Lesson - 6
Tradition of Preceptors in Terapantha Order
Tirthankar Mahavir established nine groups (Ganas) to keep the order well- managed. Eleven group-leaders (Ganadharas) were nominated to manage the nine groups. Of them, the last two groups had two group leaders each. After Mahavira’s death, group leader Sudharma Swami succeeded him, and Sudharma Swami was in turn succeeded by his chief disciple Jambu Kumar. Various preceptors followed in succession and they all glorified Jain order efficiently.
In Vikram Samvat 1817, Acharya Bhikhana founded Terapantha order at Kelava (Udaipur-Rajasthan). So far, Terapanth has got eleven preceptors. The eleventh preceptor Acharya Mahashraman heads it at present. The names of eleven acharyas are as follows:
Name of acharyas | Birth | Death |
1. Acharya Bhikhana | V.S 1783 | V.S 1860 |
| 1726 CE | 1803 CE |
2. Acharya Bharimal | V.S 1803 | V.S 1878 |
| 1746 CE | 1821 CE |
3. Acharya Raichand | V.S 1847 | V.S 1908 |
| 1790 CE | 1851 CE |
4. Acharya Jitmal (Jayacharya) | V.S 1860 | V.S 1938 |
| 1803 CE | 1881 CE |
5. Acharya Magharaj | V.S 1897 | V.S 1949 |
| 1840 CE | 1892 CE |
6. Acharya Manakalal | V.S 1912 | V.S 1954 |
| 1855 CE | 1897 CE |
7. Acharya Dalachand | V.S 1909 | V.S 1966 |
| 1876 CE | 1936 CE |
8. Acharya Kaluram | V.S 1933 | V.S 1993 |
| 1876 CE | 1936 CE |
9. Acharya Tulsi | V.S 1971 | V.S 2054 |
| 1914 CE | 1997 CE |
10. Acharya Mahaprajna | V.S 1977 | V.S 2067 |
| 1920 CE | 2010 CE |
11. Acharya Mahashraman | V.S 2019 |
|
| 1962 CE |
Acharya Tulsi breathed his last at Gangashahar. On achadhi Krishna 3, V.S. 2053, he nominated Yuvacharya Mahapragya as his successor in Vikram Samvat 2050, Magh sukla saptami in Sujangarh. He was the tenth preceptor of Terapantha Order.
Questions:- Rewrite the names of the elven preceptors of Terapantha.
- Who was the ninth preceptor?
- Who assumed the charge of the order after Tirthankar Mahavira’s death?
- When and where was Terapanth established?
