Param Pujya Ganini Shri Gyanmati Mataji
A pronounced Jain Sadhvi, the first in the recent century, Pujya Ganini Gyanmati Mataji has two doctorates in literature. An distinguished interpreter of The Shatkhandagam(the great holy book of jainism) Mataji is a dignified sadhvi of the contemporary world.
She was born on 22nd October, 1934 on Sharad Purnima in Tikaitnagar(Dist. Baranbaki, U.P) to Chotelal and Mohini. Mataji left home at the early age of 18 and took the oath of lifelong celibacy. After 4 years, in 1956, Mataji took her Aarika diksha from Aacharya Veersagarji Maharaj during the Samadhi Of Charitra Chakravarti ShantiSagarji Maharaj at Madhorajpura(Dist. Jaipur, Raj.)
Kundakundānvayō jiyāt, jiyāt śrī śantisagara:
Jiyāt paṭṭādhipastasya, sūri: Śrī virasagara:
Śrī brahmī ganinī jiyāt, jiyādantimacandanā
Jiyāt gyanmatī mātā, ganinyāṁ pramukhā kalau
Early Life
On the auspicious day of 22nd October, 1934 (the day of Sharad Poornima) Chotelal and Mohini were blessed with happiness as a flower had blossomed in their life. They named their first daughter as ‘Maina’.
By the regular study (Swadhyaya) of Padmanandi-panchvinshatika , an ancient Jain scripture, which was given to mother Mohini in dowry by her parents, Maina developed a deep feeling of renouncing the world.
At an early age of 18 years, Maina took the vows of lifelong Celibacy by accepting Seven Pratimas. She renounced her family to follow the path of Jainism in 1952 from Acharya Shri Deshbhushan ji Maharaj on the very day of Sharad Poornima. In the year 1953, she took Kshullika Deeksha from Acharya Shri Deshbhushan Ji Maharaj on Chaitra Krishna Ekam at Mahavirji and became Kshullika Veermati.
In August-Sept,1955 during the Salkehna Samadhi period of Shri Shantisagarji (Ocean of Peace) on the holy mount of Kunthalgiri in the state of Maharashtra, Mataji stayed there and as per his order she took Aryika Deeksha from Acharya Shri Veersagar Ji Maharaj, the first disciple (Pattadhish Acharya) of Charitra Chakravarti Shri Shantisagar Ji Maharaj, on Vaishakh Krishna Dooj at Madhorajpura(Rajasthan) to become Ariyka Gyanmati.
Her Writings
Their is no evidence of Jain Sadhvi (female saint) writing scriptures ever since Lord Mahavira gained liberation i.e. close to 2540 years. But Kshullika Veermati Ji created the landmark when she first started writing the 1008 Mantras (holy verses) of Sahastranam in 1955. Since then nothing has deterred Mataji and her willingness to spread knowledge.
Until today she has written over 300 Granthas.
Pujya Mataji has completed the Sanskrit Teeka (explanatory note) of the Sutras of the sixteen books of Shatkhandagam Grantha, the 2000 years ancient Jain Scripture, the work which even the most famous Pandits could not do. Mataji has named it has Siddhant Chakreshwari.
The Dhavla Teeka which was written by Acharya Veersen Swami about 1000 years ago, Mataji for the first time has rewritten this ancient scripture into a simple Teeka which can be well understood by people.
In 1969-1970 Mataji translated the scripture of Nyaya-Ashtasahasri (Jain-Logic) into Hindi to surprise the world of scholars. Afterwards explanatory notes in Sanskrit and Hindi on Samaysar,Niyamsar etc.; Hindi translation of Dravya-Sangrah, Ratnakarandshravachar, Katantra Vyakaran, etc.;
Bal-Vikas, Bal-Bharti, Nari-Alok, etc and a number of other scriptures shows the highly talented caliber of Pujya Shri Gyanmati Mata Ji as a versatile writer.
She has not only written on Adhyatma (Spirituality), Vyakaran (Grammer), Nyaya (Logic), Siddhant (Formulae), children literature, novels, etc but also devotional poetic worshiping hymns i.e. VIDHANS- Indradhwaj, Kalpadrum, Sarvatobhadra, Teen-Lok, Siddhachakra, Vishwa shanti Mahavir Vidhan etc have immersed the people into the devotion of Lord Jinendra through out the country.
The specific characteristic of the writing of Pujya Mataji is that it is in full accordance with the ancient Jain Aagam (scriptures) .
Studies and Teaching
Since the beginning Gyanmati Mataji had keen desire in acquiring knowledge. She read, studied and understood numerous ancient Jain scriptures such as Gommatsar, Parishamukh, Moolachar, Triloksar, Nyaydeepika, Ashtasahasri, Sarvarthsiddhi, Tatttvartharajvartik, Premaeyakamalmartand and many more. In very little time he gained lots of knowledge and also became an expert in various languages such as Hindi, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Kannada & Marathi.
Mataji gave knowledge about the above mentioned books to many Munis (Digambar saints), Aryikas (Female saints) and other disciples of the Sangh(group). Realizing the importance of her great worldwide activities, vast literary writing, socially- beneficial inspirations etc. Jain Samaj and various Acharyas have honoured her by conferring various titles such as Ganini Pramukh, Charitra Chandrika, Yug Pravartika, Vatsalyamoorti, Vagdevi, Rashtra Gaurav etc.
