Acharya Mahapragya cremated Raj Sadosh

Sriganganagar/Abohar, May 10

Acharya Mahapragya, the 10th Acharya and supreme head of the Jain Swetambar Terapanth community was cremated today evening in Sardarshehar — the place where he gained monkhood and where he was staying for the past few days to conduct Chaturmaas.

Former President Abdul Kalam, who had co-authored a book with the Mahapragya, too turned up and said “I have come here for ‘antim darshan’ of the great saint and philosopher".

Special emissaries of President Pratibha Patil, AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi visited the town to deliver condolence messages. Modi was expected to attend the funeral procession but the programme was changed.

Baikunthi (procession carrying body of the deceased saint) was taken out from Shree Samvasaran complex where tens of thousands of devotees had made a beeline to have ‘antim darshan.’ People stood on both sides with folded hands, most of them bowing heads in reverence as the procession proceeded to the cremation ground through main roads of the historic town.

Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil said in his message, “The Acharya was a great sage and philosopher who gave a new direction to Anuvrat movement and spread the message of non-violence through his Ahimsa Yatra.”

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his cabinet colleagues and other prominent people, attended the funeral along with Rajasthan Pradesh Congress president and Central minister CP Joshi. “He was a guru to all, including followers of other communities,” said state home minister Shanti Dhariwal. Gehlot said, “The country has lost a great guru and a social reformer.” Former CM Vasundhara Raje and Rajasthan BJP president Arun Chaturvedi too condoled the demise.

Notably, late Indian President S Radhakrishnan had termed Acharya Mahapragya (then known as Muni Nathmal) as one of the two finest philosophers of modern India along with Swami Vivekananda. Acharya Mahapragya is credited with the formulation of the ‘preksha’ meditation system in 1970s. He was also the supreme head of Jain Vishva Bharati University and played a key role in its establishment. He also took forward the Anuvrat movement launched by Acharya Tulsi.

- Lalit Garg

A brilliant mind – a beloved teacher — Sudhamahi Regunathan—

It is a struggle to find the right words to describe Acharya Mahaprajna. Either idolatry adjectives describe him best, like ‘the greatest saint’, “an apostle of peace”, ‘a supermind’ and so on. Or they fall wide off the mark and are tame semblances to the perfect picture. Acharya Mahaprajna referred to himself as an ascetic or a student of philosophy. So be it.

On Sunday the 9th of May 2010, Acharya Mahaprajna, the tenth spiritual head of the Terapanth Jain community left his bodily abode. The world lost a brilliant mind and the most twinkling pairs of eyes of his generation. Many people lost their precious teacher. He was ninety.

Nathmal, as his parents had named him, was the only son of businessman Tolaram and his wife Baluji. He was born on 14 th June 1920 in the village of Tamkor , Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan. Even as Nathmal was playing with his friends, a sage passing through the village prophesied that this young boy would one day be a leader among men.

The little boy adjusted his pride possession, the gold watch and ran home, unaware of importance of what the saint had said. A few years later destiny saw Nathmal initiated into monk hood on 18th February 1930.

In today’s world of wondering and whimsical morals, Acharya Mahaprajna’s challenge was to be still relevant as a custodian of high principles and purity of heart. If he was equal to it, it was not just because of his erudition but also because of his alert mind which was in step with the ever-changing world with clarity and curiosity, not to mention humour.

Acharya Mahaprajna combined in his detachment, the best of enlightenment with an almost naive romanticism. And yet as a leader of a community he could take all kinds of people in his stride.

While Acharyaji practiced a religion that is seen as severe and dry ...he was anything but that. A sensitive writer, he wrote in every genre ranging from poetry to philosophy imbuing his writings with a sensitivity that was polished and subtle. Using his strength of self restraint like a musician uses a moment’s pause in his choreography Acharyaji wove layers of meaning into his writings.

Acharya Mahaprajna wrote in Hindi, Sanskrit and Prakrit. Elegance and logic are central to his writing be it in their clarity of thought, choosing the right word, not to mention writing with an element of suggestion and not with aggressive assertiveness.

Nonviolence was his religion. He saw it as the only solution to the problems of today and has written many books explaining its role in creating a peaceful society. He has also unfurled the idea of nonviolence in many aspects: as the other name for diplomacy, as respect for fellow beings and so on.

