Jain Acharya Shri Bhuvanbhanu Soorishwarji

Shri Kantibhai was born on the 6th day of the bleak fortnight of Chaitra in Vikram Era 1968, in a highly cultured and distinguished family in Ahmedabad. He was the second son of Shri Chimanbhai and Shrimati Bhuribehan. He received academic education and passed, with distinction, a Banking Examination of England of those those days and thus showed his in-born intellectual brilliance.

When he was a buoyant and brilliant youth of 23 years; with overflowing intellectual potentialities, he, along with his younger brother Popatlal renounced the splendor of the worldly life; and received initiation into the Charitradharma at the holy feet of the Venerable Acharya Shri Premasoorishwarji on the 12th day of Paush Sud (the bright fortnight) in the year 1991 of the Vikram Era, in Chanasma, in Gujarat; and become Muni Bhanu Vijayaji. His younger brother become Muni Padma Vijayji, Later, another younger brother of his become a muni under the name of Tarunvijayji; and his younger sister received the Deeksha and became Sadhvi Hansakirtishriji.

Bhanuvijayji made on in-depth study of the Jain Agams and the various systems of the Western philosophy; and he attained mastery over such branches of knowledge as logic (Nyayshastra), while he was carrying out scriptural studies and teaching the scriptures, his innate talent for delivering elevation discourses also began to blossom forth into blissful dimensions; and a large number of educated youngsters become his disciples (Shishyas). He organized training camps (Shibirs) and through them he showed the way of discipline, culture and noble conduct to thousands of youngsters and inspired in them lofty spiritual ideals.

Besides, carrying out such lofty tasks as scriptural studies and meditation, he established a permanent record by carrying out a special Jain spiritual austerity called the Vardhaman Ayambil Tap.

It is a unique experience to hear him singing devotional songs with his sweet but lofty voice, swaying with devotion, taking its origins from the depths of his poetic genius; or to see him writing out his reflections late into the night in the dim moonlight.

He is the spiritual head of a hundred and eight five disciples who are Sadhus; and has written one hundred books. Bhuvanbhanu Soorishwarji became on Acharya on the second day of Magasir (bright fortnight) in the year 2029 of the Vikram Era. He carried out Padyatra in Bihar, Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, U.P., walking thousands of miles; and now even at the age of 77, he has been showing the right path to thousands of people to attain serenity and felicity. His writings appear regularly in " Divyadarshan" a Gujarati weekly and thus the mighty stream of his lofty contemplations keeps flowing.

Jain Acharya Mahaprajna ji

 

Acharya Shri Mahapragya (14 June 1920 – 9 May 2010) was the tenth Acharya, supreme head of Jain Swetembar Terapanth group. Mahapragya was a highly venerable saint, yogi, spiritual leader, philosopher, author, orator, poet.

He began his life of religious reflection and development as a Jain monk at the age of ten. Mahapragya played a major role in Anuvrat movement launched by his Guru Acharya Tulsi in 1949, and became the acknowledged leader of the movement in 1995. Acharya Mahapragya formulated the well organized Preksha meditation system in the 1970s, and developed the "Science of Living" education system which is a practical approach for the balanced development of a student and his character building.

He traversed more than 100,000 km on foot covering more than 10,000 villages reaching out to the masses spreading the message of harmony and peace. Walked across the length and breadth of India From Kachchh in Gujarat to Kolkata and from Punjab to Kanyakumari, Mahapragya undertook travel on foot earlier under the leadership of Acharya Tulsi and later himself being the leader. During these travels, he addressed thousands of public meetings. Mahapragya is an apostle of Non Violence. He launched the Ahimsa Yatra movement in 2001 which continued till 2009 to promote non violence and harmony. Followers refer to him as Gurudev, the Godly Teacher.

Baba Kinaram

This lineage had continued in a sleepy state, as if embers under ashes। In the 16th century Baba Kinaram after receiving darshan with Guru Dattatreya in Girnar mountains, awakened it for the welfare of the humanity at large – embers hidden under the ashes began to glow again। In the presence of Baba Kinaram spontaneous relief was received by the suffering, answers to questions came automatically, and mind experienced calmness naturally. One would experience the higher Self merely by being in his presence.
Baba Kinaram traveled far and wide in all the four corners of India & witnessing the suffering of people, engaged himself whole - heartedly in
alleviating their suffering. Finally on the bank of the river Ganges in Varanasi, he established his dhuni (sacred fire) and continued his sadhana of service.
The akhand dhuni (continues burning fire ) of Baba Kinaram fed by the leftover wood from the near by cremation grounds, and the samadhis (tombs) of all the siddhas of the lineage in the same compound, are witness to the continuum of this intact lineage of Aghor Siddhas. Today, this yoga -bhumi (land of sadhana ) of Aghor Siddhas of Kashi (Varanasi) is called Kring Kund where we could get the blessings of Maharaj Shree Kinaram babajee’s Samadahi.

