25 Facts About Shantisagar

Acharya Shri Shantisagar Ji was an Indian Acharya of the Digambara monk faith.

Shantisagar was the first Acharya and a leader of his digamber sect in the 20th century.

Shantisagar was lustrated as a kshullaka into the Sangha by Devappa Swami Ji.

Shantisagar took his ailaka deeksha before an image of the Tirthankara Neminatha.

Shantisagar ji was born in 1872 near Bhoj village in what is Belgavi district in Karnataka, India.

At age eighteen, having read religious texts and undergone several pilgrimages, Shantisagar Ji decided to dedicate his life to a religious order.

Shantisagar 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 by Devappa Swami Ji.

Shantisagar took his ailaka before an image of the Tirthankara Neminatha.

Shantisagar preached the principles of digamber religion in various parts of India and became an Acharya.

Shantisagar's disciples called him "Charitra Chakravarti".

Shantisagar has been called "muniraj", and "silasindhi".

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

Shantisagar was the first Digambar Jain monk in the 20th Century to wander throughout India.

Shantisagar has wandered on foot over the length and breadth of India, receiving food offerings but once a day, and then with only his bare hands for a bowl; he has spoken little during daylight hours and not at all after sunset.

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

Shantisagar visited towns including Katni in Madhya Pradesh state, Jabalpur, Sleemanabad, Nohta, Kundalpur and Sagar.

In Rajakheda, Uttar Pradesh, Shantisagar was attacked by a violent crowd.

In 1930, Shantisagar Ji visited Mathura and received a blessing.

Shantisagar visited the Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra Shri Mahaveer Ji temple, a pilgrimage site.

Shantisagar visited Goral in 1940, Akluj in 1941, Korochi in 1942, Digraj in 1943, Kunthalgiri in 1944, temple Phaltan in 1945, and Kavalana in 1946.

Shantisagar was in Gajpantha in 1950, Baramati in 1951, Lonand in 1952, and Kunthalgiri in 1953.

Shantisagar is the Acharya of the Digambara community; now, after thirty-five years as a mendicant, he is attaining his mortal end in the holy manner prescribed by the great Mahavira almost 2,500 years earlier.

Shantisagar had handed over the leadership to Acharya Virasagar Ji.

Shantisagar was followed by, in sequence, Acharya Shivsagar Ji, Acharya Dharmasagar Ji, Acharya Ajitasagar Ji and then Acharya Vardhamansagar Ji who currently leads his sangha.