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ABOUT PARAM PUJYA MĀSOPAVĀSI,
SAMADHISAMRATA ACARYA 108 ŚRI SUMATI SĀGARA JI MAHĀRĀJA
In Digambara Jaina tradition, two greatest lines of pontiffs were emerged in twentieth century which largely contributed in propagation of Jaina doctrines all around. The first line starts from Cāritra-Cakravarti Ācārya 108 Śrī śānti Sāgara Jī Mahārāja who belonged to south India. The second line starts from Praśānta-mūrti Ācārya 108 Sri Sānti Sāgara Ji Mahārāja (Chhāni) who belonged to north India. This second line is now also known as Acārya Sānti Sāgara 'Chhānī' tradition. In this tradition, the fifth pontiff was Māsopavāsī, Samādhisamrāta, Parama Pūjya, Ācārya 108 sri Sumati Sāgara Ji Mahārāja to whom the present volume is dedicated. He was the greatest preceptor of this tradition.
Ācārya 108 Śrī Sumati Sāgara Jī Mahārāja was born in 20th October 1917 in the village Shyamapura, dist. Morena, Madhya Pradesh. His father was Sri Chiddulal Jain and mother was Smt. Chironja devi Jain. The child Sumati Sāgara Ji was named Sri Natthilal Jain. In 1929, Sri Natthilal was married with Ramsri devi Jain of village Khabaroli, dist. Morena. Soon after marriage, Sri Natthilal left the village and settled in Morena and did the business of foodgrains. The whole family of Natthilal was devout Jaina and always engaged with social and religious work.
Once Ācārya Sri Vimal Sāgara Ji Mahārāja arrived in Morena and stayed for some days. Meanwhile, Sri Natthilal's family got opportunity to offer 'Ahāra' to Acāryaśrī. Srī Natthilal offered Āhāra to him with full devotion and this became the turning point in his life. He took many 'Jaina vratas' gradually and starts life to live according to them. His mind escaped from the worldly attachment. Finally, in 1968, he took the 'Ailak Dīkshā' under the guidance of Ācārya Śrī Vimal Sāgara Ji Mahārāja and being a Ailak, he was named 105 Śrī Vīra Sāgara Ji Mahārāja. Thus, a common man Natthilal, departed to all his worldly relations, had begun his journey on the path of liberation.
Śrī Vīra Sāgara Jī Mahārāja conducted his first cātrumāsa in Delhi with his guru Ācārya Sri Vimal Sāgara Ji Mahārāja. After căturmāsa, the samgha moved to Gaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
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