Akshay Tritiya Celebrated with Varshitap Parna of 6 Sadhvivrind and 6 Shrawikas at North Howrah in pious presence of 33 Charitra atmas - 6 Saints and 27 Nuns
North Howrah (Kolkata), 29th April 2017
This year the auspicious program of Akshaya Tritiya and Varshitap Parna was celebrated at North Howrah in Greater Kolkata in pious presence of Shasan Shree Muni Dharam Ruchi ji and Muni Alok kumar Ji, Muni Rajkumarji, Muni Ashok Kumar Ji, Muni Him Kumar Ji and Muni Lakshya Kumar JI and Shasan Shree 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 all 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 Mahashraman Ji. Three other Sadhvis stayed at South Kolkata Terapanth Bhawan on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya.
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. 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 performed 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 began from 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. Earlier Sadhvi Gupti Prabha ji had a spiritual meeting with Sashanshree Muni Dharamruchiji, Muni Alok Kumar JI, Muni Rajkumar Ji, Muni Ashok Kumar JI and fellow Saints.
From North Howrah Sabha Bhawan Sadhvishriji travelled to Sam Garden, the place of Akshay Tritiya Program and there also a spiritual meeting happened amongst Sadhvi Yashomatiji, Sadhvi Kunthu Shree Ji, Sadhvi Vimal Pragya ji, Sadhvi Sangeet shree Ji, Sadhvi Gupti Prabha Ji, Sadhvi Mudit Yasha Ji, Sadhvi Subhra Yasha Ji and fellow Sadhvis. All the Sadhvis were happy to have met each other after a long period. 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.
The program began with chanting of namaskar Mahamantra by Munivrind and Sadhvivrind. Local Mahila Mandal paid respect to Lord Rishabh by way of Mangalacharan. Sri Jata Parakh, president of North Howrah Sabha made inaugural and welcome address.The Holy message of Acharya Mahashramanji and Sadhvi Pramukhashri Ji was read by Sri Budhmal Lunia, Secretary of Kolkata Sabha. Gyanshala Students presented the important instance of Parna of Rishabh Prabhu by Great grandson Shreyansh Kumar. Sadhvi Mudit Yasha Ji spoke on the importance of Akshay Tritiya.
Sadhvi Piyush Prabha Ji who has completed an on foot journey of about 1550 Kms. said one who has self control can become a leader. Rishabh Prabhu was instrumental in beginning many a new things, he was the first to have been offered alms and this led to his completion of the Varshi Tap by accepting cane juice from great grandson Shreyansh Kumar on the auspious occasion which has become important as Akshay Tritiya. Sadhvivrind then presented a collective geetika.
A brief introduction of all the Tpaswis- Sadhvi Gupti prabha Ji, Sadhvi Kusum Lata JI, Sadhvi Maulik Yasha Ji and Sadhvi Bhavit Yasha Ji and Sadhvi Sangeet Shree Ji and Sadhvi Shanti Prabha Ji who have been observing varshitap and Sadhvi Kamal Vibha Ji and Sadhvi Mudita Shree Ji both of whom also completed Varshi tap of Ekasan (Taking meal once daily and that too in one Asan) was presented by Sri Rakesh Sancheti, Secretary of North Howrah Sabha. Sri Sancheti also introduced the six Shrawikas doing Varshi Tap - Smt. Laxmi Devi Baid (Ratangarh-Uttarpara in her 8th Varshi Tap), Smt. Mohini Devi Surana (Chhapar-North Howrah in her 19th Varshi Tap), Smt Kamla Devi Baid (Chhapar- South Kolkata in her 19th Varshi Tap), Smt. Pukhraj Dudhoria in her 10th Varshi Tap, Smt Vinita Dugar from Baisi (Bihar) in her 2nd Varshi Tap, Smt. Manjula Dugar from Vishakhapattanam in her first Varshi Tap.
