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JAIN DIGEST .. May 2011
Madhya Pradesh, and Khandesh area of Maharashtra Gumanapanth is a very small sect. This sub-sect was started by Pandit Gumani Rama or Gumani Rai, a son of Pandit Todaramal, a resident of Jaipur in Rajasthan. Gumanapanth originated in the 18th. Century A.D. and flourished mainly during that century. It is found now in some areas of Rajasthan around Jaipur. Totapanth came into existence as a result of differences between the Bispantha and Terapanth sub-sects. Many sincere efforts were made to strike a compromise between the Bis (i.e. twenty) Panth and the Tera (i.e. thirteen) panth and the outcome was sadhesolaha i.e., sixteen and a half)-Panth or 'Totapanth'. That is why the followers of Totapanth believe to some extent in the doctrines of Bispanth and to some extent in those of Terapanth. The Totapanthis are very few in number and are found in some pockets of Madhya Pradesh.
Kanji-panth or followers of Kanji Swami are a part of this new sect. Saint Kanji Swami largely succeeded in popularizing the old sacred texts of the great Digamber saint Acharya Kundakunda of South India. The influence of Kanjipanth is steadily increasing around the Sonagarh in Gujarat and Jaipur in Rajasthan. The complied list of all Digamber Acharyas is given in the end of this section. We have included the profiles of very few Acharyas whom we had a chance to meet, or if any of the community member provided such information
Acharya Vidhyanandji
To give up the attachment towards Jeen and to embrace Jin; was the expression Acharya Vidyanandji used to explain the goal of Sadhutva. (Jeen is the term used for leather saddle, here referring to the physical body.). The main purpose of Sadhu is to lead a life that maintains the awareness and focus towards the permanence of the soul and the transitional nature of the physical body. The attachment towards the transitional body is the key
hindrance for the soul's complete independence. Born in a small village called Shedwal in Karnataka, Surendra (later known as Acharya Vidyanandji), was a very determined child right from his childhood and had tremendous amount of perseverance to pursue his goals. His oratorical skills coupled with his leadership skills saw the birth of a scholarly and
renowned Acharya Vidhyanandji
personality. The
influence of sadhus and sadhvis on him due to the proximity of
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