Dharma Shiksha - Class 13

Jai Jinendra everyone!

We hope Paryushan Mahaparv was filled with tap, swadhyay, kshama bhav and guru blessings for all of you! With folded hands, Team Dharma Shiksha seeks forgiveness from everyone if we have, knowingly or unknowingly, hurt you by our words, thoughts or actions!

Now onto our next class filled with invaluable learnings and wisdom for our little champs...

Pujya Gurudev Acharya Shri Atma Ram Ji Maharaj - Life Story

Our Dharma Shiksha Class 13 was all about remembering the incredible life of one of the greatest gurus of recent times - Acharya Samrat Shri Atma Ram Ji Maharaj.

We feel stories of our great gurus are the guiding light in our lives. When kids read about their vast wisdom, unlimited kindness and great courage, they feel inspired to become better people themselves.

We strongly believe that just as we need food to grow our body, we need such stories to grow our soul too!

So let's dive deep into the awe-inspiring story of our Acharya Samrat who touched thousands of lives with his purity, wisdom and kindness.

🪷Birth of a Legend🪷

A long time ago, in 1882, in a small village called Rahon in Punjab, a baby boy was born to Shri Mansa Ram Chopra and Shrimati Parmeshwari Devi.

From the moment the baby opened his eyes, everyone around him felt there was something special about him. His face glowed with gentleness, and his smile brought peace to everyone’s heart. His parents and grandmother loved him dearly as if he was a precious diamond. They named him Atma Ram, which means “one whose soul is filled with peace and joy.”

🪷Early Childhood🪷

Even though baby Atma Ram was surrounded with love and affection, it did not last long. When he was just two years old, his loving mother passed away. His father tried his best to care for him, but when little Atma Ram turned eight, his father too left the world. Now the young boy was raised by his old grandmother who gave him love, kindness and good moral values. She tried to bring him up the best way she could.

😔Another Blow😔

Sadly, when young Atma Ram turned ten, even his grandmother passed away. The little boy’s heart broke into a million pieces. He kept asking, “Why is fate so cruel to me? Why did I lose my parents and my dear grandma so soon?”

His uncle and aunt (chacha-chachi) took him in, but young Atma Ram could not find the same warmth there. He often felt lonely and sad. To cheer him up, they would sometimes send him to visit other relatives.

Fortunately, one such visit took him to Ludhiana, where he met a kind Jain man named Ramjas Ji Jain through one of his relatives. Ramjas Ji regularly went to sthanak to seek the blessings of gurus. One day, he asked young Atma Ram to tag along.

That day was about to change young Atma Ram’s life forever...

🪷The Fateful Meeting with Acharya Moti Ram ji Maharaj🪷

Inside the sthanak, young Atma Ram met Acharya Shri Moti Ram Ji Maharaj and his disciples Shri Jayram Das Ji Maharaj and Shri Shaligram Ji Maharaj for the first time.

The moment young Atma Ram saw Acharya Ji, he felt a deep connection. He bowed at the guru’s feet, and Acharya Moti Ram Ji lovingly placed his hand on the boy’s head. In that single moment, young Atma Ram felt the warmth of pure love again - the warmth that had been missing ever since his grandmother passed away.

His heart filled with joy. He told the Acharya everything about his life and said, “Please accept me as your disciple. If you guide me, I promise I will always try to be worthy of your love and blessings.”

Acharya Moti Ram Ji saw the boy’s sincerity and tested his mind and determination. Young Atma Ram’s eagerness to learn and sharpness impressed him. He realized this boy was destined for a great spiritual journey.

🪷Diksha Mahotsav🪷

Finally, in 1894, when Atma Ram was almost 12 years old, he was given diksha under Shri Shaligram Ji Maharaj at Chhatt Banoor in Punjab.

The little boy who had lost everything found a new life -the life of spiritual greatness.

The day of Pujya Shri Atma Ram ji’s diksha was a grand festival. People from many towns and villages gathered to see the rare sight of a twelve-year-old boy becoming a saint. The atmosphere was filled with joy, devotion and celebration.

After his diksha, Guru Atma Ramji stayed with Acharya Moti Ram Ji Maharaj. One day, the Acharya gently asked him, “Son, now you must study the holy Jain scriptures.”

But little Atma Ram honestly replied, “Guruji, I don’t feel like studying. I just want to stay close to you forever. That is enough for me.”

The Acharya smiled and said, “If you don’t want to study, then at least listen carefully to what I say.”

