Maryada Mahotsav - 143rd - [10] Day1 - Speeches & Songs

After announcement of appointments for Sewa Kendras, the program shifted to next phase. Good number of people - sadhus, sadhvis, samaniji and laypersons were eager to share their thoughts by way of speeches, songs and other available means. The pressure on MC - Munishri Mohjeetkumarji was understandable because within the available total time, he wanted to give chance to as many persons as possible. This was a very difficult task but Mohjeetmuni was trying to do it.

Munishri Vijaykumarji recited a melodious poetry.

Then Sadhvishri Jayprabhaji rose to speak and posed a rhetorical question - what was rare to find/acquire?? She herself answered that in historical context, kalpavriksha (a tree which fulfils your imaginations) & chintamani (a precious stone which fulfils whatever one can think) are rare to find. She went on to add that it was equally rare to be follower of Acharyashri Bhikshu; to be a disciple of Acharyashri Mahaprajnaji, to be a follower of terapanth dharm sangh and to be member of such wonderful society which is eager to serve others.

A group of Sadhvishris sang a group song with the wordings “let sewa be the mantra, all our obstacles will vanish, the sangh is like a cool shade, here we are able to fulfill all our desires”.

Dr Karan Singh Yadav, Member of Legislative Council and today’s chief guest presented his thoughts and promised to do sewa thru political stream. Shri Bhanwarlalji Kothari, president of Rajasthan Gousewa Aayog (cow care centres) said Acharyashri Mahaprajnaji was like a mobile university who has shown clear path of non-violence to world at large.

First copy of the new edition of Jay Tithi Patrak (Terapanth almanac for forthcoming year) was then presented to Acharyashri. Munishri Uditkumarji presented a first copy of “Terapanth Mahasabha ka Itihaas” (History of Terapanth Mahasabha - umbrella organization) to pujyapravars. Acharyashri said, “It was a happy co-incidence that formation of Mahasabha took place in the same year as Acharyashri Tusli was born. After formation of Terapanthi Mahasabha, several local sabhas - infact hundreds of sabhas - were formed all over the country. Over the time, several other terapanthi organizations were also formed and special tasks were assigned to all those organizations. But Jain Shwetambar Terapanthi Mahasabha was clearly the leader of all and was acting as umbrella organization of all others”

Acharyashri then turned towards Munishri Sumermalji (of Ladnun) and showered his praise and blessings for Munishri Sumermalji’s and Munishri Uditkumarji’s tireless efforts towards this monumental task. Acharyashri said this work was as complicated as an assignment to properly comb and re-arrange crumpled, complicated and entangled tresses of a false mendicant.

Shri Surendraji Chordia, immediate past president of Shri Jain Shwetambar Terapanthi Mahasabha (under whose tenure the work of writing the history was completed) expressed gratitude to both Munishris and all others who had helped in this work.

Chennai and Bangalore based sabhas were jointly named as “Best Sabha of the Year” & Gulab Bag and South Howrah based sabhas were jointly named as “Special Sabha of the Year”

The clock was continuously ticking and day was about to move towards next main phase “Alanakaran Samaroh” (Investiture Ceremony).

Amid all this going around, Acharyashri, Yuvaacharyshri and Sadhvipramukhashri were busy in their respective work. They diverted their attention to the surrounding happenings only when it was necessary for them to do so. The immortal teachings of Lord Mahaveer to his chief disciple Gandhar Gautam came to my mind “samyam goyam ma pamaiye” (Oh Gautam, do not waste even a second). Pujyapravars were literally following those words. Dear readers, the scene reminded me of an incidence which took place around 190 years ago in Pali, Rajasthan. Around the religious assembly, Munishri Hemrajji was addressing the congregation, a folklore drama was being staged in a very close proximity. After conclusion of the drama, when a man was returning home, he was asked, “How did you like the drama”?? He answered “I did not see that drama so I can not comment”. Second question immediately came. “But you went to watch that drama and you were there all the time”?? He replied, “Yes, I did go for that purpose and I was present there but I was watching something else”. He then clarified that all along he kept his eyes on a very young monk in the assembly and wanted to check how the young monk in his early teens would behave in presence of such enticement, temptation and distraction. But all along, the monk was busy in his work. Not even once he raised his head to see what was going around in the folklore drama. Dear Readers, that young monk was none other than Munishri Jeetmalji, who was later on named as 4th Acharya of Terapanth and is popularly known to all of us as Jayacharyashri.

It is needless to add here that Jayacharyashri established the practice of celebrating this festival and you are presently reading about the 143rd annual edition of the same festival - Maryada Mahotsav. The man, who witnessed that Jayachrayshri incidence, was a sharp critic of Terapanth at that time. But after the aforesaid incidence he willfully commented, “With the presence of this kind of dedicated muni, terapanthi foundation has become stronger by hundred more years”.

Dear readers, in the context of that historical incidence, we can easily visualize a very very long and bright future of terapanth - especially when the reigns of the sangh are in capable hands of Acharyashri, Yuvaacharyshri and Sadhvipramukhashri who are always busy in their respective work.

In my next post I will write about the “Alanakaran Samaroh” (Investiture Ceremony). Please be back soon.