Editor Carla Geerdes
Next morning at 08:00h we went to Tapra. There we had bananas, nuts, and jam toast for breakfast, and according to our request even Indian tea. The good results of the improvisational kitchen in the pilgrims’ colony in Tapra always were amazing. After breakfast we considered how to organise the day until the beginning of the award ceremony in the auspicious presence of HH Acharya Mahashraman at 14:00h.
Morning activities in the pilgrims‘ colony in Tapra
Christian Geerdes took the video camera for fixing some impressions of the day, Swami Dharmanandji wanted to arrange a short talk with HH Acharya Mahashraman with me, and I wanted to organize our departure planned for the next day to Jaisalmer. The present day was so to say highlight and finish of the visit to our Terapanthi in Tapra.
Christian Geerdes was at the morning Pravachan and had a look at the newest copies of the book stall, Swami Dharmanandji succeeded in getting an opportunity for me to talk to Acharya Mahashraman at 12:00h, and I dynamically supported by the local Terapanthi organization committee got ahead to rent a car with driver which was supposed to bring us from Balotra to Jaisalmer the next day.
Main road in Tapra in the morning
Local young girls on their way
The main road in Tapra this morning was mainly used by the inhabitants of Tapra. The big stream of visitors was awaited at noon approximately and so it was. In the morning Pravachan participated beside the inhabitants of Tapra mainly pilgrims from the temporary colony as well as Terapanthi travelers from nearby. The street picture on this late morning was composed by some of them and locals being on their way here always. The three of us ran into us on the main road again and wondered whether it was time for my encounter with HH Acharya Mahashraman. It was nearly noon.
Karuna at Acharya Mahashraman
Acharya Mahashraman welcoming me
Karuna at Acharya Mahashraman
Acharya Mahashraman gives his blessings to me
Karuna at Acharya Mahashraman
Acharya Mahashraman addresses me
The room of HH Acharya Mahashraman was crowded like always. Everyone wanted to talk to him and his blessings. We crossed the room, and Swami Dharmanandji gave the information the concerned monk that we had arrived. Acharya Mahashraman smiled at me, gave his blessings to me, and said, “Karuna! Keep up the good work!”
Meeting an old friend
While leaving, I met my friend Prem. We had met last time in summer 2008 in her house in Jaipur when her husband Balwant Mehta was still among us. Meanwhile she is living alternately with her children in the USA and comes as a visitor only to India.
Karuna at Sadhvi Pramukha Mahashramani Kanakprabha
Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha, head of Sadhvis and Samanis
Karuna at Sadhvi Pramukha Mahashramani Kanakprabha
Sadhvi Pramukha remembers my spiritual name Karuna
Karuna at Sadhvi Pramukha Mahashramani Kanakprabha
Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha asks for Christian Aparigraha Geerdes
Sadhvi Pramukha Mahashramani Kanakprabha
Sadhvi Pramukha since 41 years
Sadhvi Pramukha Mahashramani Kanakprabha
A wise human being
Sadhvi Pramukha Mahashramani Kanakprabha
Endowed with universal friendliness
Before lunch I wanted to pay my respect to Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha. She was accommodated with other nuns in a nearby house. The room where she was sitting was crowded as usual. Nevertheless I succeeded in talking to her. She remembered us and gave her blessings to us.
Sadhvi Prasanna Yasha & Karuna
Sadhvi Prasanna Yasha
Behind me I heard someone softly calling my name. To my great joy I met here with Sadhvi Prasanna Yasha, until November 2012 Samani Prasanna Pragya. I had visited her several times at JVB London when she was in charge there, and in June 2007 she even had been for 7 days with us in Berlin. Here she had given meditation workshops and lectures at Free University. In Tapra she asked me what my thoughts were when I got to know that she is Sadhvi now. I told her that I was moved to tears by this fact, but shared her feelings of joy knowing and seeing how happy she is.
Poster of Lord Mahavira
This huge poster in luminous blue colour, from which the head of Lord Mahavira with meditatively half-closed eyes emerged like from a blue cloud, was decorating the whole rear wall of the stage where Acharya Mahashraman and the monks as well as Sadhvi Pramukha and the nuns were sitting during all activities in Tapra. Before Acharya Mahashraman came on the stage, a placard showing him and his predecessor Terapanth Acharyas was put in front of the big poster, slightly differing in brightness from the blue colour of the latter. It was a felicitous work of art corresponding with the spiritual event with even some cooling effect because of the colour arrangement.
The audience gets up
Acharya Mahashraman has taken seat
A group of monks has accompanied Acharya Mahashraman to his seat and forms an open half-circle around him
Sadhvi Pramukha is bowing down in front of Acharya Mahashraman
Some monks, 1st r. Muni Jitendra Kumar, have taken seat to the left of Acharya Mahashraman
A senior and a very young Muni were taking seat behind Acharya Mahashraman
To the right of Acharya Mahashraman in some distance Sadhvi Pramukha is sitting with the other nuns
All awardees received a brass plate
Awardee number 11
Hiralal Malu (li, covered) and Bimal Surana together handed over the brass plates
For the awardees and their company seats had been reserved on the right side of the stage. Every awardee received a small card with his name and the number given to him. My number was 251. In this sequence the awardees also were mentioned in “Jain Swetamber Terapanthi Mahasabha (JSTM) 2012 Book of Awardees” and called at the function to receive their awards. Acharya Mahashraman gave his blessings to them, and a photo was taken from everyone with JSTM president Hiralal Malu and Bimal Surana while all three holding together the brass plate. Awardee number 11 rather was at the beginning, me at the end. In the version of HN4U a report was published on 14.02.2013 by Terapanth News:
Among other there is mentioned that the title of Kalyan Mitra (friend of spiritual welfare) was given for the first time to a lady and to someone from abroad. Except me another Terapanthi had been given this title. Together with the brass plate all awardees also received the book where all are named and their pictures are shown.
The brass plate handed over to me
JSTM Book of Awardees 2012
p. 136
Especially for this function all the three of us, Swami Dharmanandji and both of us together had travelled to Tapra to be present in person when the awards were handed over. It was a very beautiful experience to participate together at this event. With hindsight it becomes a more and more precious memory. The title is very significant for me and in the meanwhile more than one year since acknowledgement has become inspiration, guideline and motivation for mental, verbal, and physical action in my daily life. Now I can add that it growingly has become a fertile soil for my future spiritual development and gives a stable base to it.
