Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh): Digambar Jain seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj, passed away at Chandragiri teerth in Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district on Sunday. The Chhattisgarh government has declared a half-day state mourning to mourn his death.
During this period, the national flag will remain at half mast and state functions and programmes will not be organised, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wrote on his X handle. His last rites were held in Dongargarh later this afternoon.
According to a statement from the teerth, Acharya Vidyasagar ji Maharaj breathed his last after 'sallekhna', practice involving fast unto death for spiritual purification, at Chandragiri teertha at 2:35 am. "Acharya Vidyasagar ji Maharaj was staying on the teeth for the last six months and was keeping unwell in the last few days. He was observing sallekhna for three days and had quit taking food and liquids. The practice is observed for spiritual purification," the statement said.
Taking to his X handle Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on the demise of the Jain seer. "The demise of Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj is an irreparable loss for the country. His valuable efforts for spiritual awakening among the people will always be remembered. Throughout his life he remained engaged in poverty alleviation as well as promoting health and education in the society. It is my good fortune that I continue to receive his blessings. My meeting with him last year at Chandragiri Jain Temple in Chhattisgarh will be unforgettable for me. Then I had received a lot of love and blessings from Acharya ji. His unmatched contribution to the society will continue to inspire every generation of the country," PM Modi tweeted.
Union home minister Amit Shah, who also took to X to pay his tributes said that Acharya Vidyasagar ji Maharaj gave priority to the welfare of humanity till his last breath and his demise is an irreparable loss for the country and society. "He remained selflessly committed to his resolve for the welfare of the universe and the welfare of every individual" and guided the society as an "Acharya, Yogi, thinker, philosopher and social worker", Shah tweeted.
Shah also wrote that he was "easy-going, simple and gentle on the outside, but on the inside he was a seeker as hard as a thunderbolt" and will continue to guide the future generations like a pole star.
Condoling the seer's demise, CM Sai wrote, "The news of the worldly revered and national saint Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Mahamuniraj ji's samadhi was received in Chandragiri teerth located in Dongargarh. Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj, who enriched the country and the world including Chhattisgarh with his dynamic knowledge, will be remembered for ages for his remarkable work, sacrifice and penance for the country and society. I bow down to the feet of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar ji, a bundle of spiritual consciousness."
Paying tribute to the Jain seer, Congress tweeted, "The most revered Saint Shiromani Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj became a Brahman through Samadhi. This is an irreparable loss for the entire country. Saint Shiromani's unmatched sacrifice towards humanity and society will always be an inspiration for us. May our Acharya Shri attain Parampad Siddhatva. On behalf of the entire Congress family, heartfelt tribute to Saint Shiromani Shri Vidyasagar ji."
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