->2411raj at 10:42, 29 September 2021

2021-09-29T10:42:31Z

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{{Short description|Female Acharya}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox religious biography
| honorific-prefix = Acharya
| name = Chandana
| image = Acharya Shri Chandanaji.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| caption = Acharya Shri Chandanaji
| religion = [[Jainism]]
| official_name =
| birth_name = Shakuntala
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1937|1|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Chaskaman, [[Maharashtra]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = 'Shastri’ in the subjects of Navya-Nyaya and Vyakaran from Banaras Hindu University.
| parents =
| initiation_name = Sadhvi Chandana
| initiator = Pujya Gurudev Upadhyay [[Amar Muniji Maharaj]]
| website = {{URL|www.veerayatan.org}}
}}
{{Jainism
}}
'''Acharya Chandana''', (also '''Tai Maharaj''', '''Chandanaji'''), belongs to the ''[[Amarmuni Sampradaya]]'' which—as of 2013—is the only [[Jain]] monastic lineage to have promoted a nun to the rank of Acharya. Chandana is known for introducing the concept of "''seva''" ('service to humanity') among the Jain. She founded Veerayatan—a non-profit, non-governmental service organization—which, as of 2013, has centers in more than ten countries.<ref name="Titze">{{cite book | first1=Kurt | last1=Titze| first2=Klaus | last2=Bruhn| title=Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-violence| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=loQkEIf8z5wC&pg=PA270| year=1998| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass| isbn=978-81-208-1534-6| pages=270}}</ref>

== Early life ==
[[File:Relief Work by Veerayatan.jpg|left|thumb|upright=.8|Relief Work at Veerayatan, Kutch]]
[[File:Acharya Shri Chandanaji - 'Divine World'.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1|Construction of the 'Divine World' at Palitana]]

Chandana was born into a [[Bhil Kataria|Kataria Bhil]] family in the village of [[Chaskaman]], [[Maharashtra]] on 26 January 1937. Her mother, Prem Kuwar, and father, Manikchand, named her Shakuntala. She took formal education till third class. Her maternal grandfather convinced her to take initiation under the Jain [[Sadhvi Sumati Kuwar]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

At the age of fourteen she renounced the world, took Jain [[diksha]], and became Sadhvi Chandana. She made a twelve-year vow of silence to study [[Jain scriptures]], the meaning and purpose of life, and different religions. She obtained the degrees of Darshanacharya from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai; Sahitya Ratna from Parayg; and a master's degree from the Pathardi Dharmik Pariksha Board. Chandana gained the title of ''[[Shastri]]'' in the subjects of Navya-Nyaya and Vyakaran from [[Banaras Hindu University]]. In 1972, Chandana began her humanitarian work in a poverty-stricken area in the state of Bihar, India.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Chandana became the first [[Jainism|Jain]] woman to receive the title of [[Acharya]] in 1987.<ref name="Miller">{{cite book | first1=Christopher Patrick | last1=Miller| first2=Jeffery D. | last2=Long| first3=Michael | last3=Reading| title=Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_9i_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10| date=15 December 2019| publisher=Rowman & Littlefield| isbn=978-1-4985-6485-4| pages=7–10}}</ref><ref name="But04">{{cite book | first1=Tarunjit | last1=Singh Butalia| first2=Dianne P. | last2=Small| title=Religion in Ohio: Profiles of Faith Communities| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRFePtMXjT8C&pg=PA369| year=2004| publisher=Ohio University Press| isbn=978-0-8214-1551-1| pages=369–}}</ref> This remains very controversial within the [[Jain community]].<ref name="Wiley" />

In 1998, Chandana traveled to [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], where she offered the opening prayer at the National Federation of Asian Indians of North America convention and was honoured for her contributions to peace.<ref name="But04"/>

