Tulsi Prajna 1992 04

SR No.: 524570
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1992
Total Pages: 130
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 94

Svetamber Terapanthi Jains :
THE HOLY ACHARYAS
The founder of the Teräpanthi sect of the Sveta mber Jains was Swami Bhikhanji. He was born in village Kantāliyā on Ashad Sudi 13, V.S. 1783. His father was Balluji Saklecha and mother was Dipabai.
Swami Bhikhanji possessed, since early boyhood, a religious temperament. He used to visit Sådhus belonging to Gachhavāsi Sampradaya who were adored by his family. While in close association with those Sådhus, it gradually dawned upon him that in them there was more of outward show than of real religious ardour. So he left them and began to pay respects to Raghunathji, another Acharya of one of the branches of the Baistola (Sthanakvasi sect) of the Svetamber Jains.
After some time Bhik hanji resolved to give up all worldly connections and take to the Holy Order of Sadhus. As a preliminary to his determination, he took a vow of total abstention from sexual pleasures and began to fast every alternate day. As fate would have it, he lost his wife soon after and although in the prime of his youth and although earnestly pressed by his relatives to marry again, he would not do so as he had made up his mind to renounce the world. Thereafter the permission of his mother was obtained, his father having died already, and he was initiated by Acharya Shri Raghunathji in V.S. 1808.
Swami Bhikhanji remained with Raghunathji for about 8 years and during that period he applied himself to the critical study of Jain Sūtras with untiring zeal and unique perseverance. From such study it became clear to him that the Sãdhus of that time were not leading their lives according to cononical injunctions and were not correctly preaching the principles of Jainism, He, therefore, seriously discussed the matter with his Guru Raghunathji and humbly implored him to follow the true path. Guru Raghunathji without paying proper attention and consideration to the just request only put forward the excuse that as these were bad timas ( ) and fifth descending cycle of Eras (CTA TTT), the effect of the time made it impossible to lead the life of a true Sādhu. Bhikhanji was not satisfied with this answer.
Having failed in his attempts to induce his Guru to follow the true path, Swamiji resolved himself to lead a true ascetic's life and to put forward the right interpretation of Jain Sutras. He, therefore, left his Guru Raghunathji in the town Bagadi and was accompanied by such of Sadhus as wanted to follow his lead.