Yugbhushan Suri[2][3][4][1](born 26 October 1957) born as Naveen Khimji Mota is a Jain acharya of Shwetamber tradition.

Yugbhushan Suri
Yugbhushan Suri
TitlePandit Maharaj Saheb[1]
Personal life
Born
Naveen Khimji Mota

(1957-10-26)26 October 1957
Religious life
ReligionJainism
SectŚvētāmbara

He holds, along with 31 other monks, the highest rank in Jaina order and as the heir of Tirthankara Mahavir Swami he is the 79th successor[5] in the lineage of Ganadhara Sudharma Swami after his coronation as Gachhadhipati of Muni Mohjit Vijayji Samuday on 4 February 2020.[6]

On 21 February 2021 celebration and felicitation function was held at Mumbai upon his 1st anniversary of coronation as Spiritual Sovereign[7] also known as Gachhadhipati amongst Jain followers.[8]

Early life

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He is a disciple of Acharya Ramchandrasuri and was initiated into monkhood on 29 April 1979 along with his elder brother Muni Mohjit Vijayji.[9]

He was appointed to Acharya position at Deolali on 23 April 2008.[10][4][11][3]

Sainthood

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Yugbhushan Suri leads Jyot,[3][12][13] an organization spreading Jainism. He gave the concept to Jyot for films like Chal Man Jeetva Jaiye,[14] an urban Gujarati morality drama,[3] and Ek Cheez Milegi Wonderful,[15][16] a scientific and philosophical movie.[17]

In 2017, under the guidance of Yugbhushan Suri, a 50-foot tall 3D image projection of Jain Lord Mahavira emerging from Sabarmati River was organised on the evening of birth anniversary of Mahavira Swami.[18]

 
Jainacharya Yugbhushan Surishwarji during Save Shikharji Movement

Yugbhushan Suri led the Shikharji Movement, 2018 against Jharkhand government's project related to the development of commercial infrastructure on the hill of Shikharji.[19] The hill is considered sacred by all Jain sects. He is concerned about government's effects on all religions and often supports agitations based on the sanctity of religious places.[20][21][22][23] Jain Acharya's open letter to CJI elaborately juxtaposes the position of Indian religions vis-a-vis western religions showing his deep concern for pride of Indian religions.[24]

He also urges to get particular definition on religious rights as right to privacy, equality and freedom of speech and expression had been significantly expanded.[25]

Writings

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In an article with FirstPost, Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Yugbhushan suri (Pandit Maharaj) emphasised the importance of religious sovereignty in India as a means for global influence. Despite withstanding centuries of foreign invasion, the religious framework is still constantly meddled with in independent India. To maximise its soft power and revive the civilisational heritage, he says that India must correct historical wrongs and ensure religious sovereignty.[26]

At a conference organised in tribute to Maharana Pratap, Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Yugbhushansuri (Pandit Maharaj) elaborated on how Maharana Pratap is considered the icon of sovereignty. Sovereignty is the most invaluable political aspect that must be protected at all costs. Delving into Indian history, he explained that during independence, India was granted legislative sovereignty, not absolute temporal sovereignty. Consequently, India was brought under the sovereignty of the British Empire in a de-jure manner. He guides contemporary Indian leaders by stating that India must break the de-jure sovereignty from under the British monarch and establish it with indigenous sources to secure India's independence and sovereignty for the future.[27]

Media

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The Gitarth Ganga research institute organised an assembly, wherein Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Yugbhushansuri (Pandit Maharaj) spoke about the protection of dharmik sampatti and management of sources of religious income to spread awareness among the Jain community. The assembly was attended by 276 representatives from 231 shravak sanghs of Ahmedabad and approximately 25 CAs and CSs, among others, totalling 430 individuals.[28]

Arun Anand interviewed Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Yugbhushansuri (Pandit Maharaj) for FirstPost to understand his insightful opinions about how India's G20 theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam can positively influence international relations, especially in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, terrorism and other global conflicts. During the interview, he explained that although India has immense potential, there is a long way to go to compete with China. Moreover, although India is home to all major religions, only Christianity has a global voice. Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Yugbhushansuri (Pandit Maharaj) emphasises that other spiritual voices that encourage conflict resolution must be internationally recognised in an institutional set-up.[29]

