Jain Spiritual leader Acharya Vidhyasagar Maharaj passed away on 18th February
At the age of 77, Jain spiritual leader Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj passed away on 18th February Sunday in Chandragiri Teerth in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh. A statement from Teerth said that Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj attained Samadhi through 'sallekhna' at Chandragiri Teerth at 2:35 am.
"Maharaj was staying on the teerth in Dongargarh for the last six months and was unwell for the past few days. For the last three days, he was observing 'sallekhna', a religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death, and had quit intake of food and liquids. According to Jainism, it is a vow taken for spiritual purification," the statement said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, "Throughout his life, he remained engaged in poverty alleviation as well as promoting health and education in society. It is my good fortune that I continue to receive his blessings. My meeting with him at Chandragiri Jain Temple in Chhattisgarh last year will be unforgettable for me. I had received a lot of love and blessings from Acharya ji. His unmatched contribution to society will continue to inspire every generation of the country. 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 poverty alleviation, healthcare, education and more."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi grieved during his speech at the BJP National Convention 2024 on February 18, honoring Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj. "Today, I would like to honor Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj," he declared. Everyone is really devastated to learn of his passing. This is a personal loss for me. I had several opportunities to meet with him and receive advice from him. I had no idea that I would never again be able to receive his darshan when I paid him a visit.
On 5th November 2023, ahead of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the well-known pilgrimage destination of Dongargarh, where he met Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj and received his blessings.
A procession was taken out at 1:00pm on Sunday for people to pay tribute to the departed seer, followed by the final rites in Chandragiri Temple. Chhattisgarh government has declared a half-day state mourning today on the demise of Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on 'X' in Hindi, "The demise of a great man like the great saint, most revered Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj, is an irreparable loss for the country and society." Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote, "The news of the sad demise of national saint Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj is shocking and speechless to the entire world. Acharya Shri had a deep influence in my life, most of his life was spent in the land of Madhya Pradesh and I got a lot of blessings from him."
