Acharya Mahapragya

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Acharya Mahapragya
Born 14 th June 1920
Tamkor, Rajasthan, India

Acharya Mahapragya, the 10th Acharya of Terapanth was born in a small and tranquil village of Tamkor in the Jhunjhanun district of Rajasthan on 14 June 1920. Father Tolaram and Mother Baluji named their child Nathmal. But when he was an infant of one and a half months, his father left this mortal world. Acharya Mahapragya still has vivid memories of his childhood and his father’s death.

In those times there was no school in Tamkor and the only means of education available was a tutor’s school. Sardarsahar was his uncle’s native place. He used to visit Sardarsahar quite often with his mother but the prospect of education was equal to none.

Acharya Shree Kalugani’s dazzling personality left a deep impact on Nathmal’s mind. Both he and his mother pleaded with Acharya Shree for accepting them as his pupils.

After that Acharya Mahapragya and his mother left the narrow path of ignorance and joined the highway, which leads towards nirvana. The path they chose to take reaches out to every door, varying from end to infinity, from immortality to eternity and from spirituality to nirvana. Acharya Mahapragya entered into monkhood at the age of ten.

The rapport set between Acharya Mahapragya and Acharya Shri Tulsi was extraordinary. From the very beginning, Acharya Mahapragya was quite devoted towards Acharya Shri Tulsi.

Way back in 1955, Acharya Shri Tulsi nominated him as the Chief Secretary of Terapanth. In 1978, once again Acharya Shri Tulsi conferred on him the epithet of “Mahapragya” (a great seer) at Gangasahar, in recognition of his outstanding wisdom and erudition. He was again nominated as the successor-designate on 4th February 1979, at Rajaldesar and his name was changed to “Mahapragya.” From then onwards he became known as “Yuvacharya Mahapragya.” Gurudev Tulsi also conferred on him the epithet of Jain-Yoga Punaruddharka in recognition of his unique researches in the field of Jain Meditation and Yoga.

Acharya Shri Tulsi announced the relinquishment of his post of Acharya and conferred the same on Yuvacharya Mahapragya on 18th February 1994 at Sujangarh. Later on, in a glorious function at Delhi, held on 5th February 1995, he formally consecrated him as the tenth Acharya of Terapanth


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[edit] Birth and early life

Nathmal, as his parents had named him, was the only son of businessman Tolaram and his wife Baluji. He was born on 14 th June 1920 in the village of Tamkor , Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan.

Even as Nathmal was playing with his friends, a sage passing through the village prophesied about one boy playing with him that he will die in a week and said about him that this young boy would one day be a leader among men. Within a week that boy actually dies. And A few years later destiny saw Nathmal initiated into monk hood on 18 th February 1930. Words of Sage become true.

On the eve of his sister's marriage, he was playing hide & seek game in house by closing eyes with piecs of cloth. While searching friends, his forehead strucked with pillar. He started weaping. Then her mother Baluji console him saying, why are you weeping,now your third eye has opened.

Today, it seems that this event has really opened the third eye of Nathmal and transform his personality into Acharya Mahapragya

[edit] Acharya Mahapragya – A Living Legend

Over the centuries, philosophers and intellectuals have appeared on this planet who have influenced humanity and whose thoughts have continued to guide and stimulate generations after generations and even change the course of social progress. In the field of science, the contribution of Newton, Faraday or Einstein can never be forgotten. The names of Freud, Bergson and Jung in the field of psychology or Marx in socialism would ever remain shining.

Mahavir, Buddha, Christ, Shankaracharya and many others have moulded the lives of countless followers of the spiritual path, but in the current times, Acharya Tulsi has become a household name for propagating gospel of humanness – non-violence, brotherhood and ‘Anuvrat’. Tulsi having renounced voluntarily and passed on the mantle during his own life time to his chief disciple and now the Acharya, Mahapragya, a pragmatic thinker, preceptor and a blender of spirituality and science.

