Book Title: Jainism and Modern Thought
Author(s): M M Shroff
Publisher: M M Shroff

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Page 48
________________ 79 he proclaimed with joy, "Oh, Lord Mahavira, it is Thy Path, I being only its follower" la this way the Order of Swamijee rather of the Lord Himself, was baptised as "TERAPANTH." The choice of the word Terapanth itself emphasises the truth that Dharma was to be understood not as a set of dogmas but as a way of life for all those who come under its shade Good deeds need no show. Desciples and followers began to increase and numbers augmented according to its own unique momentum. Hence, the emminent Terapanth of today comprising of hundreds of ascetics has spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. It is nothing but the enormous shape of its infancy. Its exordium took place at Rajnagar a town in Rajasthan, its seeds were sown at Bagdı a village in Rajasthan and it came before the world in its infant stage from the village of Kelwa in Rajasthan on the full moon day of the Hindu month Ashada of the Vikram Samyat 1817, with a ray of new hope and light, Swamijee correctly decoded the difficult and complicated words of the scriptures written in Ardha Maghdhı in simple language which contain nothing contradictory to the tenets of Jainism for the common, people to understand what is true Jainism and realise, the importance of practising righteousness or true Dharma in the correct manner instead of ignoring it. As a prudent saint, Swamijee reasoned that chanty and compassion are only

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