R.K. Bengani
Dear Readers, there is a saying, “If we stand tall, that is because we stand on shoulders of many ancestors”. Jainism is a beginning less religion. It has always been there. So theoretically, we Jains have infinite number of ancestors on whose shoulders we do stand and look tall today.
Terapanth has a proud history of appx 250 years spread over ten generations. The creator of Maryada Mahotsav – 4th terapanthi Acharya – Jayacharyashri – also created the post of Sadhvi Pramukha (chief of nuns) and appointed Sadhvi Sardaraji as first Sadhvi Pramukha appx 200 hundred years ago. Present Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabhaji, who is 8th in that line, was named as Sadhvi Pramukha by Acharyashri Tulsi some 35 years ago in this very place – Gangasahar. She was also given title of Mahashramani (grand nun) on this very day – Maryada Mahotsav day – 28 years ago.
Sadhvi Pramukhashriji started her speech by saying that since she did not talk yesterday (on occasion of Acharya Padarohan Samaroh), she will split her today’s talk in two main parts to reflect on two different subjects – Acharya Padarohan and Maryada Mahotsav.
In first part, she said, Acharyashri Tulsi was looking for a successor and he found Acharyashri Mahaprajnaji who is rich with multiple faculties and is possessor of multifarious personality. She said a person who does not desire name and fame and who keeps away from money and material comfort gets everything. She said, even in his late eighties, Acharyashri works tirelessly and ventures in many fields. Acharyashri feels that one must change oneself according to flow of time and avail proper training for advancements in desired fields. She cited an example of a woodman that had cut 18 trees on day one, but by using the same axe he was able to cut 14 trees on day two and 10 trees on day three. This dwindling number made the woodman worry and he set out to find the cause as to why, in spite of his best efforts and use of same axe, his labour was yielding less and less result. So he talked to a wise man and was asked, Oh Dear, when did you grind your axe?? Replied the woodman, “Grind the axe?? I do not have time to grind the axe. I use all my available time in felling the trees.” The wise man said, “This is not the way my son. You should regularly grind your axe. Then only you will get good results”. Pramukhashriji said, today, the whole world was focusing on the wisdom of Acharyashri Mahaprajnaji to solve the present day problems and was looking for guidance from this wise man.
In next part of her speech, Pramukhashriji moved to talk about the importance and relevance of Maryada Mahotsav in present era of generally declining values. She said “Terapanth was a unique sect in the sense that it was the only sect where all disciples voluntarily and wholeheartedly follow leadership and orders of one single Acharya. An organization, where the commands and disciplinary rules spoken by Acharya carry more value than follower’s own life can really develop and prosper”. Pramukhashriji continued, “Presence of a small pebble in one’s shoe or humming of a small insect in one’s ear are really unbearable situations so a person immediately sets out to do away with these. Similarly, for all responsible members of fourfold order, lack of discipline should become unbearable and they should immediately take corrective steps.
She concluded her speech by asking all members of fourfold order to resolve on this Maryada Mahotsav day to work towards wholesomely maintaining the eminence and self-esteem of the sangh.
Dear Readers, on this 143rd Maryada Mahotsav day, we had listened to some of the very senior monks / nuns and Samaniji. The feeling of respect, adoration, devotion and unity of all of them towards Acharyashri and sangh reminded me of a song penned by Acharyshri Tulsi on occasion of… sorry, no prizes for guessing…yes, of course….on occasion of a Maryada Mahotsav – ‘swamiji mochhab oo maryada ro aapri, rakhe guru chela nein bandhya resham dor swamiji, ek’r to dekho paacha aayne’ (Oh Swami Bhiksu, this festival of Maryada Mahotsav keeps the ties between Guru and his disciples as smooth as a silk thread.. Oh Bhiksu Swami, please come and see this for once!!!).
All of us know, as Acharyashri Tulsi himself knew, that asking Swami Bhiksu to come back and see things for himself was a formality. No doubt, Bhiksu Swami was seeing all these things from his heavenly abode.
Dear Readers, the main event of Maryada Mahotsav was not only progressing well but was getting more interesting by the minute. I will be back with further proceedings of the day. Please do visit www.herenow4u.de for next post.