Young Atma Ram agreed. Every morning, Acharya Ji explained the Jain scriptures to him orally. To his surprise, in the evening, young Atma Ram repeated every single word back - PERFECTLY!

The Acharya was amazed. He realized that this boy had an extraordinary memory and a bright future. Slowly, young Atma Ram developed deep interest in learning. He went on to study many Jain scriptures and soon became a great scholar, admired by everyone.

😔The Plague in Sialkot😔

When Guru Atma Ramji was 21 years old, he was in Sialkot. Around that time, a deadly plague spread across the city.

Sadly, Guru Atma Ramji caught the disease and became seriously ill.

In those days, people who caught plague rarely survived. The Jain community became very worried. They brought the best doctor they could find to treat their beloved guru. But no medicine seemed to work. Days passed but his condition did not improve.

People grew impatient and even began blaming the doctor for not doing enough. Feeling helpless and frustrated, the doctor made a terrible mistake. He thought Guru Atma Ramji was sure to die anyway, so he secretly mixed poison in his medicine to bring a quicker end!!

When Guru ji drank the medicine, he suddenly puked so strongly that the plague infection was thrown out of his body along with the medicine. But the poison also showed its effect, and his body got covered in tiny itchy bumps.

🙏The Young Guru Who Chose Forgiveness🙏

The doctor’s assistant quickly realized the bumps were caused by poison. He rushed to Guru Atma Ramji and revealed the truth.

But Guru ji calmly said, “Do not tell anyone. This is my own karma. I must bear it. No one else should be blamed.”

Such was his greatness—even when someone nearly killed him, he chose forgiveness over anger.

🪷The Tireless Student of Jain Agams🪷

After recovering from his illness, Atma Ram Ji Maharaj dedicated himself even more to the study of Jain scriptures (Agams). Sometimes his body felt tired, sometimes the day was long and difficult, but still, Atma Ram Ji never missed his swadhyay. His love for knowledge was stronger than his tiredness.

As years went by, his understanding of the Jain Agams became very deep. He wanted not just sadhus, but also ordinary people to benefit from these great teachings. So, with patience and devotion, he began to translate the scriptures into Hindi, the language that most people could understand.

This was a great gift to the community because now everyone could learn about Jain values and live by them. For this great endeavor, in 1912 in Amritsar, he was honored with the title of "Upadhyay".

🙏Boliye Upadhyay Guru Shri Atma Ram Ji Maharaj ki Jai🙏

🪷The Power of our Gurus🪷

In 1919, just after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, people in Amritsar got really scared. At that time Acharya Shri Sohan Lal Ji Maharaj was in Amritsar and Upadhyay Shri Atma Ram ji had come to meet him.

One day, a group of people entered the Jain sthanak shaking with fear. They told the gurus that the British were pulling people out of their homes and torturing them. Just then, the sthanak's gatekeeper came and told everyone that a few British soldiers had arrived and they were asking everyone to come downstairs!

Hearing this, Acharya Sohan Lal Ji Maharaj asked Upadhyay Atma Ram Ji, "What should we do now?"

Upadhyay Ji calmly told everyone to stay quiet. He confidently said the British soldiers won't be able to harm a single soul in the sthanak and will have to go empty-handed. After this, he himself went into dhyan.

Miraculously, the British soldiers left after waiting for an hour thinking there was no one inside!

THIS is the power of our Gurus!!! 💪

🪷From Upadhyay to Acharya🪷

In 1946, after the demise of the then-Acharya Ji Maharaj of Punjab, a meeting of prominent saints was organized in Ludhiana. In this meeting, it was unanimously decided that Upadhyay Atma Ram Ji should be appointed as the new Acharya of Punjab keeping in mind his tap, gyan and sadhna.

Around this time, almost every state in the country had their own Acharya. This led to groupism - which meant if a sadhu from one state went into another, people of that other state wouldn't take care of him - they wouldn't even offer proper gochari! This was creating a divide in the Indian Jain Sthanakvasi Sangh, and the shravaks and gurus together decided to do something to change this situation.

So in 1952 in a city called Saadri, Akhil Bhartiya Shravak Jain Conference was held. It was attended by the Acharyas of all the states. In that conference, all the Acharyas gave up their title of "Acharya" and accepted Shri Atma Ram Ji Maharaj as the first "Acharya Samrat" of the Shraman Sangh.

Fun Fact: Shri Atma Ram Ji Maharaj did not even attend the 1952 conference - he was in Ludhiana at that time! And yet, he was voted the first Acharya of the newly-formed Sharman Sangh!

