Acharyas of Achalgachchh

Tithis of the acharyas

VS = Vikram Samvat. The panchang marks these tithis every year, so the app reminds the samaj of each one.

Dadashri Aryarakshitsuri

The founder of Achalgachchh (Vidhipaksha). Born in Dantani near Mount Abu (janma VS 1136), diksha in VS 1142 as Muni Vijaychandra, made acharya at Bhalej. He brought monks back to the vidhi of the Agams and lived to about 100. Read his story.

Dadashri Jaysinhsuri and the early acharyas

After Dadashri Aryarakshitsuri, the gachchh was led by Dadashri Jaysinhsuri (janma VS 1169 in the samaj panchang). Among the great acharyas of the early centuries are Dharmaghoshsuri and Mahendrasinhsuri, who wrote the Shatpadi.

Dadaguru Merutungsuri

Known in the samaj as Mantra prabhavak Dadaguru. His punyatithi falls in VS 1470 (Magshar Sud 15). He is remembered as a scholar and poet; the Jain Meghaduta, a poem about Bhagwan Neminath and Rajimati, is credited to him.

Yugpradhan Dadashri Kalyansagarsuri

Born in VS 1633 (1577 CE) as Kodan Kumar in Lolada near Patan. He took diksha at the age of nine in Dholka from Acharya Dharmamurtisuri, became acharya in 1593 and led the gachchh from 1611. In 1613 the chaturvidh sangh in Udaipur gave him the title Yugpradhan. Under his guidance the Lalan brothers of Jamnagar, Sheth Vardhaman and Sheth Padamsinh, led a large sangh to Palitana in 1594, and he consecrated their derasar on Shatrunjay in 1617. He wrote many granths and stavans in Sanskrit and Gujarati. He passed away in Bhuj in 1661, during chaturmas, at 84.

Dadasaheb Gautamsagarsuri

In the modern era Dadasaheb Gautamsagarsuri did the kriyoddhar of Achalgachchh: he brought back the strict conduct of monks and built up the sangh of sadhus and sadhvijis again. His kriyoddhar tithi (Fagan Sud 11) and swarg tithi in VS 2009 (Vaishakh Sud 13) are kept in the samaj panchang.

Achalgachchhadhipati Gunsagarsuri

Janma VS 1969, diksha VS 1993, acharya pad VS 2012, punyatithi VS 2044. With his disciple Muni Kalaprabhsagar he researched the history of the gachchh for the Arya Kalyan Gautam Smruti Granth. The 72 Jinalaya tirth near Mandvi in Kutch was built in his memory.

Achalgachchhadhipati Gunodaysagarsuri

Janma VS 1988, diksha VS 2014, acharya pad VS 2033 and Achalgachchhadhipati pad VS 2050. He led the gachchh until his kaldharm in 2020. The samaj keeps his punyatithi together with that of Acharya Dansagarsuri (Shravan Sud 6).

Achalgachchhadhipati Kalaprabhsagarsuri

The present Achalgachchhadhipati. Janma VS 2010, diksha VS 2026 (together with Acharya Kavindrasagarsuri and Acharya Virbhadrasagarsuri), upadhyay pad at Barmer and acharya pad in VS 2044, and Achalgachchhadhipati pad in VS 2077, after the kaldharm of Acharya Gunodaysagarsuri. He was formally installed at Mulund, Mumbai.

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