Muni Rajkumar ji and Muni Ashok Kumar Ji arrives in South Howrah (Kolkata) from Gurukul
South Howrah (Kolkata): 29th April, 2017
Muni Rajkumar Ji and Muni Ashok Kumar Ji reached South Howrah Terapanth Bhawan on 29th April, 2017 after a graceful program of Akshay Tritiya was celebrated at North Howrah. On the Saturday evening Munishriji were welcomed at South Howrah Sabha Bhawan. The Saturday Samayik Program was attended by many lay followers during which the regular Arhat Vandana was also recited. Along with office bearers of South Howrah Sabha, Mahila Mandal members and many lay followers welcomed Munishriji.
Muni Rajkumar Ji and Muni Ashok Kumar Ji reached North Howrah Terapanth Trust Bhawan on 28th April, 2017 and the occasion turned into a spiritual meeting with Shasan Shree Muni Dharm Ruchi Ji, Muni Alok Kumar Ji, Muni Him Kumar Ji,Muni Lakshya Kumar Ji. Hundreds of lay followers from Howrah and Kolkata were really happy to witness the occasion. Munishriji began the days journey at 5.30 A. M. from Belur, and had a short stay at Liluah and reached North Howrah at about 8.30 A. M. Munishriji were very much happy to have met Munivrind. Munishri ji said that we have obeyed the direction given by H. H. Acharyashree Mahashramanji and today we have almost completed the same. We are happy to be here. The lay followers throughout Bengal and Bihar and up to Kolkata have acted responsibly to perform their duties as devoted shrawak/shrawikas.
Munishriji began their on foot journey from Bagdogra on 13th February, 2017 after listening the Manglik from H.H.Acharyashree Mahashraman Ji. From Bagdogra, Munishriji travelled on foot to various places in Bengal and Bihar. First of all they went to Islampur where a good number of Terapanth Jain families reside. From there Both the saints travelled on foot to Kishenganj, Baisi (Bihar), Dalkhola, Raiganj, Kaliaganj, Gangarampur to tapan to Gangarampur again, Malda, Kaliachak, Aurangabad, Berahmpore, Beldanga, Kasimbazar, Kandi, Kandi to Dakbunglow and again to Kandi, Bharatpur, Salar, Katwa, Kandra via Ketugram, Kiranhar, Labhpur, Sainthia, Bolpur, Ghuskura, Bardhmaan and propagated the principles and teachings of Lord Mahavira and Acharya Bhikshu and also talked about the ongoing Ahimsa yatra of Acharya Shri Mahashramanji which shall go to Bhagalpur for Akshay Tritiya and the forthcoming chaturmas of H.H. Acharyashree Mahashraman ji at Kolkata.
Holi Chaturmas was celebrated at Malda. In Kaliaganj there are 8 Terapanthi families where Munishriji went and all were very happy to find Saints at their place. In Gangarampur where 17 Terapanthi families reside, it was after 32 years that Terapanthi Saints or nuns have come. Last time Muni Sri Punamchand Ji and Sadhvi Yashodhara Ji has gone to Gangarampur. Munishriji also went to Dakbungalow where one Anchalia Family of Deshnoke resides. It was first time in last 60 years of Anchalia family residing there that Terapanthi saints or nuns have travelled to Dakbungalow (13 Kms. From Kandi). The Anchalia family of Deshnoke was delighted and Sri Sushil Anchalia also played active role by being present in Vihar for 7 continuous days. At Salar also it was after 1959, that saints or nuns have gone there. In 1959 at the time of Maryada Mahotsav at Sainthia, Sadhviji had visited Salar for a few days. Munishriji said though at many places it is rare for the devotees to see saints and nuns for years but the virtues, respect and dedication towards Terapanth Principles are very much alive amongst the family members and children.
From Bardhmaan Munishri ji moved towards Howrah(Kolkata) via Shaktigarh. In this route the route and stay were organised mainly by Sri Babulal Banthia, Secretary of Bardhmaan Sabha. On 22nd the stay was at the factory of Sri Kamal Kishor Lalwani 10 Kms. Before Serampore. On 23rd April 2017 the place of stay was at the factory of Mahabirlal Baid at Serampore. Many lay followers from Kolkata and Bardhman and Shuburban area were present in the Sunday morning Vihar which was about 12 Kms. Sri Jawarilal Nahata(IPP of Kolkata Sabha), Sri Tejkaran Bothra (president- Kolkata Sabha), Sri Narendra Manot (Former Secretary of Kolkata Sabha), Sri Sushil Jain Choraria (former Secretary of Kolkata Sabha), Sri Keshri chand Surana(President Rishra Sabha) Sri Babulal Banthia(Secretary- Bardhmaan Sabha), Sri Laxmipat Surana, Sri Gulabchand Bafna, Sri Jhabarmal Baid etc. were prominent shrawaks who were present for Darshan Seva of Munishriji. Throug out the day, many prominent Shrawaks and Shrawikas from Greater Kolkata came for Darshan of Munishriji. Sri Mahavir lal Baid was very happily welcoming all and every one at his premises.
Sri Sushil Choraria, a herenow4u correspondent, discussed in details the long on foot journey by Munishriji from Bagdogra including the places covered, programs organised and also the Rasta Seva by lay followers. By the time Munishriji reaches Howrah/Kolkata they would travel more than 960 Kms during this vihar from Bagdogra
On 23rd April, Munishriji reached Rishra, the gateway to Greater Kolkata. Thereafter the stays were at Konnagar, Hindmotor, Uttarpara, Bally-Belur each for one day. The lay followers and office bearers of these shuburban Sabhas were excited and took active participation in the daily programs in pious presence of Munivrind.
