Kshamasagar

Muni Kshamasagar was a Digambara monk initiated by Acharya Vidyasagar.[1] He was one of the most followed Jain monks. He is also known for his poetry and writings which are widely quoted.

Muni Shri Kshamasagar Ji Maharaj
Portrait at Nainagiri memorial
Personal
Born	Virendra Kumar Singhai 20 September 1957 Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
Died	13 March 2015 (aged 57) (Samadhi-maran)
Religion	Jainism
Parents	Jeevan Kumar Singhai (father) Asha Devi (mother)
Sect	Digambara
Religious career
Initiation	20 August 1982 by Acharya Vidyasagar

Life

Kshamasagar was born in the city of Sagar, Madhya Pradesh on 20 September 1957.[2] His father Jeevan lal Singhai was a nephew of famous Sagar philanthropist Singhai Kundanlal, who was a longtime supporter of Ganesh Varni.[3]

He was initiated as a Digambara monk on 20 August 1982 by Acharya Vidyasagar. He did his M. Tech from Sagar University and renounced the worldly life soon afterwards.[4]

He opted Santhara on 13 March 2015 at 6.00 AM in Moraji Jain temple during his Chaturmas period. More than 50,000 people attended his funeral proceedings afterwards.[4][5]

Works

Kshamasagar wrote "In Quest of the Self: The Life Story of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar" (आत्मान्वेषी), a biography of his teacher Āchārya Vidyadagar and was published by Bhartiya Jnanpith.[6]

His poems have been collected and published in Hindi and English. His poetry works include the following published books.

1. "Pagdandi Suraj Tak" (1992)
2. "Muni Kshamasagar ki Kavitayen" (1996).[7]
3. Mukti (2000) [8]
4. "Apna Ghar" (2005)[9]
5. "Aur Aur Apna" (2016) [10]
6. "Karam Kaise Karein" is a collection of his discourses.[11]
7. He also wrote "Jain Darshan Paribhashika Kosh".[12]

There is a famous quote dedicated to Achatya Vidyasagar by him.[13]

दीप उनका, रौशनी उनकी, मै जल रहा हूँ |

रास्ते उनके, सहारा भी उनका, मै चल रहा हूँ |

प्राण उनके हर साँस उनकी, मै जी रहा हूँ |[13]

Notes

1. क्षमासागर महाराज का समाधिमरण, Pradesh Today, 13 March, 2015
2. "Bharatiya Jnanpith". jnanpith.net. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
3. Ganesh Prasad Varni, Meri Jivan Gatha, Part 2, 1977, p.355-356
4. "मुनिश्री क्षमासागर ने ली समाधि, 50 हजार श्रद्धालु हुए शामिल, 50", Patrika, 13 March 2015
5. "क्षमा सागर महाराज जी का समाधी मरण", Loktej
6. Kshamasagar (2007), In Quest of Self : The life story of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar, Delhi: Bhartiya Jnanpith, ISBN 81-263-1166-5
7. वर्णीभवन मोराजी में मुनिश्री क्षमासागर महाराज का समाधिमरण, Patrika, 2015-03-13
8. "Mukti - Remadhav Publications (P) Ltd". www.remadhav.com. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
9. "Bharatiya Jnanpith". jnanpith.net. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
10. "Bharatiya Jnanpith". jnanpith.net. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
11. Karam Kaise Karein, Muni Kshamsagar, Pub. Maitree Samooh, 2009
12. Jain Darshan Paribhashika Kosh, Muni Kshamsagar, Gyanodaya Vidyapitha,
13. "मुनि श्री 108 क्षमासागर जी महाराज". Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj | Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj Pravachan | Jain Religion In Hindi. Retrieved 21 December 2018.

Sources

• Kshamasagar (2007), In Quest of Self : The life story of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar, Delhi: Bhartiya Jnanpith, ISBN 81-263-1166-5
• Muni Kshamasagar's Bio on Maitree Samooh

External links

• Media related to Kshamasagar at Wikimedia Commons
• Shortfilm by Maitree Samooh on Muni Kshamasagar's Life मुनिश्री क्षमासागर जी महाराज की आत्मीय स्मृतियाँ, Biography, Maitree Samooh, Mar 14, 2016