptitude for study and teaching, with exceptional grasping and memory power, capable of memorizing 300 verses of the Agamas.
• He mastered Ardhamagadhi and Sanskrit, undertaking the monumental task of correcting misinterpretations in some Agamic texts.
• His studies extended beyond Jain scriptures to include Vedic texts, Upanishads, Puranas, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Shankaracharya's commentaries, and even religious texts of other faiths like the Quran and Bible.
• His profound knowledge and scholarship were recognized across Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and North India in places like Kapur, Pali, Jiru, Ludhiana, Delhi, and Agra.
• He was invited to represent Jainism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893, but due to the Jain tradition of not crossing the sea, he prepared Barrister Virchand Raghavji Gandhi for this role. His work, "Chicago Prashnottar," shed significant light on the fundamental principles of Jainism.
• He had a mutual desire to meet Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj. Atmaramji invited him to Jodhpur, but unfortunately, Dayanand Saraswati passed away before they could meet.

Influence, Reforms, and Inter-religious Harmony:

• Atmaramji Maharaj was known for his liberal outlook, stemming from his extensive studies.
• During his long sojourn in Punjab, he preached the pure Sanatan Jain Dharma and dispelled misconceptions, particularly regarding idol worship.
• His liberal approach enabled him to undertake many social welfare activities.
• The combined influence of Atmaramji Maharaj and Shri Vijayanandsuri was so profound in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat that numerous institutions like schools, colleges, libraries, dispensaries, and dharamshalas were established and named "Atmanand."
• After his initiation, he arrived in Gujarat with 17 monks.
• In V.S. 1932, after 22 years of his monastic life, he took "Samvegi Diksha" from Buterayji Maharaj, a historically significant event.
• He conducted Chaturmas in Bhavnagar in V.S. 1962 and then traveled in Punjab for five years, followed by Chaturmas in various cities in Gujarat like Ahmedabad, Surat, Radhanpur, Mahesana, and Palitana.
• His sermons were immensely popular, attracting large crowds from villages, and prominent community leaders would go miles to welcome him. This popularity was evident during his installation as Acharya in Palitana, where over thirty-five thousand people from across India gathered.

Literary Works and Philosophical Insights:

• He possessed mastery over multiple languages including Pakki, Gujarati, Hindi, Ardhamagadhi, and Sanskrit.
• He authored numerous significant works, including:
  • Jain Tattwa
  • Agyan Timir Bhaskar
  • Tattvanirnay Prasad
  • Samyaktva Shayodhwar (where he proved Jainism's validity using evidence from Agamas and history)
  • Shri Dharma Vishayak Prashnottar
  • Navtattva tatha Updesh Bhavni
  • Jain Mat Vriksh
  • Chicago Prashnottar
  • Jain Mat Ka Swaroop
  • Isai Mat Samiksha
  • Chaturtha Aradhana Nirnay (Parts 1-2)
• He also composed numerous stotras, pads, and bhajans, and was the first to create such devotional literature in Hindi.
• His work "Jain Tattwa" is a comprehensive treatise that encapsulates the essence of Jainism. It includes a neutral and comparative analysis of Jainism with other religions, highlighting its unique aspects.

Character and Legacy:

• Atmaramji Maharaj was not only a scholar but also a humble and respectable personality.
• He held deep respect for senior monks (in terms of their monastic age) and demonstrated this by offering them respects.
• His combination of scholarship and humility earned him respect from people of all denominations.
• He played a pivotal role in resolving the intense conflict between idol-worshippers and Sthanakvasis in Punjab.
• More remarkably, he bridged the gaps and fostered harmony not just among different Jain sects but also between Jain, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities in Punjab. This resulted in a significant number of followers from Sikh and Muslim communities.
• In his sixty years, he accomplished immense deeds, awakened religious fervor, and contributed to education and social reform.
• He passed away in Gujaratiwala (now in Pakistan) during his V.S. 1953 Chaturmas, due to ill health and breathing difficulties. He took his last breaths seated on his asana, uttering "Aham, Aham, Aham" and bidding farewell to all.
• News of his demise spread rapidly, and statues and foot-impressions were established in his memory across India, including at the revered pilgrimage sites of Shatrunjaya and Girnar.
• He designated his favorite disciple, Shri Vallabhsuri, to carry forward his lineage.
• Pandit Sukhlalji, in his tribute, described Atmaramji as a brilliant scholar, powerful, and an examiner of truth, but most importantly, a revolutionary who dared to shed the constraints of dogma.

The text concludes by briefly mentioning Upadhyay Shri Veer Vijayji Ganivarya as a figure of peace and inspiration, but the primary focus remains on Acharya Shri Atmaramji Maharaj.