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"Extending Jain Heritage to the Next Generation"
Acharya Shree Hasti Muniji
voluntarily leaves world
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In the Mahamantra Navakar' after strict surveylanceof Baba Harakhchandji Arihant and Sidh Prabhu, the highest re Maharaj who was his teacher, he started spectis given to Ayariyanam which means reading and learning of Sanskrit, Praakrit, Acharya. Acharya is one who possesses Philosophy and History. Muni Hasti was 36 qualities viz., he follows five main extraordinary intelligent and had an principles of Jainism known as Panch amazing memory. Soon he learned by Mahavrta that of Non-Violence, Truth, heart all the basic Shastras (scriptures) Non-Stealing, Celibacy and Non-Posses- and became a pundit in religious studies. sion. He follows five kinds of code of Muni Hasti was hardly 15 years old conduct known as Panch Aachaar that of when he was designated Acharya by his Knowledge, Faith, Conduct, Penance and guru Pujya Acharya Shri Shobhachandji Power. Acharya controls five senses that Maharaj Saheb, because of his extraordiof Hearing, Seeing, Smelling, Taste and nary qualities, personality, knowledge Feeling. He follows five kinds of Samities, and spiritualattainment. Muni Hasti kept far and wide on foot preaching the gosthree kind of Gupties and nine kind of on his studies with great vigourand zeal, pel of non violence, truth, non stealing, Celibacies. In the same way a true Acharya and at the young age of 20 he was celibacy and non possession. He travcontrols four kind of internal weaknesses recognised as Acharya in the Hindu Year elled to almost all the districts of Rajasthan that of Anger, Ego, Worldly Passion and 1987 in Jodhpur by all the contemporary and also went on foot to Gujarat, Madhya Greed. Thus a true Acharya is one who Acharyas. In the living memory there is Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, possesses and practices the above 36 no other Acharya who has been so for 61 Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Except for qualities. To become an Acharya one has years.
the 4 months of the monsoon or in the to become a saint and has to progress to Toenumerate and assess the work of event of illness he never stayed for more become an Upadhya (scholar), and after Acharya Shri who remained a saint for than one month at any one place. qualifying as an Upadhaya, one reaches 71 years and Acharya for 61 years is not Acharya Shri laid great emphasis on the pinnacle of spiritual ladder to become an easy task. Only passing references can doing "Samayik" for he believed that by an Acharya. Acharya Hastimalji Maharaj be made, for it will take decades to un- doing so one can reach "Sam Bhava" or Saheb possessed and practiced all the derstand and interpret his life and teach- tranquility and peace of mind. He taught above 36 qualities of a true and worthy ings of this great saint.
not to care for worldly things, not to Acharya.
Acharya Hasti, was of short height worry in bad times, not be over joyed in Eighty-one years ago Acharya Shri approximately 5 feet and had a slim body. good times, not to care for profit or loss, Hastimalji Maharaj Saheb was born on He had a magnetic personality, whoso- appreciation or criticism, happiness or the 14th day of moon of Hindu Year 1967 ever came to his Darshan was lured by unhappiness. He said be doing Samayik in the village of "Pipaad" situated in his charm, influenced by his simplicity one can overcome these worldly internal Jodhpurstate, now a district of Rajasthan. and austerity. He never wasted a mo- weaknesses and attain "Nirvana". One His father Shri Kewal Chandji Bohra left ment of his life sleeping of lying down can become happy be controlling anger, for heavenly abode a few months before during the daytime. Except for the short pride, greed, deceit, avarice, our internal he was born. His mother Smt. Rupadevi, sleep in the night he was either praying, weaknesses. By doing Samayik one can a religious lady brought him with love preaching, reading or writing. Being an become a happy person, a happy person and affection. From the very birth she Acharya of Ratna Vansh, he had a large will make a happy family and a happy induced in him the religious values, as a following and disciples from all over family will make a happy society and a result, child Hasti instead of becoming a India visited him for his 'Darshan'. To happy world to live in. worldly man renounced the world to be everyone he used to ask what religious Acharya Shri Hasti laid great emcome a Jain sadhu at a very young age of activities were being observed and with phasis on doing Swadhaya which means 10 years. Not only Mata Rupadevi al- his charmand gentle pursuasion he made self introspection. To develop tranquillowed her only son to become a saint but people to take a vow to renounce all bad ity one has to be Swadhaya. It leads us to she too renounced the world to become a habits and to do Samayik (48 minutes of sce our own self, to review and analyse Jain nun. Both mother and child took prayer and meditation) and Swadhaya our thoughts, words and actions. In 'Diksha' in Ajmer and became the dis- (reading of religious literature). There Swadhaya one studies his own self, to see ciples of Acharya Shri Shobhachandji are hundreds of people who left bad his own weaknesses and ponders over Maharaj Saheb.
habits and bad conduct because of his how to overcome them. Acharya Shri At the young tender age of 10 which pursuasion and many more were pro- used to say that like a needle with a cord is the time to play and go to school child gressing on the path of Happiness and is not easily lost in the same manner a Hasti devoted his time and body in the Good Conduct.
person who does Swadha ya will not be deep study of Jain Dharma. Under the For 71 years Acharya Shri travelled easily lost in the world weaknesses. Due
6TH BIENNIAL JAINA CONVENTION
JULY 1991
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