{{Clear left}}
== Founding of Veerayatan ==
{{anchor|Veerayatan}}

Veerayatan, a religious organization based on the principles of [[Jainism]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Ancient Mahavir idol stolen| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Ancient-Mahavir-idol-stolen/articleshow/49964457.cms| work=[[The Times of India]]| date=29 November 2015| access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> was founded by Chandana in 1974, in Bihar,<ref name="Wiley">{{cite book | first=Kristi L.|last=Wiley| title=The A to Z of Jainism| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUz9o-EKTpwC&pg=PA32| accessdate=4 July 2013| year=2009| publisher=Scarecrow Press| isbn=978-0-8108-6821-2| page=32}}</ref> and is an international charitable organization that seeks to create social transformation among impoverished people through spiritual development, quality education, and service to others without discriminating against caste, creed, race, or gender.<ref name="Chapple2006">{{cite book | last=Chapple| first=Christopher Key| title=Jainism and Ecology: Non Violence in the Web of Life| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=abLZNdYxay8C&pg=PA166| year=2006| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass| isbn=978-81-208-2045-6| page=166}}</ref> Veerayatan is derived from two words:"''Veer''" (meaning 'of Lord [[Mahavira]]') and "''aayatan''" ('holy place').

The organization was founded on the occasion of Lord Mahavira's 2500th 'Nirvana Mahotsava'.<ref>{{cite news | title=Rebel-turned-Acharya Inspires Jain Convention| url=http://www.newsindiatimes.com/jain-leader-inspires-support-for-schools-project-in-india/articleshow/31640522.cms| publisher=NewsIndiaTimes.com| date=18 July 2014| access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=TI1 /> Three core focus areas of the organization are "seva" ('service to humanity'), "shiksha" ('education'), and "sadhana" ('self-development'). Veerayatan is the only Jain organization to promote the concept of "seva".<ref>{{cite news | title=Rebel-turned-Acharya Inspires Jain Convention| url=http://www.newsindiatimes.com/jain-leader-inspires-support-for-schools-project-in-india/articleshow/31640522.cms| publisher=NewsIndiaTimes.com| date=18 July 2014| access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> It has centres in Bihar, [[Kutch]], Maharashtra, and other places in India and USA, UK, UAE, East Africa, and Singapore.<ref name=TI1 />

Veerayatan operates hospitals, schools, colleges, and vocational training programs for the underprivileged throughout India.<ref name="Titze" /> Veerayatan runs an eye hospital at [[Rajgir]]; a charitable school at Lachuar; and a BEd college at [[Pawapuri]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ancient Mahavir idol stolen|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Ancient-Mahavir-idol-stolen/articleshow/49964457.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=29 November 2015|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=TI1 /> In the [[Kutch district]], Veerayatan runs two primary and one secondary educational institutions, an institute of pharmacy offering undergraduate and graduate programs, an institute of management and computer applications offering undergraduate programs, an institute of engineering, management, and research offering graduate and diploma programs.<ref name=TI1>{{cite news|title=Veerayatan to open 200 schools|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Veerayatan-to-open-200-schools/articleshow/31640522.cms|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=8 March 2014|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

Veerayatan initiated emergency relief camps and rehabilitation programs in the aftermath of the 2001 earthquake in [[Gujarat]],<ref>{{cite news | title=Makeshift Schools Ease Trauma of India Quake| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/world/makeshift-schools-ease-trauma-of-india-quake.html| newspaper=The New York Times| date=8 April 2001}}</ref> the [[2004 Boxing Day Tsunami|tsunami in 2004]], during the [[Surat]] floods in 2006. and the [[Kosi River]] floods in 2008.

== Other work ==
An artist, Chandana has set up a museum named Shri Brahmi-Kalamandiram in Bihar which houses her artifacts and other creations. She traveled abroad to support the creation of a museum at the [[Leicester]] Jain center in the United Kingdom. Chandana founded ''Divine World'' in the pilgrimage town of [[Palitana]], expounding the message of [[Tirthankara]].

== Recognition and awards ==
* Shri Devi Ahilya National Award, 2002 for her humanitarian services and animal welfare activities
* Sant Balji Award
* JAINA Presidential Award, 2007

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Acharya Chandana}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|https://veerayatan.org/}}

{{Jain Gurus}}
{{Jainism topics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandana, Acharya}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jain acharyas]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Jains]]
[[Category:20th-century Jain nuns]]
[[Category:Indian Jain nuns]]
[[Category:Banaras Hindu University alumni]]

Acharya Chandana - Revision history

->2411raj at 10:42, 29 September 2021