Lesson - 15
Acharya Shri Mahaprajna
The small village Tamkor is situated in the Jhunjhanu district of Rajasthan. This sandy village is beautiful, peaceful and pollution free. There is one well known family of Choraria. On the auspicious day of ashadha krishna trayodashi (14th June 1920) of V.S. 1977, in the evening, mother Baluji gave birth to an intelligent child. He was named ‘Nathmal’. The home of Tolaramji, the father, was echoed with the melodious sound of the child. When the child attained adolescence, he happened to meet Muni Chhabeelji and the hidden sansakaras or impressions of spirituality aroused.
(At the age of 10, Nathmal with his mother accepted monkhood under Acharya shri Kalugani, on magh shukla dashami v.s. 1987 at Sardarshahar (the eighth Acharya of Terapanth sect). The responsibility of an integrated development of Muni Nathmal was given to Muni Tulsi.
As Muni Tulsi wanted him to mould, he moulded himself accordingly. The horizon of development was ever open before him. He established himself among the frontline munis. (He wanted Mahaprajna to become a great scholar).
Gurudev Tulsi appointed Mahaprajna as the (agagarya) leader in the year 1944, (Sajhpati) group leader in the year 1947 and Nikayasachiva in the year 1966 and gave him a chance to explore his talent. In the year V.S. 2035 (12th Nov, 1978) kartik shukla trayodashi, Gurudev Tulsi graced him, with the title ‘Mahaprajna’. On this occasion, Acharya Tulsi said, the entire sangh is eager to pay gratitude towards Mahaprajna for his services. This title is given for the acknowledgement of his deeds.’
Acharya Tulsi appointed Mahaprajna as his successor on 3rd February 1979 (V.S. 2035) magh shukla saptami. He became Yuvacharya Mahaprajna from muni Nathmal of the Terapanth sangh.
On the occasion of Maryada Mahotsav Acharya Shri Tulsi resigned from his post on 18 February 1994,at Sujangarh. In the presence of Acharya Tulsi, Shri Mahaprajna became the 10th Acharya of Terapanth sect in Adhyatma Sadhana Kendra of Mehrouli, Delhi on 5th Feb.1995. In the presence of about fifty thousand people, he was officially appointed as the acharya of this sect. Many political leaders, writers, journalists and thinkers witnessed this celebration.
Acharya Mahaprajna’s personality had many phases. he was a yogi and a meditator, a muni and a great Sanskrit scholar. He was a guru and a leader of a sect. He was a great philosopher and a man of literature. His life was full of devotion and faith. His intuitive power was very powerful and strong. His creative mind and positive thinking was an inspiration for all of us.
Acharya Mahaprajna’s personality and creative activities were as follows: He specialised in different languages namely Hindi, Prakrit, and Sanskrit etc. He had a great power to make poems in Sanskrit instantly. Acharya Shri Mahaprajna was a moral thinker and a writer. In the field of philosophy, logic, yoga and spirituality, he has written more than 250 books that have been published and have become a solution provider to the social problems of the world.
Acharya Tulsi took a great resolution of editing the Jain Agams. The credit for giving a shape to that resolution goes to Acharya Mahapragyaji. He has served the Jain sect by editing the Jain Agams. The first Jain canon Acaranga Sutra was elaborately written by him in Sanskrit and he came forward as a great Sanskrit commentator.
Acharya Shri Mahaprajna was keenly interested in spirituality from an early age. With gurudev’s inspiration Acharya Shri Mahaprajnaji explored new skills of meditation and has given many practical and theoretical solutions in this field. After a long period of research and practice, he has given re-life to this field which is famously known as prekshadhyan. After his contribution to this meditation field, Acharya Tulsi entitled him with ‘Jain yoga punaruddharak’ on the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav.
The present education system has a great scope to develop ones intelligence, but there is nothing for emotional and mental development. For the development of both mental and emotional, Acharya Shri Mahaprajnaji has developed a system named Jeevan Vigyan (Science of Living). In today’s educational process this system of Jeevan Vigyan is highly acclaimed by the society.
The volunteers in the field of world peace, ahimsa (non-violence) and morality have no powerful unity for working together. To develop a healthy society, united effort is essential. In order to develop this, an organisation has been formed in the name of Ahimsa Samvaya manch. Today this organisation has become a platform for Gandhian Philosophy, Sarvodaya Philosophy and many other non-political parties for their conversation. This organisation has given rise to a new hope in the volunteers of non-violence, world peace and moral values.
Ganadhipati Tulsi expired on 23rd June, 1997. After his death, the entire human race was looking at Mahaprajnaji with hope. He started many creative and useful programmes like Anuvrat, Prekshadhyan, Jeevan Vigyan, Ahimsa Samavaya, Ahimsa yatra etc.
On 9th May 2010, at noon time, Acharya Shri Mahaprajna took his last breath in Sardarshahar. Thousands of followers and devotees had his last darshan.
Acharya Shri Mahaprajna has given inspiration to the entire Dharmasangh and human race. Let his lightness and brightness be whole heartedly received by human beings. Let his light be luminous and undiminished.
Question:- Where and when was Acharya Mahaprajna born?
- Where and when was Acharya Mahaprajna’s coronation ceremony held?
- Who initiated Muni Nathmal?
- When and where did Acharya Mahaprajna undertake initiation?
- Write the specialities of his life.
