Many are born, but while the birth
of a majority of people is merely an addition to their cycle of birth and
death, the birth of some exceptional people is instrumental in reducing their
cycle of birth and death. One such person was:-
Suvishal Gachchadhipati Acharya Shri
Jayghosh Suri Maharaja
A mischievous little child frequently visiting the upashraya of Lalbaug, Mumbai caught the
attention of Acharya Shri Bhuvanbhanu Surishwarjee Maharaja. He saw immense
maturity, deep understanding and the necessary strength of character in that
mischievous lad to become a Gachchadhipati. The boy was called Jawahar.
When Jawahar was thirteen, on the auspicious day of Vaishakh Vada 6, Vikram Samvat (V.S), 2006, he and his father Mafatbhai renounced the material world and accepted the life of a Jain ascetic at Byculla, Mumbai.
Along with his attire and lifestyle, Jawahar’s name also changed. The pious name that was going to echo in the skies of Jinshasan with respect, glory and dignity was Muni Jayghosh Vijay.
The Grace of His Great Gurus
In the holy presence of Dada Gurudev Acharya Shri Prem Surishwarjee Maharaja, Bal Muni Jayghosh Vijay increased his penance and ascetic practices. Meanwhile, an incident occurred which was instrumental in increasing his knowledge, virtues and punya manifold.
In the year V.S. 2011,
Acharya Shri Prem Surishwarjee Maharaja was travelling from Ahmednagar to
Mumbai. One day, they halted at a village named Khadki, near Pune. The evening vihar (journey carried on foot) was
scheduled towards Dahanu. Muni Jayghosh Vijay was down with 104° fever and was sleeping.
Dada Gurudev commenced the vihar at 4 pm and instructed other saints, “Bring Muni Jayghosh
Vijay when he wakes up.”
When Muni Jayghosh Vijay woke up, he learnt that his Dada
Gurudev had left.
Ignoring his fever and body pain, he immediately started the
vihar and soon met Dada Gurudev on
the way.
Seeing Muni Jayghosh Vijay’s dedication and devotion towards Guru, Dada Gurudev blessed him wholeheartedly. This unconditional shower of grace now became Muni Jayghosh Vijay’s driving force.
In each vihar
thereafter, Muni Jayghosh Vijay had his mud pot in one hand and the hand
of his modular (Dada gurudev) in the other.
A New Creation in Sanskrit
In V.S. 2017, Dada Gurudev expressed his desire for the
creation of new Sanskrit literature on the topic “Karmagrantha”. To fulfil this task, he made a team of 11 young
saints which was led by Muni Jayghosh Vijay.
Along with the huge responsibility of compiling and minutely
proof reading the vast matter, Muni Jayghosh Vijay created Sanskrit
commentaries amounting to 40,000 verses.
In the year V.S. 2020, Dada Gurudev made a ‘will’ for his
group of ascetics wherein he mentioned Muni Jayghosh Vijay’s name in 2 clauses
and gave him certain rights combined with great responsibility.
(1)
Take the advice of Muni Jayghosh Vijay in
matters of scriptural discussions or questions.
(2)
Hand over the leadership of Panyas Shri Bhanu
Vijay’s (later known as Acharya
Bhuvanbhanu Suri) samudaya (sect) to
Muni Jayghosh Vijay.
When the “will” was penned down, Muni Jayghosh Vijay’s span
of ascetic life was only fourteen years and he was merely twenty-eight years
old!!
Siddhant Divakar
In Jalgaon, Maharashtra, Pujya Gurudev Acharya Shri
Bhuvanbhanu Surishwarjee decided to bestow Muni Jayghosh Vijay with the title
of “Acharya”, certifying his caliber as an ascetic, a scholar and a thinker.
On the auspicious day of Maha Shukla 13, V.S. 2040, along with
the rank of Acharya, Gurudevshri bestowed him with the title ‘Siddhant Divakar’ to honour and
felicitate his incomparable mastery of the scriptures.
Siddhant = Scriptures; Divakar = Sun
Ask him any question related to the scriptures and the
answer quoting that verse of the text would be on the tip of his tongue. Hence,
Acharya Jayghosh Suri acquired fame as the ‘Mobile Aagam Library’ of Jinshasan.
Such was the power and depth of his knowledge that Acharya
Jayghosh Suri Maharaja had answers not only to questions related to scriptures,
but also to contemporary issues. Hence, the entire Sangh accepted Acharya
Jayghosh Suri’s decision as being the best possible solution.
Suvishal Gachchadhipati
After Param Pujya Acharya Shri Bhuvanbhanu Suri Maharaja’s Kaaldharma
(passed away) on Chaitra Vad 13, V.S.
2048 (5 December 1991), Acharya Jayghosh Suri Maharaja became the Gachchadhipati
of a group of 250 saints. On the basis of his profound virtues of deep
knowledge, detachment, affection, punya and effectiveness, he glorified
the ‘Prem-Bhuvanbhanu Suri Samuday’
with more than 600 ascetics. Acharya Jayghosh Suri Maharaja adorned the
position of Gachchadhipati for 27 years and bestowed his blessings on each
segment the Sangh.
In the entire Jain Sangh, the world ‘Gachchadhipati’
became a synonym for Gachchadhipati Acharya Jayghosh Suri Maharaja.
Siddhi Tapa
To maintain unity in Jain Sanghs, Gachchadhipati
gurudev Shri Jayghosh Suri Maharaja carried out a unique experiment. Whenever
he spent his chaturmas, he would
mingle with the nearby sanghs and ensure a collective chaturmas of all the sanghs.
Siddhi
Tapa proved to be a thread uniting all
the pearls (Sanghs).
Gachchadhipati Acharya Jayghosh Suri Maharaja’s pachakhan (permission-cum-blessing to practise a specific
penance) was so powerful that those who had not even managed to practise a
single Navakarshi (smallest of Tapa) in their life could easily
accomplish the most arduous Siddhi Tapa!
In each chaturmas,
not hundreds but thousands of people have successfully completed this great tapa
with the help of Gachchadhipati Acharya Jayghosh Suri Maharaja’s Pachakhan and Vasakshepa. In the world of tapa,
it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call Gachchadhipati Acharya Jayghosh Suri as
the brand ambassador of “Siddhi Tapa!”
Kaaldharma
On the gloomy day of Kartik
Vad 1, 2076 (13 November 2019) in Ahmedabad, at the age of 84 and after
observing a pure ascetic life for as long as 70 years, Acharya Jayghosh Suri
Maharaja passed away. His life inspired lakhs of people to practise Jain
dharma.
Great men live forever in the hearts of those they
influenced. The glory and impact of Gachchadhipati Acharya Shri Jayghosh Suri
Maharaja, even in the form of his name, photographs, idols etc is equivalent to
the glory and impact of him alive. He is still here, among us!