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|---|---|
| ચિત્રભાનુ | |
| Born | Rup–Rajendra Shah (1922-07-26)July 26, 1922 small village in Rajasthan, India |
| Other names | monk as Chandraprabha Sagar |
| Education | Degree in Psychology |
| Alma mater | college at Banglore |
| Occupation(s) | Jain Spiritual Leader, Jain Philosopher, Author |
| Organization(s) | Jain Meditation International Center in Manhattan, New York City |
| Known for | First Jain Spiritual Leader travelled to US |
| Notable work | Gujarati composition "Maitri Bhavanu Pavitra Jharanu", The Jain Path to Freedom |
| Spouse | Pramoda Shah |
| Children | 2 sons - Rajeev and Darshan |
| Website | www |
Chitrabhanu (Hindi:चित्रभानु, Gujarati:ચિત્રભાનુ) has been a prominent figure in American Jainism. His Gujarati composition "Maitri Bhavanu Pavitra Jharanu" is well known.
Early life
He was born on July 26, 1922 in a small town of Rajasthan, India. He studied psychology at Banglore. He found Acharya Sagaranand as his Guru. He became a Jain monk on February 6, 1942 at the age of 20 at Palitana and was named Muni Chandraprabha Sagar for 29 years. In 1970 he was invited to attend The Second Spiritual Summit Conference to be held in April in Geneva, Switzerland. Jain monks are traditionally not permitted to travel overseas. He gave up monkhood in 1970 and married his disciple Pramoda in Spring of 1970. They now have two sons, Rajeev and Darshan.
In USA
After spending some time in Africa and Europe, he came to the USA in 1971 at the invitation of Harvard Divinity School. In 1973, he founded the Jain Meditation International Center in Manhattan, New York City. He claimed to attained enlightenment in 1981 by the ocean at San Diego. In 1975 he invited Jain Muni Sushil Kumarji to USA, the first practicing Jain monk to visit USA.
Establishment of JAINA
With his guidance, a federation of all Jain associations termed JAINA (Federation of Jain Associations in North America), was founded which became the umbrella organization with more than 100,000 members.
Works
He is the author of several books. Some of these are:
- The Jain Path to Freedom
- The Dynamics of Jain Meditation
- Meditations on the Seven Energy Centers
- The Philosophy of Soul and Matter
- Ten Days Journey into the Self
- The Miracle is You and Reflections
His Gujarati composition "Maitri Bhavanu Pavitra Jharanu" became widely popular among both Jains and non-Jains and has been recorded by Mukesh, Jayesh Nayak and others. It is sung at many schools at the beginning of the day.
Lyrics
મૈત્રી ભાવનુ પવિત્ર ઝરણુ મુજ હૈયા મા વહ્યા કરે
શુભ થાઓ આ સકલ વિશ્વનુ એવી ભાવના નિત્ય રહે
Maitri bhav nu pavitra jharnu muj haya ma vahya kare
Shubh thavo aa sakala vishwa nu evi bhavana nitya rahe
Translation: "May I always be there to show the path To the pathless wanderers of life. Yet, if they should not hearken to me, May I bide in patience."
References
- Michael Charles Tobias, A Jain Leader Addresses the World http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltobias/2012/09/18/a-jain-leader-addresses-the-world/
- American Yoga: The Paths and Practices of America's Greatest Yoga Masters, Carrie Schneider, Sterling Publishing Company, Oct 9, 2003, p. 39
- ^ "Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji – Life and Works" (PDF). www.jainlibrary.org. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- Iconoclastic Jain Leader Is Likened to Pope John, New York Times, GEORGE DUGAN, December 18, 1973,
- Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu: On Achieving Omega Consciousness, SUSAN K. BROWN, The Harvard, Crimson, Monday, April 30, 1979 http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1979/4/30/gurudev-shree-chitrabhanu-on-achieving-omega/
- Maitri Bhav Nu Pavitra Zarnu http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Maitri+bhav+nu+&oq=Maitri+bhav+nu+&gs_l
