Tulsi Prajna 1992 07

SR No.: 524571
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1992
Total Pages: 154
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 8 MB

Page 108

200 YEARS OF TERAPANTH
On Asadh Purnima Vikram Samvat 2017 (1960 A.D.) Terapanth completed 200 years of its existence. The history of these two hundred years has been one of struggles, events and remarkable progress. History tells us that truth is opposed at the outset, as ordinary people cannot grasp it but with the passage of time they come to appreciate it. Thereafter truth becomes the guiding beacon of their lives. That is exactly what happened in the case of Terapanth. During his life-time, Acharya Bhikshugani had to face much opposition. During one of the rainy seasons he was externed from a town with the help of a kingly authority. He had to face opposition in various other ways also. But gradually truth asserted itself and people began to be impressed with the spirit of forgiveness, penance and self-restraint of Acharya Shri Bhikshugani. Respect for him increased everywhere in Rajasthan. Even the Rajas and Maharajas began to show reverence to the Acharya of Terapanth and his follower-monks. This opposition became one of the main reasons for the progress of Terapanth. In the beginning the monks were 13 in number. The number at one point of time came down to 6. After the lapse of 200 years, the number of monks and nuns has today reached the figure of about 650. The lay-followers (Shrawaks) are to be found in Gujerat, Maharastra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra, Madras, Mysore and in other parts of India as well.
During the last 10 years, the Terapanth religious order by rendering service through the medium of Anuvrat movement has attracted the attention of the entire country. State authorities, philosophers and scholars of India have spoken in very high terms about the organisational strength and practices of Terapanth. The prominent amongst them are President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Prime Minister Sri Jawaharlal Nehru, Vice-President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Founder of Bhoodan Movement Acharya Vinoba Bhave and the exponent of Sarvodaya ideology Shri Jai Prakash Narayan. Many philosophers and scholars in Germany, England and Upited States, have familiarised themselves with Terapanth and have been much impressed by it. Amongst them the names of late Dr. Herman Jacobi of Germany and General Luther Evans, Director General of UNESCO deserve mention.