The entirely new precepts, principles and perceptions of Acharya Mahapragya have enlightened the intellectuals, he has also carved a permanent place as a philosopher-saint in the hearts of the masses by his concrete proposals to improve the quality of life and living. The new vistas opened by him in the field of spirituality would serve as a lighthouse to the tossing mahayana – ship – of mankind for centuries to come.

In the last century, it was Swami Vivekananda who had emphasised the harmonious synthesis of science and spirituality for the first time, which some years later was reinforced by Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba. Acharya Mahapragya has further crystallised this thought through his writings in which both spirituality and science have been projected as mutually complementary. His stand that far from destroying religion, science has in fact revived it, is an entirely new concept in religion.

The credibility of this proposition was further confirmed by him with practical tips in the art of living. ‘Prekshadhyan’ – perceptive meditation – is one such dimension of this concept. By looking inwards and with detachment, spirituality no more remains either dry or a supernatural subject but becomes an attractive proposition for even a common man.

The various scientific methods of ‘Prekshadhyan’ not only projected the ‘Dharma’ in an entirely new perspective but it also became an integral part of one’s daily life. This was nothing less than a miracle in the religious world and a new perception gained ground that religion without science is in fact lame and cannot gain necessary confidence of the people.

But science without religion is also blind. This was also propounded by Einstein some years back. It cannot get a meaningful spiritual awareness and, without the latter, could also be used for destruction, annihilation and perverting perceptions.

In the sublime proximity to Gurudev Tulsi, Acharya Mahapragya has invented the ‘Prekshadhyan’ procedure for the spiritual and moral development of the individual. By adopting this, tens of thousands of people have liberated themselves from their mental tensions and have commenced their lives’ journey on an entirely new path.

The scientific process of Prekshadhyan has proved unique for the wholesome development of an individual’s inner consciousness and his entire personality. It is said that the hardened aptitudes or attitudes of a grown up man, cannot be changed. There is a saying that neem (umbrella) tree –whose leaves and fruits are bitter in taste – leaves cannot be sweetened, even if the tree is irrigated with butter and honey.

The Prekshadhyan procedure has demolished this time-tested theory. On the basis of many experiments and surveys, it can now be conclusively stated that by this procedure, not only significant changes occur in the individual physically but his mental and emotional attitudes and aptitudes are also transformed and his past habits changed.

On the direction of his spiritual mentor Ganadhipati Tulsi, the Acharya undertook an intensive study of the Jain ‘Agam’ scriptures and through an in-depth study of meditation processes, he also systematised them by providing a scientific basis. Before presenting Prekshadhyan procedure to the people in an organised manner, Mahapragya subjected himself to many a trial and tribulation of meditation process.

As a recluse for months together and even in the jungles, he lost himself into sustained reflections whereby his inner powers were awakened. With his reaching the unfathomable depths of meditation, many mysteries, hitherto unknown, began to unfold themselves before him.

Ganadhipati Tulsi then inspired and encouraged him in this unique experiment and on 3rd March 1977, when Mahapragya undertook one such exercise of long seclusion, the former wrote to the latter “This experiment is not yours alone but mine also as also of the Sangh (Sect). The whole Sangh will be benefited by it.”

By diving deep into the depths of contemplation, Mahapragya has supplied us with many a jewel. ‘Chaitanya Kendra Preksha’ – perception of psychic centres – and ‘Leshyadhyan’ – perception of psychic colours – procedures of Prekshadhyan are the fruits of innate vision.

Albert Einstein was once asked how he invented the Theory of Relativity. His spontaneous reply was that it had just happened to him and he could not say how it happened. It is the same story with Mahapragya.

He thinks, ponders and deliberates upon a particular subject, issue or problem and when he cannot find a solution, leaves that problem alone and then, suddenly during his morning meditation, a crystal clear solution, evading him till now, springs up before him. This is possible only when one transcends the realm of mind or intellect and enters the realm of intuition which is an innate faculty of ones own consciousness or rather psyche.

