Jain Monk Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj passes away

Respected Jain monk, Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj, passed away at the age of 78 in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh. The spiritual leader, who had taken a vow of silence, breathed his last at around 2:35 AM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed heartfelt condolences, acknowledging the monk's invaluable contributions to society, spiritual awakening, healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation.

PM Modi, in a tweet, mentioned his visit to the Chandragiri Jain Temple in Dongargarh last year, where he spent time with Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj and received his blessings. The BJP National President JP Nadda also presented a proposal on the Ram Temple during the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) National Convention. Additionally, Union Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Dev Sai expressed their condolences, declaring half-day state mourning in Chhattisgarh. The RSS and Congress leader Kamal Nath also paid tribute to the departed monk.

My thoughts and prayers are with the countless devotees of Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj Ji. He will be remembered by the coming generations for his invaluable contributions to society, especially his efforts towards spiritual awakening among people, his work towards… pic.twitter.com/jiMMYhxE9r

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2024

Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj, born on October 10, 1946, was a highly revered Jain saint known for his extensive knowledge and profound contributions. Three days before his demise, he relinquished the post of Acharya and maintained silence. Known for his ascetic lifestyle, he gave up various worldly comforts, including a vow of silence and renunciations from material possessions, sugar, salt, and certain foods. The monk's passing is mourned not only by the Jain community but by leaders across political spectrums, acknowledging his irreplaceable loss.