Acharya Rajendrasuri
Personal Profile
Acharya Rajendrasuri was born on 3rd dec 1827 at Bharatpur in Rajasthan in a family of business man named Rishabhadas Parakh. His birth name was Ratna Raj. Since childhood he had such a brilliant grasping power that at age of 10–12 years he had acquired all the educational studies. When he was 14, his father and mother died.
Sacrifying Nature since Childhood
He was always attracted towards sole minded with sacrificing attitude towards a calm and peace of mind. He had a sole, unselfish, always helping nature towards other. He began to be more anxious to have the company of great Jain Acharyas and monks. He was too much impressed by them that he renounced the worldly life and was initiated as Jain yati by Hema Vijayaji at Udaipur in 1846 A.D.
Now Ratna Raj was known Rajendrasuri. He studied all the Jain scriptures, philosophy, literature, grammar, rhetoric, lexicography, etc. under Acharya Pramodsuri and Jain Monk Sagarchandji, the well-known yatis of the age and soon he acquired proficiency. Acharya Dharanendrasuri yati was so much impressed by the profound scholarship of Rajendrasuri that he appointed him his daftari and gave him the task of teaching the groups of yati disciples.
Rajendrasuri raised voice against corrupt life
Rajendrasuri was disgusted with the princely and luxurious life of Dharanendrasuri. He raised his voice against the corrupt and luxurious life of the Jain yatis and insisted all the yatis to live a pious ideal life in accordance with the principles laid down by Jain Tirthankaras and Jain Holy Scriptures.
He also worked hard to reform the institution of Jain yati and get rid of its age old traditions and superstitions. Initially he was opposed by some yatis but finally he got success. As a result of this the Jain yatis/Monk had given up their worldly life and surrendered their princely symbols like silver rods, chanwar, palkhi, arms, etc. to the Jain temples, and took solemn oath to lead a life of purity, simplicity, non-possession, non-violence, teaching and preaching.
His contribution for the monk Institutions
Rajendrasuri reformed and simplified the Jain yati/monk institution. He restored and reconstructed the Jain temples and installed the Jain images and established different socio-religious organizations for the uplift of the Jains and propagation of Jainism.
On the 21st December Friday 1906 A.D. Acharya Rajendrasuri laid down his body for the Moksha Prapti till death in a still Samadhi. A great saint who was in his own a different kind having same date of birth and death.
