Stream of peace and amity should flow from the bottom of heart of every person on universal forgiveness day.
-Sadhvi Kanak Shri
Kolkata, 25 August - In the pious presence of Sadhvi Kanak Shri ji and fellow Sadhvi - Sadhvi Veenakumari ji, Sadhvi Madhulata ji , Sadhvi Madhulekha ji and Sadhvi Shantiprabha ji all learned disciples of H.H. Yugpradhan Acharya Shri Mahaprajna ji, the celebrations of Paryushan Mahaparva, the greatest annual function of the Jains, organized by Shree Jain Swetamber Terapanthi Sabha, Kolkata concluded at MAHASABHA Bhawan Kolkata with the last day of the Paryushan at the end of the Samvatsari being celebrated as Maitri Divas. Along with the huge Pragya Samawsaran, both the floors of Mahasabha and the huge pandal in front of Mahasabha were jam-packed with the presence of lay followers. The unique scene of Universal Forgiveness Day was a reflection of the greatness of the Jain Terapanth sect.
The programme started at 6.00 A.M. in the presence of thousands of lay followers. Shrawaks and shrawikas having done Poushadh were present having done their Pratikraman in the morning. A large part of the gathering reached from their home from whole of the greater Kolkata.
The programme was compered by Sri Bhanwarlal Singhi on behalf of the Kolkata Sabha. It began with singing of ‘Maitri Geet’ (amity song) by youths. Then Sadhvi Kanak Shri ji offered the lay followers who had done Poushadh to do Samayiks and chanting of Namokar mantra as Aloyana (to purify themselves from any mistakes committed during Poushadh vrata)
Sadhvi Kanak Shri ji and fellow Sadhvis in her group completed the process of Khamat Khamana with Gurudev Acharya Shree Mahapragyaji, Yuvacharya Shri Mahashramanji and Mahashramaniji with bhaav vandana remembering their immense kindness and affection. She expressed her commitment towards reverence of the directions of His Holiness. Then Sadhvi shri performed Khamat Khamna with fellow Sadhvis.
In the heart touching address She said “ As a final outcome to the eight day long devotion and reverence today on the universal forgiveness day, the stream of peace and amity should flow from the bottom of heart of every person. For the misbehavior and misdeed with any one committed during the year, forgiveness with one another generates peace, amity and happiness in the mind. Delightful sentiments are developed. Relationships with each other get reconciled. Mind becomes lighter. Tension fades away. If seeds of forgiveness are sown on the land of thoughts, sprouts of Ahimsa, forbearance and tolerance begins. The utmost need of the hour is to bring changes in the behaviour and conduct in daily life and interactions.
To ask for forgiveness is the toughest thing to do. Therefore, our great Acharya have said: "Kshama Virashya Bhushanam” and Kshamavani is “Michchha Mi Dukkadam" - To ask for forgiveness is a jewel of the brave one and if I have committed any mistake, knowingly or unknowingly, I beg for your forgiveness.
Explaining the word ‘Forgiveness’ Sadhvi Madhulata Ji said - “Forgiveness means to seek pardon for any damage done by ignorance, negligence or misbehaviour and commitment to not repeat the same in future. Any one doing so can feel wonderful potential of Kshama (forgiveness).Forgiveness is a virtue and it is the first step towards eternal happiness. ‘KHAMATKHAMNA’, the virtue of forgiving & being forgiven, manifests itself truly when there is tolerance. In the absence of toleration it remains a mere verbal assertion and formality without much significance, at times even ironical. One who practices forgiveness is always tolerant. As a result of forgiveness one’s mind, speech and body merge into one whole, a unity. The purity of thought, speech & action is its culmination. Once the knot has been resolved, not to provide another occasion for it to reform, is the consummation of ‘KHAMATKHAMNA’ (Forgiveness)”.
Sadhwishriji alongwith all the fellow sadhviji in her group completed the process of Khamat Khamana beginning with Gurudev Acharya Shree Mahapragyaji to the Lay followers in Kolkata.
The President and Secretery of Kolkata Sabha Sri Karan Singh Nahata, Secretery of Kolkata Sabha Sri Narendra Kumar Manot, Sri Binod Kumar Choraria (General Secretary - Terapanthi Mahasabha), Sri Surendra Choraria (President - JVB, LADNUN), Sri Surendra Kumar Dugar (Managing Trustee - Jai Tulsi Foundation, Smt. Tara Devi Surana (Chief Trustee of All India Ladies wing), Sri Tulsi Kumar Dugar (Vice-president - ABTYP), Smt Pratibha Kothari (I.P.president of Ladies wing-KOLKATA) Sri Dilip Maroti (President, TEYUP-KOLKATA), etc performaed Khamat Khamna with Pujyapravar Acharyashree, Yuvacharyashree, Sadhvi Pramukahashriji, Sadhvi Kanak Shri Ji and fellow Sadhvis at Kolkata and asked everybody to forgive them for any mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly by them in course of their work as office bearers of various Sanghiya institutions and by them in person as well. Kalyanmitra Sri Suresh Goyal performed the formal collective Khamat-Khamana with Pujyapravar, Sadhvishri and the whole society followed by the same amongst ladies and gents. All the Lay followers too reciprocated under the guidance of Sri Suresh Goyal. Other office bearers of central committees, Presidents and Secretaries of regional Sabhas, Mahila mandals stood at their places and did Khamat Khamna with folded hands.
Sri Chainroop Chindalia (Chief Trustee- Terapanth Mahasabha) Sri Ranjit Singh Kothari (Chief Trustee- JVBI-LADNUN), Sri Rajkaran Sirohia (Chief Trustee - Kolkata Sabha and I.P.P. - Tepapanth Mahasabha) Sri Banechand Malu (ex-Chief Trustee - Jai Tulsi Foundation), Kalyanmitra Sri Ratan Dugar (I.P.P. of ABTYP), Sri Mahal Chand Bhansali (I.P.P. - Kolkata Sabha), were also present on the occasion. The programme ended with mangal path from Sadhvishriji. Sri Sushil Choraria, HN4U correspondent was also present in Chatushtaprahari Poushadh. Whole of this festival had dispersed the atoms of amity, equanimity, forgiveness, joy, purity, unity and spirituality in the environment.