Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj taught us that our culture is our identity – Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Acharya ji’s teachings are like a lighthouse: Illuminates the path and inspires us to walk on the right path – Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai
Raipur 6 February 2025: Jain Acharya Vidyasagar ji Maharaj taught us that our culture is our identity. If we lose our culture, then we will have no identity in front of the world. Acharya ji has given the message of humanity and world brotherhood to all of us by rising above narrow-mindedness like communalism, linguisticism, casteism etc. Union Home Minister Shah said this while addressing the Bhoomi Pujan and Vinayanjali ceremony of the Samadhi Memorial of Acharya Vidyasagar ji Maharaj at Chandragiri Teerth in Dongargarh today. The program was presided over by Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai. The Union Home Minister said that Jain Acharyas and Munis have done the work of binding the entire country together. Jain saints and sages have travelled everywhere on foot from Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka and from Rajgir in Bihar to Girnar in Gujarat, spreading the light of knowledge and inspiring people to follow the right path through sacrifice and austerity. He said that Acharya Vidyasagar ji lived his life like a Kalpavriksha. Every moment his penance and sacrifice inspired the countrymen. He said that today at this place, everyone has decided to build a grand Samadhi of Acharya ji, for this everyone deserves praise.
Chief Minister Sai said that even though Pujya Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj is not present among us in his physical body, but his teachings will keep on inspiring us like a lighthouse to follow the right path for ages. Acharya Ji travelled miles on foot to protect religion and strengthen the nation. He maintained such restraint in food and living that we are astonished just thinking about it. Acharya Ji inspired crores of people with his life. He was a national saint and had a deep love for Swadeshi. He always used to say that we should never leave our cultural roots. Chief Minister Sai, while paying obeisance to Pujya Samata Sagar Ji Maharaj and all the Jain monks from the country, said that it is my wish that Chhattisgarh should always get the blessings of the saints. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Finance Minister O.P. Chaudhary, Lok Sabha MP Santosh Pandey, Dongargarh MLA Mrs. Harshita Swami Baghel, Ashok Patni of Jain community, Festival President Vinod Barjatya, Shrikant Prabhat Jain, Vinod Jain, Manish Jain and other public representatives as well as other dignitaries of the society were present.