It is for the first time that Muni Ashok Kumar Ji is visiting Kolkata after initiation as Jain Saint. At Salar, Katwa where Munishri had spent his childhood days in worldly life, it was first time to be there also. Muni Ashok kumar Ji belongs to the Golchha Family of Suratgarh. Born at Suratgarh, Munishri spent his childhood at Salar (West Bengal) and had also been to Kolkata as a child in worldly life. He was initiated in the year 1989 in Yogkshem Varsh at the age of 14.
Muni Rajkumar Ji who is a good singer also, belongs to Gangashahr in worldy life, He has been to Kolkata about 38 years ago with Muni Raj Karan ji when the First Chaturmas was held at Mahasabha Bhawan jointly with Muni Rakesh Kumar Ji in the year 1979 and the second one at 24, Kalakar Street in the year 1980
On 29th April, 2017 At North Howrah, all the groups of Saints and Nuns present in Howrah along with all other groups of Sadhvis present in Kolkata had congregated at Sam Garden where the pious program of Akshaya Tritiya was celebrated in auspicious presence of Shashan Shree Muni Dharamruchi ji and Muni Alok kumar Ji (Thana-4), Muni Rajkumarji and Muni Ashok Kumar Ji and Sadhvi Yashomati Ji, Sadhvi Vimal Pragya ji, Sadhvi Mudit Yasha Ji, Sadhvi Subhra Yashaji, Sadhvi Gupti Prabhaji, Sadhvi Sangeet Shree Ji and Sadhvi Piyush Prabha Ji and fellow Sadhvis totalling to 33 (6 Saints and 27 Sadhvis). Where as three Sadhvis - Sadhvi Shital Yasha Ji and others were present in Tollygunge, where a santhara of Smt. Maina Devi Baid (Worldly mother of Sadhvi Shital Yasha Ji was continuing since 19th April, 2017. The vow of Santhara was offered by Sadhvi Gupti Prabha Ji with the blessings of H.H. Acharyashree Mahashramanji. Three other Sadhvis stayed at South Kolkata Terapanth Bhawan on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya. During Akshay Tritiya a total of 6 Sadhvis - all Four of the Group of Sadhvi Gupti prabha Ji- herself and Sadhvi Kusum Lata JI, Sadhvi Maulik Yasha Ji and Sadhvi Bhavit Yasha Ji and Sadhvi Sangeet Shree Ji and Sadhvi Shanti Prabha Ji pereformed Parna of their Varshi Tap along with 6 Shrawikas. Sadhvi Kamal Vibha Ji and Sadhvi Mudita Shree Ji also completed Varshi tap of Ekasan (Taking meal once daily and that too in one Asan).
On 29th Morning Sadhvi Kunthu Shree Ji and Sadhvi Piyush Prabha ji along with six fellow sadhvis left South Howrah Terapanth Bhawan and reached North Howrah Terapanth Bhawan and there a spiritual meeting with Shasan Shree Muni Dharm Ruchi Ji and Muni Alok Kumar ji, Muni Rajkumar Ji, Muni Ashok Kumar Ji, Muni Him Kumar Ji and Muni Lakshya Kumar Ji happened with all the groups of Sadhvis. All the Sadhvis were happy to have met Shasanshree Muni Dharam Ruchi ji, Muni Alok Kumarji and fellow saints, some of them after a long gap of many years. The scene of spiritual meeting was really worth watching to know the discipline and respect happiness of spiritual meets of Terapanth. After Acharya Tulsi’s chaturmas in the year 1959 it was the first occasion that such number of Terapanthi Saints and Nuns totalling to 39 has been present in Kolkata.
Many office bearers of Acharya Shree Mahashraman Prawas Vyawastha Samiti, Sri Dhanraj Surana (worldly brother of Sadhvi Gupti Prabha ji and Sadhvi Kusum lata JI), Sri Jatan Parakh (President-North Howrah Sabha), Sri Rakesh Sancheti (Secretary), Sri Jawarilal Nahata (IPP - Kolkata Sabha) Sri Bhanwarlal Baid (Chief of Trust Board - Kolkata Sabha), Sri Budhmal Lunia (Secretary-Kolkata Sabha),Sri Sushil Jain Choraria (Former Secretary- Kolkata Sabha), Sri Ramesh Jain (Former Sangathan Mantri- Kolkata Sabha), Sri Rakesh Singhi (Secretary - TPF Kolkata), many office bearers of local Sanghiya Sansthas of Greater Kolkata, Eminent Jain Scholar Sri Srichand Choraria, and hundreds of lay followers including family members of Varshi Tap following tapaswis were present in the Akshay Tritiya Program. After the Akshay Tritiya program, all the saints came back to Terapanth Trust Bhawan at North Howrah.
Muni Rajkumar Ji and Muni Ashok Kumar Ji reached South Howrah Terapanth Bhawan on 29th April, 2017 and completed the on foot journey from Bagdogra to Howrah/Kolkata of about 1000 Kms. In 75days. During the Journey which began on 13th February,2017 the responsibility of Rasta Seva was ably borne by Acharya Mahashraman Prawas Vyavastha Samiti, 2017 Kolkata which is working under its dynamic President Sri Kamal Dugar. The Rasta seva Sanyojak is Sri Amar Chand Dugar. Enthusiastically Involvement of all the shrawak sharawikas from Bengal, Bihar and Greater Kolkata was admirable. During the 75 days of journey, Munishriji Bengal, Bihar and some areas which have been since long untouched, like Kaliachak, Gangarampir, Dak Bunglow, Salar, Katwa etc. preaching the principles and teachings of Lord Mahavira, Acharya Bhikshu and Acharya Mahasharmanji’s ongoing Ahimsa Yatra which shall reach Kolkata in June 2017 for Chaturmas.