Sadhvi Kusum Lata Ji and Sadhvi Bhawit Yasha JI also presented a verse. The worldly family members of Sadhvi Maulik Yasha Ji and Sadhvi Bhawit Yasha Ji also chanted a sweet poem. Sadhvi Maulik Yasha Ji who was in her 2nd Varshi Tap and present at her birth place Howrah expressed her views. Upasak Pankaj Dudhoria, worldy brother of Sadhvi Maulik Yasha Ji and Sri Dhanraj Surana, worldly brother of Sadhvi Gupti Prabha ji and Sadhvi Kusum lata Ji also spoke on the occasion. Sadhvi Gupti Prabha Ji said that the power for Varshitap is coming from the blessings of H.H. Acharyashree and all sadhvis of our group has observed the same in spite of long on foot journey from Rajnandgaon to Kolkata. Sadhvi Sangeet Shree Ji explained the importance of the occasion and giving illustrations of Suryamukhi, Chandramukhi and Antarmukhi and guided all to stay around the soul. Muni Him Kumarji presented a deeply spiritual geetika. Ashok Muni too presented various illustrations and guided all to be more alert and active. The group of Sadhvi Kunthu Shree Ji and Sadhvi Piyush Prabha Ji and fellow Sadhvis all coming from south India presented a sweet verse. Sadhvi Rachna Shree Ji, representing Sadhvi Yashomati Ji, spoke on the importance of Akshay Tritiya. Sadvi Vimal Pragya Ji guided the lay followers to observe penance in one form or another. Muni Rajkumar Ji who is a good singer too presented a geetika-‘ Khushiyon ke Deep Jale, Kolkata ka Bhagya phale’. Finally Muni Dharamruchi Ji guided the audience to take lessons from the occasion and cultivate the virues of Ahimsa, Sanyam and Tap in daily life to become a true follower of Jainism and be more alert and active in view of the forthcoming Chaturmas of Acharyashree Mahashraman ji. Muni Alok Kumar Ji who compered the day’s program also presented Historical events and importance of Akshay Tritiya and penance in life. Thereafter all the Tapasawi Shrawikas offered the alms of Cane Juice to Munivrind and Sadhvivrind with chanting of ‘Aho danam - Aho Danam’ by the present lay foolowers and relatives.
All the Tapaswi Shrawikas were honoured by North Howrah Sabha by memento and Literature and so also all other regional Sanghiya Sansthas of Greater Kolkata presented memento and Literature to all the Tapaswis observing varshitap during the year. The program ended with Mangal path by Munishree Dharam Ruchi Ji.
Many office bearers of local Sanghiya Sansthas of Greater Kolkata, Central institutions of Terapanth, Acharya Shree Mahashraman Prawas Vyawastha Samiti, Sri Dhanraj Surana (worldly brother of Sadhvi Gupti Prabha ji and Sadhvi Kusum lata JI), Sri Banechand Malu (Member- Vikash Parishad), Sri Prakash Baid (President-Amrit Vani), Sri Pramod Baid, Sri Bhanwarlal Baid (Chief of Trust Board - Kolkata Sabha), Smt Champa Devi Kothari, Smt Tara Devi Surana, Sri Jawarilal Nahata (IPP - Kolkata Sabha), Emient Jain Scholar Sri Srichand Choraria, Smt. Veena Bhansali (President North Howrah Mahila Mandal), Smt. Alka Surana (Secretary-North Howrah Mahila Mandal) Sri Sushil Jain Choraria (Former Secretary- Kolkata Sabha), Sri Ramesh Jain (Former Sangathan Mantri- Kolkata Sabha), Sri Rakesh Singhi (Secretary - TPF Kolkata), and hundreds of lay followers including family members of Varshi Tap following tapaswis were also present in the program. After the Akshay Tritiya program, all the saints came back to Terapanth Trust Bhawan at North Howrah.
Fine arrangements were made by North Howrah Sabha with the involvement and active participation of local Mahila Mandal. Office bearers and members of both Sabha and Mahila Mandal played active role along with the conveners of the program - Sri Bimal baid, Sri Umed Sethia, Sri Pradeep Baid, Smt. Shanti Srimal. Smt. Leena Dugar, Seema Baid, which turned out to be a historical one both in numbers of Sadhu - Sadhvis and also the lay followers.
