Anand Rishiji Maharaj, who passed away on 28 March 1992, aged 91, in Ahmednagar, Maharashra, India, was a Jain religious leader. The Government of India issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honour on 9 August 2002. He was awarded with the honorary title of Rashtra Sant by Maharashtra’s chief minister. He was the Second Acharya of Vardhaman Sthanakvasi Shraman Sangha.
He was born in Chinchodi, Maharashtra on 27 July 1900 and received initiation
from the age of thirteen with Acharya Ratna Rishiji Maharaj, who died in
Alipur, Maharashtra in 1927. He was pious from his childhood, and started
taking religious lessons at an early age.
From 1964 until his death in 1992, he was the second Acharya of Vardhman
Sthanakvasi Jain Shravak Sangh, a Jain religious body.
At the age of 13, Nemichand decided to spend the rest of his life as a Jain
sant. His diksha (consecration) took place on 7 December 1913 at Miri in
Ahmednagar district. He was then given the name Anand Rishi Ji Maharaj. He
started learning Sanskrit and Prakrit Stotras under the guidance of Pandit
Rajdhari Tripathi.
He gave his first pravachan to the public in 1920 at Ahmednagar. Anand Rishi Ji
started many programs to benefit Shravaks. While in Ghodnadi for chaturmas, he
decided to establish a religious center called Shri. Tilok Ratna Sthanakvasi
Jain Dharmik Pariksha Board. It was established in Ahmednagar on 25 November
1936.
He was the founder of many educational institutes. The AnandDham, Anandrishiji
Hospital, Anandrishiji Netralaya and Anandrishiji Blood Bank in Ahmednagar were
built in his memory and are named after him.
He accepted santhara (preparation for death by fasting) before his death on 28
March 1992 in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
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