During the initial training course camps, many renowned intellectuals, thinkers and social workers also participated and as to date, thousands and thousands of persons of all castes and creeds, sects, classes or areas have gained from Prekshadhyan. Lord Mahavir and thereafter some Jain saints had also practised it, but this mode of contemplation gradually disappeared and the credit of reviving goes to Acharya Mahapragya and thus many intellectual commentators justifiably call him the ‘Columbus of Jain Meditation’.

The Acharya is both a thinker and a genius and his horizons are all-pervasive. He is deeply concerned with day-to-day life, as also social, national and international problems and thinks aloud about all of them. Significantly, he not only presents the problems but also simultaneously provides their solution. He first gives deep and sustained thinking about the possible remedies before placing them before the people.

[edit] Problems of Modern Education

About the problems of modern education, it appeared to him that mere literacy or even knowledge does not necessarily develop the individual’s total personality. With intellectual development through higher education, a person does not automatically develop morally, emotionally and spiritually:

Many educated persons are found involved in crime, violence or other immoral activities. In fact, in the elaborately preplanned economic scams or treason, it is the educated persons who are mostly involved.

In the absence of proper emotional development, such reprehensible activities are only natural because in a person devoid of tender feelings like love, compassion, tolerance, patience, contentment, altruism, etc., it is only futile to expect any moral development or humane behaviour or conduct. It would therefore not be surprising if such a person then indulges in violence, crime or other unethical activities or even suicide.’

Today’s education has therefore failed to fulfil the expectation society has from it. Its aim should be to build up the human being but despite manifold increase in the number of higher education institutions like colleges, universities etc., the criminal and beastly tendencies of man are on increase.

[edit] Science of Living

In this context, Acharya Mahapragya has formulated the concept of ‘Jeevan Vigyan’ – science of living – as a panacea for this universal problem. Both Ganadhipati Tulsi and Acharya Mahapragya have stated that the modern education cannot be dubbed as entirely faulty because it has produced such innumerable doctors, engineers, lawyers, judges, professors, bureaucrats and administrators who have excelled in their respective fields.

Therefore, today’s education, though otherwise useful, is in fact inadequate. It equips the individual to earn his livelihood but not in the art of living. In today’s education, while there are ample avenues for physical and intellectual development, it does not necessarily provide for mental and emotional development. There is no technique or mode in the input of the current educational system which may control and mitigate human perversions like cruelty, jealousy, selfishness, vengeance, fear, hate or lust – it does not provide any specific training pro grammes for the students to control their anger, rashness or other impulses detrimental to his proper development. In order to achieve this, Ganadhipati and Acharya, in their concept of the ‘Science of Living’ made specific proposition of a comprehensive syllabic and training courses for students and many scientific tests were formulated whereby the internal transformation gradually occurring in a student could also be monitored.

It is now a well accepted theory that the internal biochemicals affect our thoughts and behavior. The endocrine hormones interact with the nervous system and many functions of the latter are thereby balanced and co-ordinated.

In extremely adverse circumstances, when tension aggravates, it puts additional, sometimes unbearable, pressure on the endocrine system thereby disrupting the existing balance between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. In such a situation, the sympathetic nervous system gains the upper hand, which is the root cause of many negative emotions even in educated intelligent persons.

By the proper functioning of endocrine system, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system also remain unbalanced whereby a person can find a satisfactory solution of his inner problems and resist the onslaught of external pressures. The ‘Science of Living’ is a singular experiment in this direction.

[edit] Awards and honour

Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration 2002 - The Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration 2002 was awarded to Acharya Mahapragya on 31. October 2003 at Jawahar Bhawan, New Delhi.

Communal Harmony Award 2004 - Acharya Mahapragya, has been selected for the National Communal Harmony Award, 2004 by the Government of India in April 2005.

The jury for the award headed by Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has chosen the Acharya for his contribution towards unity and communal harmony in the country.

Honour of Mahapragya ( A Great Seer)- Acharya Tulsi conferred on him the epithet of "Mahapragya " (A Great Seer) in recognition of his outstanding wisdom and erudition in 1978 at Gangasahar, (Rajasthan).



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[edit] See also

[edit] External links

--Arpitdubey (talk) 10:13, 12 June 2008 (UTC)