Background
He was born as Vidyadhar on 10 October 1946 on sharad Purnima in Sadalga, District Belgaum, Karnataka. His father was Shri Mallappa (Mallinath), who later became Muni Mallisagar. His mother Shrimanti later became Aryika Samayamati.
He was born as Vidyadhar on 10 October 1946 on sharad Purnima in Sadalga, District Belgaum, Karnataka. His father was Shri Mallappa (Mallinath), who later became Muni Mallisagar. His mother Shrimanti later became Aryika Samayamati.
He is known both for his scholarship and tapasya. Despite of being in a modern age, he is known for his hard austerity and long hours in meditation. He was initiated as a monk at the age of twenty-two by Acharya Gyansagar, who belonged to the lineage of Acharya Shantisagar, at Ajmer in 1968.
He was elevated to the Acharya status in 1972.
Acharya Vidyasagara is an expert in Sanskrit, Prakrit and several modern languages such as Hindi, Marathi and Kannada. He has been a prolific author in Hindi and Sanskrit.
He also authored nealy 700 Haiku poems which are unpublished. He authored the Hindi epic poem Mukamati.
This has been also included in the syllabus of Master of Arts Hindi in various institutions.
Acharya Vidyasagar has been a source of inspiration to the people for starting institutions for the welfare of living beings at different places. Acharya Vidyasagar has been a source of inspiration for religious functions. He has initiated more than 125 monks, a number unmatched in the past nine centuries.
Several Panch kalyanak and Gajrath Mahotsava have been organized at different places of the country in his presence like Vidisha, Drongiri, Chattarpur (Member of Parliament), Bina Baraha Sagar (Member of Parliament), Morena (Member of Parliament), Madanganj Kishangarh Ajmer Raj, khajurahro, kundalgri, koniji, Jabalpur Padmanabhpur - Durg (CG) et cetera
He has always inspired to invite scholars of eminence to have discourses on different subjects. He is a strong supporter of cow protection movement.
He belongs to the tradition established by Acharya Shantisagar. Acharya Shantisagar initiated Acharya Virasagar, who was then succeeded by Acharya Shivsagar, Acharya Gyansagar and finally Acharya Vidyasagara.
Some of his disciples are well known scholars of their own right.
As of 2001, about 21% of all the Digambar monks were under Acharya Vidyasagara.
