Vidyananda

Who is Vidyananda?

Acharya Vidyanandaji is one of the most senior Jain monks. He was a disciple of Acharya Deshbhushanji. He has written may books and articles. He is now about 83 years old. He has spent his past 4 chaturmasas in Delhi. Several institutions like D.J. Muni Vidyanand Shodhpith, Baraut, UP are named after him. He has many monk disciples like Muni and lay disciples like Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain, Dr. Jay Kumarji Upadhye, a renowned Jain Scholar. Mahavira Sthali in Delhi was established at the initiative of Acharya Vidyanandji on the land granted by the late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Vidyanand was a notable figure in voicing the opinions of Digambara in the Bahubali affair. There have been several distinguished Jain monks with the same name in history. One of whom is commentator of Tattvartha Sutra and Aptmimamsa, lived during 800 CE.