Walking across the length and breadth of the country became Acharya Mahaprajna’s method of seeking the truth. His interaction with people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs made him further develop the Jaina philosophical principle of anekanta which says everything is relative; even truth. Extending this idea as his basis for peaceful co-existence, this social artist - a communicator; a private, often enigmatic person was nonetheless keen to be widely and clearly understood, so as to draw more and more people towards a harmonious way of life.

Acharya Mahaprajna’s urge to communicate was not born of self aggrandizement for it spun far beyond his writings. He developed a system of meditation to nurture and protect the spirit of human kind. The problem of the present generation which would be bequeathed to the future, Acharya Mahaprajna said would be one of emotional imbalances. To keep control over emotions was a contemporary interpretation of the Jaina dictum for detachment. How to manage life and your mind without needing to become an ascetic?

In answer to this question he developed a system of meditation called Preksha dhyan which though eventually led you to moral edification, ans could in shorter spells calm the mind to attend to day to day matters without stress.

That which makes a lasting impact on everyone’s mind after a meeting with Acharya Mahaprajna is his affability. He was deeply revered and respected by not just the disciples in his fold and community members but also by intellectuals and influential people from all over the country. Under his patronage, urged by Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former President of India, Acharya Mahaprajna founded an organization for unity of religions and enlightened citizenship. The spiritual leaders from nine different religions who came together on the occasion had no hesitation in accepting Acharya Mahaprajna’s leadership.

When someone precious and deeply revered is no more, the happiest memories get recollected with regret bordering on sorrow. With Acharyaji there is a compulsive urge to fight such an expression. He gave so much so many people; he touched so many lives that one must be resolute, as perhaps he would have too, on treasure his influence beyond mourning.

So Acharya Mahaprajna lives on in many ways: first and foremost in the memories he leaves for those lucky enough to have known him or heard him speak, secondly in the system of meditation, preksha dhyan and thirdly in one of the most impressive and important bodies of work on philosophy and Jainism.

Lalit Garg

आचार्य महाश्रमण उनके अगले उत्तराधिकारी

सरदारशहर(चूरू.) आचार्य महाश्रमण उनके अगले उत्तराधिकारी होंगे। उन्होंने अपने संदेश में कहा है कि तेरापंथ का दशम सूर्य अदृश्य हो गया। गुरुदेव का हम सब पर महान उपकार है। अब हम उनकी स्मृति कर सकते हैं, कृतज्ञता का भाव प्रकट कर सकते हैं। महाश्रमण ने कहा कि गुरुदेव ने मानव जाति, जैन शासन और तेरापंथ धर्मसंघ की महान सेवा की ।
मैं मेरे धर्मसंघ के सभी साधु-साध्वियों और समण श्रेणी की चित्त-समाधि के लिए प्रत्यन करता रहूंगा, यह मेरा संकल्प है। तेरापंथ धर्मसंघ के श्रावक समाज को भी आध्यात्मिक पोषण प्रदान करते रहने का संकल्प करता हूं। इसके अतिरिक्त जैन शासन और मानव जाति की यथासंभव और यथोचित सेवा करने का संकल्प करता हूं। इस कठिन परिस्थिति में हम सब मनोबल रखने का प्रयास करें और धर्मशासन की प्रभावना का प्रयास करते रहें।

http://www.bhaskar.com/2010/05/09/acharya-mahasrman-954490.html

Views

Stand on religion

Mahapragya says

"The religion which does not bring about a change in a man’s life, which does not impart peace to him, deserves to be thrown into the river Ganges rather than carried on as burden on one’s shoulders. Rituals or idol worship alone are not enough unless one’s conduct also gets transformed. Religion is not confined only to temples, mosques or churches, but extends to the man’s day-to-day living as well."^[50]

"I believe in that religion which has moral values at its foundation and spirituality at its peak. I don't believe in that religion that doesn't have moral values and spirituality. I accepted that religion which made me physically, mentally, emotionally healthy. Religion is beyond rituals. Religion has the ability to solve our problems if you believe in pure religion."^[51]

Influence

Rashtrakavi (National poet) Ram Dhari Singh Dinkar said “Mahapragya is a Modern Vivekananda. We have not seen Vivekananda, only heard and read about him. But now we can see Vivekananda through his Vision”^[36].

