30 Facts About Phoolchandra Shastri

Siddhantacharya Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri was a Jain scholar, writer, editor, freedom fighter, social reformer and an intellectual giant in the field of Jainism.

Phoolchandra Shastri is best known for dedicating a major part of his life in translating to Hindi the foremost and the oldest Digambara Jain Canon, Shatkhandagama and Kasayapahuda, and its commentaries, Dhavala, Maha-Dhavala and Jai-Dhavala.

Phoolchandra Shastri was an active member of the Indian National Congress during the Indian struggle for freedom.

Phoolchandra Shastri completed his studies in 1920 from Shri Mahavir Digambar Jain Pathshala in Sadhumal, Lalitpur.

Phoolchandra Shastri was motivated and financially helped by Sheth Laxmichand Jain a zamindar and businessman of Lalitpur.

Phoolchandra Shastri did his graduation from Shri Gopal Digambara Jain Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Morena in 1922.

Phoolchandra Shastri got married in 1923 at the age of 22 years.

Phoolchandra Shastri migrated from Silawan to Bina and from there he migrated and settled in Varanasi.

Phoolchandra Shastri lectured in Jain Philosophy at Banaras Hindu University and Syadvad Digamabara Jain Mahavidyalaya, Varanasi from 1924 to 1928.

Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri was one such quintessential Jain Pandit who led a simple and austere life and left behind a vast legacy of works by translating, editing and writing books.

Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri had an excellent understanding of Jain philosophy and was considered as one of the greatest exponents of the Jain theory of Karma.

Phoolchandra Shastri enunciated on philosophical and controversial topics in Jainism such as caste, stri-mukti and the inherent purity of souls.

Phoolchandra Shastri was a protege of the noted Jain scholar and philosopher Ganeshprasad Varni.

Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri is best known for editing and translating the Shatkhandagama and the Kasayapahuda.

Padmanabh Jaini notes that the Shatkhandagama and the Kasayapahuda along with their commentaries Dhavala, Mahadhavala and Jayadhavala, which were translated into Hindi by Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri, were of epic proportions consisting of 172,000 shlokas.

Phoolchandra Shastri has authored numerous books on Jainism like Varna, Jati Aur Dharma and Jain Tattvamimamsa.

Phoolchandra Shastri edited Journals like Shanti-Sindhu published by Acharya Shanti Sagar Sarasvati Bhawan, Natepute from 1935 to 1937 and another journal Jnanodaya published by Bharatiya Jnanpith, Kashi from 1949 to 1952.

Phoolchandra Shastri became an active member of the Indian National Congress during the British rule in India.

Phoolchandra Shastri volunteered as an office bearer at Bina, Sagar, Solapur and Amravati, District Congress Committees.

Phoolchandra Shastri took part in various Congress conventions held at Yavatmal, Poona and Natepute.

Pandit Phoolchandra Shastri took an active part in social issues.

Phoolchandra Shastri opposed many evil practices and customs prevalent in Jain society.

Phoolchandra Shastri championed the cause of right of entry for untouchables into Jain temples.

Phoolchandra Shastri supported the widely opposed Harijan Temple Entry Bill, 1949 on the grounds of the Jain doctrine which does not believe in the caste system.

Phoolchandra Shastri opposed unnecessary expenditure in the name of religion, especially on Gajraths, the processions of elephant-drawn chariots.

Phoolchandra Shastri was one of the founding members and the first working joint-secretary of All India Digambara Jain Vidvat Parishad held in 1944.

Phoolchandra Shastri later founded the Shri Ganesh Varni Digamber Jain Institute, Varanasi in 1971.

Phoolchandra Shastri was a founding member and Joint Secretary and Editor of Shri Ganesh Prasad Varni Jain Granthmala in Varanasi.

Phoolchandra Shastri was honoured with the Prakrit Jnan Bharti award by Svasti Shri Charukirti Bhattaraka at the First National Prakrit Conference, Bengaluru, 1990.

The Pandit Phool Chandra Phoolchandra Shastri Foundation has been established in Panditji's honour.