R.K. Bengani
Wednesday the 24h January 2007 was 13th accession day of Acharyashri Mahaprajnaji. Acharya is also commonly referred as Guru. The importance of a guru cannot be denied if one were to excel in any field in life. It is more so in the field of spiritual/religious practices. Gu denotes darkness and ru means block/withhold. So a spiritual guru is essentially a person who blocks/withholds the darkness (lack of knowledge) and brings out the light (of knowledge) in the disciple’s life. It is his duty to teach religious tenets and practices to his disciples. Guru gives correct meaning and interpretation of scriptures and religious texts. A disciple learns the nature of things – including the nature of soul and nature of true god thru the teachings imparted by guru. In this context only it is said that when a disciple once came across the god and guru, the disciple asked both of them as to who should he pay the obeisance first?? The God answered, “But of course my child, you should first bow to the guru, because thru guru only you know about god”.
A seed has capacity to become tree but it needs sand, air, water etc etc to become a tree; a new born child has the capacity of walking and talking but he needs nurturing and training from parents before he is able to walk and talk, a live electric wire has current flowing thru it but it needs a bulb to produce light, similarly soul has knowledge but needs a guru for it’s spiritual development.
The scriptures say that a Jain Acharya essentially holds 36 virtues – which are briefly shown hereunder:
- able to exercise self restrain on 5 bodily senses
- practice thorough celibacy by 9 external protection
- able to avoid 4 kashaay (anger, ego, deceit and greed)
- practitioner of 5 mahavrata (greater vows)
- follower of 5 aachaar (conducts)
- while in action alert about 5 samiti (routine and essential bodily actions)
- while in in-action alert about 3 gupti (inaction of mind, voice and body)
Of course, the Acharyas holds several other qualities as well. In Jain tradition, Acharya is known as representative of teerthankar. For these and various other reasons, Acharya’s place is held in utmost esteem in the fourfold order.
In terapanth sect, founding Acharya Bhikshu established a tradition whereby Acharya nominates his successor and the whole sangh whole heartedly accepts such nomination. Acharya Bhikshu also wrote a rule that there be only one Acharya at one time. This makes the place of Acharya a very very respected and responsible one. Consequently, the important dates and events which are associated with the Acharya’s life – such as his birth day, diksha day, accession day etc etc – become important dates for the four fold order. The sangh celebrates these dates as festival.
Like several other uniquenesses associated with his life, Acharyashri Mahaprajnaji’s accession was also a unique event. Normally, a nomination is made by a predecessor Acharya, the accession takes place only after death of the predecessor.
Acharyashri Tulsi had cherished a desire to see his disciple – Mahaprajnaji - as Acharya and he overcame the one Acharya rule by renouncing his own title of Acharya and handing over the title to his successor. Acharyashri Mahaprajnaji therefore became Acharya in life time of his predecessor. This is the only such case in history of terapanth. Further, the accession day falls in middle of Maryada Mahotsav festivities. The huge numbers of all sections of fourfold order attending Maryada Mahotsav thereby get additional benefit of celebrating the accession day as well.
I reached Seth Tolaram Bafana Academy, where pujyapravars were staying around 6 AM – well before sunrise. There were several thousand people in the main courtyard. All had come early to convey their greetings and pay their respects and obeisance to Acharyashri on this important day. When the number of darshan seekers became too large for the room where Acharyashri was staying, Acharyashri came out in the main courtyard to accept the greetings and give blessings to the congregation.
A number of Munishris, Sadhvishris, Mukya Niyojika Sadhvi Vishrutvibhaji, Samani Niyokija Madhurprajnaji, Samaniji and some lay persons recited self composed poetries / made brief speeches in acharyashri’s honor. Dear Readers, the outpouring of devotion and respect which I saw can not be stated in words. People collected sand grains over which Acharyashri had just walked. Though the main Padarohan Samaroh was scheduled for afternoon session, people came forward and requested for chance to say something in the honour of their guru. In spite of things getting continuously late, Yuvacharyashri kindly permitted several of them to speak few words / sing few lines. I saw tears of happiness rolling down the eyes of Mr Dakalia after he and his brothers were not only given a chance to sing a poetry but their devotional singing talent was also praised by none other than Yuvacharyashri.
When the clock showed past 8 Am Yuvacharyashri took the morning session towards it’s conclusion by offering his vandana to gurudev and wished that the sangh enjoy the graceful presence and leadership of Acharyashri for krod diwali (ten million diwalis – mean ten million years). The words krod diwali raj karijyo (we wish you to be our leader for ten million diwalis) reminded me of the traditional guru vandana when my father used to say this phrase at time of guru vandana over 40 years ago. The impromptu and prolonged morning session was concluded with a short speech by Acharyashri.
It was a wonderful morning. The day had just started.
Next week, I will write about main afternoon session and other programmes of that day.
In the meantime, let me wish you all a nice and relaxing weekend.