Kanji Swami
Encyclopedia
Kanji Swami 1889-1980) was a Jain scholar, philosopher and spiritual leader. He was the founder of the Kanji Panth within the Digambar Jain tradition. He significantly influenced the practice of swadhyaya (study of texts) among the Jain laity.
He was initiated as a Sthanakvasi
Jain monk at age 24. He discovered the works of Pandit Todarmal
and Samayasar of Acharya Kundakunda
in 1932 which influenced him deeply.
In 1934 he started his own movement as a celibate Digambara layman scholar at Songadh
in Gujarat. His lectures were recorded on tapes and have been published. His emphasis was on on nishcaya naya, the higher level of truth, over vyavahara naya, ordinary life.
There are many legends about him. According to legends, he had personally been in the presence of Lord Simandhara Swami.
Kanji Swami panth has may followers in India, Africa and UK. They generally regard themselves simply as Digambar Jains following the tradition of Kundakundaand Todarmal.
He was initiated as a Sthanakvasi
Sthanakvasi
Sthānakavāsī is a sect of Jainism founded by a merchant named Lavaji about 1653 CE that believes that God is nirakar "without form", and hence do not pray to any statue...
Jain monk at age 24. He discovered the works of Pandit Todarmal
Pandit Todarmal
Pandit Todarmal was an eminent Indian scholar on Jainism and writer in Jaipur.Pt. Todarmal had an organized system for preservation and study of Jain texts. About 10 to 12 copyists were engaged to make hand written copies of important texts in different parts of the country...
and Samayasar of Acharya Kundakunda
Kundakunda
Kundakunda is a celebrated Jain Acharya, Jain scholar monk, 2nd century CE, composer of spiritual classics such as: Samayasara, Niyamasara, Pancastikayasara, Pravacanasara, Atthapahuda and Barasanuvekkha. He occupies the highest place in the tradition of the Jain acharyas.He belonged to the Mula...
in 1932 which influenced him deeply.
In 1934 he started his own movement as a celibate Digambara layman scholar at Songadh
Songadh (Saurashtra)
Songadh is a town in Bhavnagar District of Saurashtra. It is at distance of 5 Kilometers from Sihor town and 25 Kilometers from Bhavnagar town.It is mainly known for being the unofficial Head Quarter of Digambar Jain Religion....
in Gujarat. His lectures were recorded on tapes and have been published. His emphasis was on on nishcaya naya, the higher level of truth, over vyavahara naya, ordinary life.
There are many legends about him. According to legends, he had personally been in the presence of Lord Simandhara Swami.
Kanji Swami panth has may followers in India, Africa and UK. They generally regard themselves simply as Digambar Jains following the tradition of Kundakundaand Todarmal.
External links
- http://www.AtmaDharma.org (Lectures by Kanji Swami in Audio, Text and Video)
- http://www.kanjiswami.org ( Only available in HindiHindiStandard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and GujaratiGujarati languageGujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
) - http://www.sdja.co.uk/resources/Education/gurudev1.htm
- http://www.kahansurya.com/
- http://www.AtmaDharma.com/pictures.html#gnaani (Pictures of Kanji Swami)
- http://www.vitragvani.com