Ex Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has often said in mass meetings “I am a lover of Mahapragya’s literature”. The Eminent Scholar of Philosophy, Dr. Daya Krishna has recognized Acharya Shri Mahapragya as the most knowledgeable person on the subject of Jain Logic.

The famous Bangla writer Shri Bimal Mitra used to say, “I find new truth in Mahapragya’s work. When I read his books, I feel as if I write for the masses and he writes for me. If only I could have met him in the initial stages of my career, my literature would have had a new path to follow”.

Dr. A.L. Bashim says "While meeting Acharya Mahapragya, one gets the thrill of meeting the ‘Spiritual Ideal’ or the ‘Wonder that India was’".

Awards and Honours

• Mother Teresa National award of peace by Inter faith Harmony foundation of India in 2005
• Communal harmony award i.e. Sampradayika Sadbhavana Puraskar by Govt. of India in 2004^[52]
• Ambassador of Peace (London) by Inter Religions and international federation in 2003
• Lokmaharshi by New Mumbai Municipal corporation in 2003
• Indira Gandhi National Integration award in 2002
• D.Litt by Netherland Inter Cultural Open University in 1999

Death

Acharya Mahapragya died on 9th May 2010 at 2:52 PM in Sardar Sahar, the place where he gained monkhood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acharya_Mahapragya

Acharya Mahapragya Ji's Writing

Mahapragya started writing when he was 22 and since then has never stopped^[45]. Mahapragya has written more than two hundred books in Hindi, Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Rajasthani languages. Contents include intense and in-depth treatments of meditations, mind, human psyche and its traits, root of emotions, manifestation of emotions through human behaviour, Mantra saadhana, Yog saadhna, Anekaant, Non violence, and Jain history.

In his book Art of Thinking Positive, he explores the root causes of negative thoughts, and provided methodology towards its transformation^[46]. Other book titles include Towards Inner Harmony, I and Mine, Mind beyond Mind, Mysteries of Mind, New Man New World, Mirror of Self. He has provided a great detailed analysis on hidden causes of the emotions, functioning of human psyche, manifestation of psyche through one's behaviour.

He also wrote many books on Preksha Meditation. In these books he as described various techniques of meditations and their effects, human psyche, human physiology, hormonal influences, endocrine system, nervous system^[47].

He has done extensive work on Anekaantvad - the philosophy of nonabsolutism. He himself is a great follower of this philosophy propounded by Lord Mahaveer and affirms that there is no problem that can't be resolved with the application of Anekaantvad. He has explained how can it be useful in our daily life. He has shown the ways how one can improve his thought process towards Anekaant and use it for a peaceful life and co-existence^[48]. His book Anekanta The Third Eye discusses the details of the philosophy.

His writings on economics provide a detail model of economic structure which works for the benefit of each and every individual. He has given vision for a peaceful society free from evils. He has suggested conduct for people to lead a happy individual as well as a social life.

He has written many big books on Jain Philosophy providing a serious material on Jain beliefs and vision. Jain darshan: manan and mimaansha is one of those important creation and a research work in which he has brought out numerous deep facets of Jain belief system with detail interpretation. Another precise work is Philosophical Foundations Of Jainism. Shraman Mahaveer is biographical work on Mahaveer. Mahapragya has tried to depict Mahaveer through his experience and achievements in meditation. Sambodhi is a rhymic conservation between Lord Mahaveer and the prince-monk Megha Kumar, in which Mahaveer enlightens the later. Mahapragya has extensively written on lives and philosophies of Acharya Bhiksu and Acharya Tulsi

Mahapragya has made great contribution to Sanskrit through his poetry. Has also written poems and bhajans in Hindi. Ashruvina, Mukulam in Sanskrit and Rishabhayana in Hindi are some of his poetic creations.

Acharya Mahapragya writes in with great clarity. His sentences are short and his style direct. He only suggests, he never forces his view. He may assert his belief, but his language is conscious of relativity even in expression. He often resorts to passive voice. Between one full stop and the next sentence, a kingdom can be built. ^[49]

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acharya_Mahapragya}