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Satgonda was married at the age of
only nine years with a girl of six years of age but ,the girl died within six months of marriage. He
then declined for the second marriage and observed complete, clear and holy celibacy for the whole of his life.
When he was intending to adopt Dixa, his parents allowed him to observe certain
vows, rules and non-eating but directed that he should not leave the house until
they were alive. He used to sit at the his parental shop and turned the
shop as a self-study Centre for himself.
At the age of 32, he went to the great pilgrimage of
Smed Shikharji. On return from pilgrimage he took a vow of only one time dining in a
day and not to eat ghee and edible oil for the whole of his life.
His father also took water and meals only for once in a day for 16 years.
When Satgonda was at the age of 37 his
father accepted meditation-death and left the mortal body.
His mother also passed away after three years by adopting meditation-death.
Satgonda was now free from the bondages of parents.
After few years Digambar Mooniraj Shri Devapa Swamy (Devendra Kirtiji Maharaj) came
to Uttoor Village, Satgonda requested before him for Dixa. Under the
guidanc of Gurudev Devapa Swamy, Shri Satgonda took dixa in 1915 AD at
the age of 43 in Uttoor village and named ShantiSagar. He left everything after keeping only two
clothes to wear and on begging bowl to ask for alms and to eat and accepted the whole earth as his own nature place. He, on his way of moving came to the mountain Girnar that
was holy with the footprints of Tirthankar Neminath. At this place Shri ShantiSagarji
Maharaj adopted Elak Dixa.
Shantisagarji came over to Parnal village
while moving, where the
celebrations of Panch Kalyan Pratishtha Mahotsava of Lord Jinendra were going on.
Digambar mendicant Shri Devendra Kirti Maharaj was also present
there. Shri ShantiSagarji requested for Nirgranth Dixa-Possessionless
mendicantship by placing his head on his feet.
Devendra Kirti Maharaj invested him with the title of Mooni ShantiSagar by granting him higher stage of Dixa.
Now to observe the difficult vows, ShantiSagarji decided to go in forest and adopt
meditation- death. While maintaining his vows very strictly, he moved towards the south and expanded religion at all places through which he passed. He advised people to shun evil practices. By time, he became famous. He granted Dixa and vows to several Shravaks.In 1834, he regularly established Shraman Sangh at the time of Mooni Dixa of Shri Nemisagarji. The Jain community gave him the title of Acharya at his age of
52 in 1951 at the holy celebrations of Panch Kalyanak Pratishtha Mahotsava at
Gajpantha in Maharashtra. Acharya Shri ShantiSagarji was given further award of Charitra Chakravarti. Hundreds and thousands of ghee-lamps were being lighted at all villages and towns when AcharyaShri arrived with his followers and activities of high level discussions of scriptures, philosophical lectures and discourses, prayers, devotional songs and repetition of religious phrases were being undertaken.
In 1928, AcharyaShri started for the pilgrimage of
Samed Shikharji along with his disciples and followers. This was the first occasion after many centuries that a large group of
mendicants were moving in north India. He was honored at all places and Panch. Kalyanak Celebrations were also held at
SamedShikhar. Lacs of devotees arrived there for this celebration from the whole of India. Acharya walked about 35,000 miles in seven years and lacs of devotees had taken advantage of his spiritual knowledge.
A large number of Acharyas, Moonis, small persons, women and celibates
had taken Dixa at the hands of AcharyaShri.
AcharyaShri was famous as charitra-chakravarti only because of his achievements
and accomplishments for the up-life of Jainism. AcharyaShri had created deep impressions on common people by religious
preaching and restrained life. Rulers of Sangli, Faltan, Kolhapur, Pratapgadh,
Idar, Dholpur and other states used to come to see him. Even several European
officers were also attracted towards Acharyaji. His preaching
were highly philosophical; his thinking was of the highest level. He considered people of
all religious equally. His disciples had also created very good impressions on
the people.
In 1955, in the month of August, Acharya Shri
when he was 82 years, had a cataract in his eye and had become physically very weak. He was at Kunthalgiri in
Maharashtra. It is a rule with Jain Munis to move from one place to another with proper care and vision. However, due to the cataract and weakness, it became
difficult for Acharya Shri to observe this rule. He therefore started feeling that his body was useless for the further spiritual enhancement (Sadhana). He resolved voluntarily to undertake a fast unto death
(Sallekhana).
On August 14, 1955 he gave up food. Slowly his body started getting weaker and weaker. However, his Soul (Atma) became firm
in control in penance. In the first eight days, he took only two bits of food everyday.
Then after he took only juice from black grapes for another eight days and after that he used to take water only.
When he was absolutely weak and unable even to stand without help from someone, he adopted
Yama- Sannllekhana
and stopped taking water till the end of his life. He spiritually progressed significantly in complete detachment and unique renunciation. Jains and
non-Jains in millions came for respect (Darshan). The President of India, Dr Rajendraprasad, Vice-President Dr Radhakrishnan and many learned people came to pay their respects to him and listen his sermons. Ultimately, on the thirty-fifth day of his fast, on
September 18, 1955, he attained to death in a spirit of equanimity and in deep meditation
(Samadhi). He had touched Jinendra Murti with his hand just before
five minutes of his passing away and had moved his head towards his feet. He
was muttering "Namah Siddhebhya: -"-respects to the Absolute when he breathed
last.
Acharyai ShantiSagarji was an ideal jain
saint who re-incarnated the Digambar traditions. He had observed rigorous vows and restrained life with total celibacy
for about forty years. He had won over his senses and had captured anger,
greed, attachments, sensuality, pride desires with six enemies. His life was a lamppost for all mendicants, disciples
and followers.
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