Thread by @Jainismrevival

📰 #Jain News!

On her #birthday today, Acharya Shri Chandana ji will be conferred with the #PadmaShri National Award for Social Work by the Govt of India 🇮🇳 @rashtrapatibhvn

This is a great recognition of her dedication & tireless work for the society. #PadmaAwards2022
#Thread

She was born on 26 January 1937 as Shakuntala, into a Kataria Bhil family in Chaskaman village of #Maharashtra. She took formal education till 3rd class. At the age of 14, she renounced the world, took #Jain diksha & became Sadhvi Chandana.

Acharya shri belongs to the Amar Muni Sampradaya of Sthanakvasi of the #Shwetambar #Jains. It is the only Jain monastic lineage to have promoted a nun to the rank of Acharya in 1987. She is fondly called as 'Tai Maharaj'

She made a 12-year vow of silence to study Jain scriptures, meaning & purpose of life & different religions. She obtained degrees of
- Darshanacharya from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai
- Sahitya Ratna from Parayg
- A master's degree from Pathardi Dharmik Pariksha Board

She gained the title of Shastri in the subjects of Navya-Nyaya & Vyakaran from Banaras Hindu University.When she 1st set foot in Bihar,she came face to face with abject poverty,illiteracy & malnutrition. In 1972 she began her humanitarian work in a poverty-stricken area of #Bihar

In 1974, she founded Veerayatan an international Charitable Org in Rajgir for the social transformation of impoverished people through spiritual development, quality education & service to others without discriminating against caste/creed/religion/class
veerayatan.org

Veerayatan is derived from two words - Veer (Lord Mahavir) & Aayatan (Holy place). The organization was founded on the occasion of Lord Mahavir's 2500th Nirvan Mahotsav. It has centres in more than 10 countries including Bihar, Maharashtra, Kutch etc in #India

Veerayatan operates hospitals, schools, colleges, and vocational training programs for the underprivileged throughout India.

The 3 core focus areas of the organization are
SEVA - Service to humanity SHIKSHA - education
SADHANA - Self-development

An artist herself, she set up a museum in 1982 named Shri Brahmi-Kalamandiram in Bihar which houses her artifacts & reflects history, religion & culture. She founded Divine World in the pilgrimage town of Palitana, #Gujarat expounding the message of the Tirthankars.

She has also been honoured with

- Surya Ratna: The Saint of Modern India, Suryadatta National Life Time Achievement Award 2017
- Shri Devi Ahilya National Award, 2002 for her humanitarian services & animal welfare activities
- Sant Balji Award
- JAINA Presidential Award 2007 etc

Pujya Tai ma shares this award with the entire Veerayatan family for their dedication; and their journey along with her towards the mission of Veerayatan.

🙏🏼 Maththen Vandaami 🙏🏼

Jai Jinshashan! Jai Bharat!