Maryada Mahotsava - Celebration Of Constitution

Acharya Mahapragya reciting Hazri (Code of conducts)

Under the holy shade of His Holiness Acharya Mahapragya and Yuvacharya Mahashraman, the auspicious 145th Maryada Mahotsava was celebrated on 31st Jan, 1st Feb. and 2nd Feb. 2009 at Bidasar (Rajasthan) with great pomp and pleasure. Maryada Mahotsava is an unprecedented occasion of celebrating the constitution annually. Commencing the 3-day program, Acharya Mahapragya held the great miraculous letter of con­stitution, which was written 247 years ago. He said that though the paper is old, the letters are old, but these are the golden words for each and every mem­ber of this congregation. He addressed the assembled public about the service to old-aged, disabled and sick monks and nuns. Service is the foremost relig­ion. The congregation is intact due to this unselfish service given by the monks, nuns and samanis. The an­nouncements of Maryada Mahotsava started with the service-allocation to the elderly monks and nuns' center.

Acharya Mahapragya expressing his view on his 15th Acharya nomination day.

The 2nd day was celebrated as the Pattotsav (Coronation Ceremony) of H.H. Acharya Mahapragya. On this day, Acharya Tulsi coronated Acharya Mahapragya in 1994. On this occasion, Yuvacharya Mahashraman highlighted His peaceful nature and titled Him as the ideal of peace and compassion. He also dedicated a book named "Mahatma Mahapragya", based on the life of Acharya shri. According to him, Acharya shri is not only a great acharya but a great seer too.

Monks proving their appreciation & gratitude towards Acharya Mahapragya through song on the celebration of his 15th Acharya nomination day

On 3rd day of the festival, the constitution is read. Acharya Mahapragya expre­ssed that Acharya Bhikshu, the Propounder of the Terapanth congregation estab­lished the constitution. Ac­cording to Him, writing the constitution was not a great deal but to develop strong faith towards it, was a hercu­lean task. Because of this only, the Terapanth congrega­tion is today continuum and undivided. In the absence of faith, the rules just remain in the books. Therefore this festival is not of singing songs and de­livering speeches but a festival for developing and strengthening the faith in constitution. The faith is developed when the ego is smothered. Ego is the root-cause of all mis-happenings in all the institutions. Unless the fire of ego is extinguished with the water of friendship and compassion, there would be enmity among the members of institution which is a great hin­drance in the progress of the institution.

Another glimpse of discipline - Samanis standing in the initiation order

Acharya shri focused on the economics of Mahavira too. According to him, the Jain soci­ety should always keep Lord Mahavira's message in mind. We should use the money, no doubt, but limit the consumptions. There should be no show-off of progress and prosperity which would give birth to the competitive violence. The present recession period has dis­turbed the management of the society. In the absence of moral values, the problems are in­creasing day by day. Unless there is a develop­ment of moral values and awakening of nonvio­lent consciousness, the society cannot be saved from the problems. Today, political, social, business organizations, every field is in the claws of corruption. Therefore Anuvrat is the need of the present age. Acharya Tulsi had started Anuvrat Movement to uplift the moral values for the betterment of the society. In short, self-restraint is the key to solve all the present economic problems.

Crowd evidencing the unique Festival of Discipline

Man shouldn't remain at one place all the time. He should think and strive for the progress in his life. There should be strong determination each and every day for making progress by fair means. But today, our body is exposed to various ailments in this polluted environment. Therefore various types of medicines are taken to cure them. But along with oral medicines, there should be spiritual medication too. Sometimes the positive feelings prove more useful in curing fatal diseases. So the positive feeling of becoming healthy and then the use of medicines make the person healthy and disease-free very soon.

Monks standing in the order of their initiation date during the Hazri on final day of Maryada Mahotsav.

On this occasion, the chaturmas centres for monks, nuns and samanis are announced. Also everyone was made aware of the new rules laid down for every pillar of the congregation.

Proposed Program of Acharya Mahapragya for 2009 and 2010: