Lesson - 14
Acharya Shri Tulsi
Birth and Family Background
Anuvrata Anushasta (disciplinarian) Yugapradhana Acharya Shri Tulsi was born at Ladnun (Rajasthan) on kartika shukla 2nd, V.S. 1971. The names of his father and mother were Jhumarmalji khater and Vadanaji respectively. The couple had six sons and three daughters. Tulsi was the youngest of them. His elder brother Champalalji was already initiated as a monk in the order. The members of his family were religious by nature. With the inspiration of Vadanaji all the children of the family used to visit the monks and nuns daily. Since childhood, Tulsi had deep inclination towards visiting the saints and learn their ascetic code of conduct. Shri Kaluganiji, his divine sermons and personality awakened boy Tulsi’s impressions (sanskaras) of previous birth. He attracted him towards ascetic life.
One Experiment
Once he told his mother, ‘I wish to stay at the holy feet of Kalugan.’ He put forth his wish before his mother every now and then. At first the members of the family orerlooked it, thinking it as a childish talk, but Tulsi was adamant in his ideas. Thoughts of undertaking renunciation and spiritual practice continued to grow stronger day by day. Elder brother Mohanlalji tested him by various methods to ascertain whether his determination about renunciation was genuine or not. Tulsi came out successful in every test. Worldly temptations could not move him an inch. Kalugani announced his decision to initiate him.
One night Mohanlalji, his elder brother handed over a hundred-rupee note to Tulsi and said, ‘ Tulsi you are going to be initated very shortly. One has to face various hardships in ascetic life. Sometimes food is not available; at other times one has to go without drinking water. You are still a boy. If such an occasion occurs, you may make use of this money. It may remain hidden in your books for study.
Tulsi smiled to hear the words uttered by his elder brother and said ‘Respected brother, it is a possession. A monk is forbidden to possess anything in any form’. Now Mohanlalji was fully convinced of Tulsi’s genuine spirit of renunciation.
Initiation Ceremony
In an assembly of thousands of people, Acharya Kalugani initiated him as muni on pausha krishna 5th, V.S. 1982, at Ladnun. Together with him, his elder sister Ladanji was also initiated, who later on became the seventh Sadhvi Pramukha (headnun) of Terapantha order.
Learning the Scriptures
Since childhood, he had intense love for education. He was always an intelligent student in his class. As soon as he was initiated as muni, he began to devote his time in studying. Within a short period, he acquired proficiency in grammar, encyclopeadia, literature, philosophy and the Jain canons. In addition to self-study, he began to teach the apprentice-munis also. He proved to be an efficient teacher.
Heir Apparent
In V.S. 1993, Acharya Kalugani was staying at Gangapur during chaturmas (the four-months period of rainy season). He was attacked by a serious disease. In view of his falling health, rev. Acharya prepared the deed of succession on Bhadrav shukla 3 nominating his heir-apparent. Immediately after that, he ceremoniously consecrated Muni Tulsi with the pachhevadi (upper garment) and declared him as the heir-apparent, and read out the deed of succession to the general assembly. Muni Tulsi now became yuvacharya. The fourfold order greeted the yuvacharya with profound applause. The whole order expressed a sense of extreme happines in getting an efficent religious leader.
This period as heir- apparent lasted only four days. Acharya Kalugani breathed his last on Bhadrava shukla 6. At that time Acharya Tulsi was only 22 years of age and at that unripe age, he became the Acharya of the huge Terapanthi order, which consisted of 139 monks and 333 nuns at that period of time.
The great Acharya
No sooner did he assume the supreme charge of the post of Acharya,then he introduced the system of mass education in the order. The result was that, today there are numerous scholar monks and nuns in the order. Terapantha has evolved its own independent curriculum for education. Acharyashri himself along with the other learned monks and nuns undertook the duty of educating the fourfold order.
Anuvrata movement
For moral regeneration of the masses, Acharyashri promulgated the Anuvrat Movement on phalguna shukla dvitiya, V.S. 2005 at Sardarshahar
Foot - Travels
In order to convey the message of Anuvrata Movement to every home, Acharya travelled on foot to various parts of the country like Delhi, Uttara-pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Punjab etc. This provided an opportunity to people for understanding the sect correctly. Thousands of people adopted Anuvrata in their way of living which helped in creating a moral atmosphere throughout the nation. To apply more force and coverage to it, Acharyashri toured south india. He visited various states like Maharashtra, Andhrapradesha, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala etc., as a result of which Anuvrata movement and Jainism were warmly received in many cities of these states. On successful termination of his historical tour of thousands of miles, the fourfold order conferred upon him,the title of Yuga-pradhan in V.S. 2027 at Bidasar (Rajasthan) on the occasion of Maryada Mahotsav.
An orator and literateur
He possessed an unprecedented art of oratory. It was his special characteristic to present any serious topic to the masses intelligibly. He used the language and style in his sermons that suited the audience. He spoke in Hindi or Rajasthani, as the occasion demanded.
He composed a vast literature, his monumental books- Kalauyashovilas, Manak-Mahima, Dalam-Charitra, Magan-charitra, Chandana Ki Chutaki Bhali, Ma Vadana etc. are the jewels of Rajasthani literature. Several collections of his sermons were recorded. He has various independent compositions in Hindi and Sanskrit to his credit.
He resolved to take up the unique task of editing jain canons. Many monks and nuns are actively engaged in it uptil now. Most of the jain canons have been well-edited and published. This service to the jain order is worth recording in golden letters.
Appointing his Successor
The most important duty of the Acharya is to nominate his successor. He accomplished this at Rajaldesar on magh shukla seventh V.C. 2035 on the occasion of Maryada Mahotsav by declaring Muni Nathmal as his successor and christening him as Yuvacharya ‘Mahaprajna’.
In the sujangarh maryada mahotsav in v.s. 2050, Acharya Tulsi gave up his lordship and appointed Yuvacharya Mahapragya as the 10th Acharya of the Terapanth sect. This was a rare and first such event in the history of terapanth that an Acharya, in his own presence, appointed his succesor as Acharya. In such a unforgettable event, Acharya Mahapragya on behalf of the complete Terapanth order, conferred upon him the title of ‘Ganadhipati Pujya Gurudev.’ On this occasion, Acharya Shri Tulsi devoted himself in the service of mankind.
Last Stay and Demise
Question:Ganadhipati Tulsi stayed in Gangashahar for his last chaturmas. He suffered a heart attack on Ashadha krishna tritiya V.S. 2054, he left us forever.
Acharya Tulsi was a great saint of India, the innovator of moral regeneration and the guide of (path-indicator for) humanity at large. We really regarded ourselves blessed in having such a grand personality to guide us.
- Where and when was Acharyashri born?
- How did Mohanlalji test Tulsi’s detached attitude required for renunciation?
- Where was Acharyashri designated as yuvacharya?
- How many states of India did acharya visit?
- When and where the tenth acharya’s name was declared?
- Mention the date and the place of the Anuvrat Movement’s inaugural.
