C'garh Declares Half-Day State Mourning On Jain Seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj's Demise

Chhattisgarh Government declared a half-day state mourning day after Jain seer Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj took his last breath in the state's Chandragiri Teerth in Dongargarh on Sunday. 

The Chhattisgarh government declared a half-day state mourning on Sunday after renowned Jain seer Acharya Shri 108 Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj passed away at the age of 77. Vidyasagar Maharaj was born on October 10, 1946, in Karnataka's Belgaum district and passed away on February 18 in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district at Chandragiri Teerth in Dongargarh. 

The Jain seer passed away after undertaking 'sallekhna,' a religious practice in Jainism which involves voluntarily fasting to death to attain spiritual purification. According to the teerth's statement, Vidyasagar Maharaj attained Samadhi at 2:35 am on Sunday.

"Maharaj was staying on the teerth in Dongargarh for the last six months and was unwell from the last few days. For the last three days, he was observing sallekhna, a religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death, and had quit intake of food and liquids. According to Jainism, it is a vow taken for spiritual purification," the teerth's statement said.

Prime Minister Modi also expressed his grief on the Jain seer's demise, recalled his visit to Dongargarh last year when he met Acharya Vidyasagar and took his blessings ahead of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections.

In his condolence message that PM Modi shared on X, he said, "My thoughts and prayers are with the countless devotees of Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj Ji. He will be remembered by the coming generations for his invaluable contributions to society, especially his efforts towards spiritual awakening among people, his work towards poverty alleviation, healthcare, education and more."

The post further read, "I had the honour of receiving his blessings for years. I can never forget my visit to the Chandragiri Jain Mandir in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh late last year. That time, I had spent time with Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj Ji and also received his blessings."

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai said that the Jain seer will be remembered forever for enriching India and the world with his dynamic knowledge, remarkable work, sacrifice, and penance for society and country. 

"The news of the worldly revered and national saint Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Mahamuniraj ji's samadhi was received in Chandragiri Teerth located in Dongargarh. I bow down to the feet of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar ji, a bundle of spiritual consciousness," he said.