🙏 Boliye Acharya Bhagwant Shri Atma Ram Ji Maharaj ki Jai🙏

💪Acharya Atma Ram Ji Maharaj - the Real-Life Ironman!💪

By the year 1953, Acharya Shri Atma Ram Ji Maharaj’s eyesight had become very weak. He had spent years doing swadhyay, sometimes even late at night under the soft glow of the moonlight. His eyes had grown tired, but his spirit remained strong.

One day, while walking along Rupa Mistri Street in Ludhiana, Acharya Ji slipped and fell from a height of about 20 feet. He fractured his hip bone badly. Yet, he remained completely calm and said, “This is my own karma. I must accept it.”

The shravaks rushed him to CMC Hospital in Ludhiana. By great fortune, a world-famous Canadian joint replacement surgeon, Dr. Varjan, happened to be visiting the hospital at that time.

Before the surgery, Acharya Ji asked the doctor to explain the procedure to him.

Dr. Varjan said, “We will first give you anesthesia, which will put you to sleep so that you don’t feel any pain. After that, we will perform the surgery.”

But what Acharya Ji said next shocked the doctor.

“I do not want anesthesia,” he said calmly. “You may perform the surgery while I remain awake. Do not worry—I will not move even an inch.”

The doctor could not believe it.

“That’s impossible! The pain will be unbearable!” he exclaimed.

But Acharya Ji simply smiled with confidence. At last, the doctor agreed to try.

And so, in that hospital room, something incredible happened—Acharya Samrat Shri Atma Ram Ji Maharaj underwent a major hip surgery without a drop of anesthesia. True to his word, he lay perfectly still, calm as a rock, his mind stronger than his body.

The doctors were shocked. They had never seen such unshakable courage and self-control.

After the surgery, Dr. Varjan sought the blessings of Acharya Ji and said, "I've never seen Jesus. But today, I see him in you!"

🪷The Power of Knowledge🪷

One day when Dr. Varjan came to check on Acharya Ji, he seemed worried. Upon asking, the doctor revealed he was waiting for an important letter from home. That's when Acharya Ji closed his eyes and gave astonishing details about the doctor's home in Canada! He even told the doctor that his wife was healthy and sitting comfortably in her bedroom.

"That letter you're awaiting, it will arrive soon too," Acharya Ji said.

Doctor Varjan thanked Acharya Ji and walked out. Just then, someone gave him the letter he'd been waiting for and sure enough, it revealed that his wife was totally okay!

Such was the knowledge and purity of Acharya Ji's soul that he could figure out what was happening thousands of miles away by just closing his eyes!

🙏Last Days🙏

On January 30, 1962, at the age of 80, our Pujya Acharya Samrat Atma Ram Ji Maharaj breathed his last in Rupa Mistri Street, Ludhiana. He had undertaken santhara before his devlok journey. Thousands of people turned up for one last darshan of their revered Gurudev.

🪷Key Takeaways from the Life of our Pujya Acharya Samrat🪷

So dear kids, the awe-inspiring life of Acharya Ji teaches us the following lessons:

1. Stay Strong in Hard Times

   Acharya Ji lost his parents and grandmother at a very young age, but he didn’t give up. He showed us that even in sadness, we can find strength through faith and good values.

2. Respect Your Teachers

   He listened carefully to his guru and repeated every word. By respecting and obeying teachers, we can learn more than we ever imagine.

3. Love for Learning

   Even when he felt tired, Acharya Ji never skipped his swadhyay. His hard work made him a great scholar. We too should never stop learning.

4. Share Knowledge with Others

   He translated Jain scriptures into Hindi so everyone could understand. Knowledge becomes more powerful when we share it.

5. Forgiveness and Patience

   Even when a doctor secretly gave him poison, he forgave him and accepted it as his own karma. This teaches us not to blame others but to stay calm and kind.

6. Mind Over Pain

   He underwent a surgery without anesthesia, showing incredible self-control. This reminds us that our mind can be stronger than our body if we practice discipline.

7. Faith in Karma

   Acharya Ji accepted every difficulty as the result of his own karma. Instead of complaining, he faced life with peace and faith.

So kids, if we can imbibe even the tiniest fraction of Acharya Ji's values into our day-to-day routine, our life would be a success for sure!!

🙏BOLIYE ACHARYA SAMRAT PUJYA SHRI ATMA RAM JI MAHARAJ KI JAI!!🙏

Special thanks for the pictures to:

Sh. Sanjeev Jain

President

Sh. Atma Ram Jain Memorial Trust