In an opinion piece with FirstPost, Mr. Abhinav Pandya of Usanas Foundation shared his insights on a panel discussion held under the aegis of Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Yugbhushansuri (Pandit Maharaj), one of the finest minds on strategy and foreign policy today. The panel discussed the topic of “Ethics of Kutumb towards Achieving Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. Mr. Pandya elaborated on his perspective in the article based on his realisation that Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Yugbhushansuri (Pandit Maharaj) envisioned the topic as India's contribution to international relations theories. Modern international relations is dominated by Western theories, which focus on conflict and struggle. However, these theories are unlike the lived experiences of the Eastern world. Therefore, Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Yugbhushansuri (Pandit Maharaj) provided this topic (ethics of a kutumb can help achieve Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam) as a revolution to international relations that focuses on ethics, morals and feelings of a shared future.[30]

See also

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References

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[31] [32]

  1. ^ a b Shaikh, Aleem (20 April 2019). "Achayra Guru Yugbhushan Suri ji Maharaj (Pandit Maharaj) Tweeted on Foreign Policy". Hello Mumbai News. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Muniraj: Remembering the scholar | Ahmedabad News". The Times of India. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Meet the millennial Jain monks". 24 February 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Monks who gave up their Ferraris". Ahmedabad Mirror. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Celebrations and felicitation on 1st anniversary of coronation of His Holiness Yugbhushan Suriji Maharaj as Spiritual Sovereign "GACHHADHIPATI" at Mumbai | Daily Herald". finance.dailyherald.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Jainacharya Yugbhushan Suri's coronation as Gachhadhipati". ANI News. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Celebrations and felicitation on 1st anniversary of coronation of His Holiness Yugbhushan Suriji Maharaj as Spiritual Sovereign "GACHHADHIPATI" at Mumbai | Phoenix Arizona Business News - Phoenix Real Estate News - Consumer News - azcentral.com". finance.azcentral.com. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Jain monk to be anointed 'Gacchadhipati' | Mumbai News". The Times of India. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  9. ^ Jain, Palash Pinu (17 November 2016), English: He was widely acclaimed as "powerhouse of knowledge" by Times of India, retrieved 24 May 2019
  10. ^ "IITian gives up cushy job, family for diksha | Mumbai News". The Times of India. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  11. ^ Yagnik, Bharat; Pathak, Maulik (28 April 2021). "From corporate frontliner to Jain ascetic". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  12. ^ Solutions, Abmiro. "The Best of Knowledge". Jyot. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Exhibition on Jain philosophy in October-end - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  14. ^ Chal Man Jeetva Jaiye, retrieved 24 May 2019
  15. ^ Ek Cheez Milegi Wonderful, retrieved 25 May 2019
  16. ^ "Ek Cheez Milegi Wonderful Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos | eTimes", The Times of India, retrieved 25 May 2019
  17. ^ "EK Cheeze Milegi Wonderful - JYOT". ekcheez.gitarthganga.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Mahavir Jayanti: Ahmedabad celebrates Mahavir Jayanti | Ahmedabad News". The Times of India. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Jains protest plan to convert sacred hill into tourist centre | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  20. ^ Khelkar, Pankaj P. (18 October 2018). "Women should not enter Sabarimala: Jain acharya Pandit Maharaj". India Today. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  21. ^ Solutions, Abmiro. "Save Religion". Jyot. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  22. ^ "dna". DNA India. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  23. ^ "Solution to global warming lies in Indian scriptures: CM". www.narendramodi.in. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  24. ^ Parekh, Priyanka. "Open Letter to CJI".
  25. ^ Parekh, Priyanka. "Pandit M.S Appeal to CJI for Religious Reconsideration".
  26. ^ "Sovereignty of religions: If India wants to maximise its global influence, then it must correct historical wrongs". 30 March 2023.
  27. ^ http://usanasfoundation.com/report-maharana-pratap-annual-geopolitics-dialogue-2023i
  28. ^ "Dharmik Sampatti Raksha Mahasabha_Ahmedabad.jpeg".
  29. ^ "Global Watch | Only Christianity has got the global voice, other religions are voiceless, says top Jain monk". 3 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: A new theoretical framework to make sense of the world order". 5 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Jain Acharya's open letter to CJI on demands to reiterate religious rights and it's fundamentals".
  32. ^ "He also urges to get particular definition on religious rights as right to privacy, equality and freedom of speech and expression had been significantly expanded" (PDF).