Sant Ravidas

Sant Ravidas was born of humbal parentage at Seer Govardhanpura in Kashi now known as Varanasi, around the 15th century. His parents Shri Santokh Das and Smt. Kalsi Devi were so struck by the divine effulgence of their child when he was born that they named him Ravidas after Sun-Gold. Ravidas did not have any formal education. It is said that when his father tried to admit him in a 'Pathshala', the child Ravidas did not display any interest in his school lessons as even at that early age, he understood that true means of selvation is through love of God and through Bhajan and devotional worship. In his early life, Ravidas was often found in deep meditation for hours togather. Ravidas used to collect boys of his age and explained to them the various modes of adoring God. Ravidas inherited the professio of tanning and shoe-making from his father. But, he was content with making only one pair of shoes in a day. He never desired to make more money than was necessary to keep his body and soul togather. Often he supplied new shoes free of cost to those who could not afford to pay for them. Ravidas often spent his earnings in helping the poor and for feeding the sadhus whom he rspected as men of God. Once, when his father sent Ravidas with some shoes to be sold, Ravidas gave away the whole earnings. Such was his devotion to men of God and his compession for the poor and needy. To divert his attention, his father got him marriednd sattled him eperately. Ravidas lived in a humble cottage but carried on his life of faith and devotion and continued his service to the men of God. Ravidas did not believe in idol-worship. He emphasised the search for Truth and Realisation of the oneness of God. "To recognise oneself is to reach the Almighty God", this is what Rvidas preached LL HIS LIFE. His true devotion towards God was the great source of his successs. He had to face many ordeals in life. He had to face the challenge of orthodox Hindu society which forbade him to wear a sacred thread. or blow the holy marks on his forehead these being meant for only the high caste Hindus. Ravidas being a 'charmakar' was even denied entry into temples. There are many legends about how Ravidas proved his worthness and God-possessed disposition. It is said that when he was brought before the court of Raja Naga Mal, he cit his shoulder and showed the four sacred thread that he wore in 'Satyug', 'Dwapara Yuga,' 'Treta Yuga,' and 'Kalyuaga.' This would not satisfy the orthodox Hindus. Ravidas again performed a miracle by making his 'sila' (a stone used by chamars for making shoes) float on the surface of Ganges, while making the idols of the pandits went down. Raja Nagar Mal admitted Ravidas's greatness and become his disciple. He had further trouble when he went to the Ganga at Varanasi at the place called Panch Ganga Ghat to perform the last rites of his parents, who both died the same day. The publlic is stated to have objected to the waters of the Ganga reaching them after they were polluted by a chamar. It is said that the river changed its flow at the place to accomodate Ravidas. Mira Bai, the famous saint poetess, had great respect for him. It is said that even Sikandar Lodhi, the Sultan of Delhi was impressed by the teachings of Ravidas and honoured hm with presents. Sant Ravidas composed many shabdas. Out of them about 41 shabdas have been included in the Holy Guru Granth Sahib. His shabdas are packed with divine wisdom and in each of them, he advocates the 'Ram nam jap' and extois the efficacy of this great mantra. In his teachings, he says, "God is everywhere - in you and me," and insists, "it is time to worship God." His philosophy was one of surrender to the Lord. He was fully convinced that in Kaliyuga, God's name was the only remedy for salvation. Sant Ravidas was agreat reformer, lover of God and a preacher of saitly disposition, who emphasised the fundamental truth underlying all religions. Born in most humble surroundings in a so-called low-caste family, he proved that "irrespective of caste and creed, all are equal in the eyes of God and only sinful actions bring bad name and dishonour to a man." Though the orthodox society was pitched against him, he never swered from the path of truth and propagated the love of God. He preached love of God and religious harmony as the only panacea for the survival of humanity.  Sant Ravidas.