Acharya Bhikshu (1726–1803) was the founder and first spiritual head of the
Śvetāmbara Terapanth
Śvetāmbara Terapanth is a sect of the Śvetāmbara, Śvetāmbara Jainism that was founded by Acharya Bhikshu (Jain Monk), Acharya Bhikshu in Vikram Samvat 1817. Acharya Bhikshu believed in strict adherence to the canonical code of conduct for a ...
sect of
Jainism.
He was a Devotee of
Mahavira
Mahavira (Sanskrit: महावीर) also known as Vardhaman, was the 24th ''tirthankara'' (supreme preacher) of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of the 23rd ''tirthankara'' Parshvanatha. Mahavira was born in the early part of the 6t ...
. In the initial phase of his spiritual revolution, he moved out from the group of
Sthanakvasi Acharya Raghunath. That time he had 13 saints, 13 followers and 13 the basic rules. This coincidence results in the name of "Terapanth" (Thirteen Path) and he referred it as "Hey Prabhu Yeh Terapanth".
The various beliefs and teachings of the religious orders of those times greatly influenced his thinking. He studied and analysed the various disciplines of the Jain religion and on this basis he compiled his own ideologies and principles of the Jain way of life. Based on the doctrines propagated, Acharya Bhikshu rigorously followed the principles. It was this way of life that was demonstrated by Acharya Bhikshu which became the foundation principle of Terapanth. The Letter of Conduct was written by him is still followed in the same manner with due respect with slight changes as per the time & situation. The original copy of letter written in Rajasthani language is still available. His followers piously referred to this monk as 'Swamiji' or 'Bhikshu Swami'.
Acharya Bhikshu visualised a systematic, well established and orderly religious sect and saw it taking shape through ''Terapanth''. To organise and stabilise this religious order he propagated the ideology of one guru and brought to an end the concept of self discipleship. In this way his ideology of one Acharya, one principle, one thought and similar thinking became the ideal for other religious sects. Acharya Bhikshu said the common man should understand and practise true religion which would take him to the path of salvation.
Life
Acharya Bhikshu (aka Bhikhanji) was born in Kantaliya in Rajasthan in 1726. He belonged to a merchant class named Bisa Oswal. He was initiated as a monk by a Sthanakvasi Acarya Ragunathji in 1751. Upon reading the scriptures, he found that the order of monks have wandered away from true teachings of Jainism; Ragunathji seconded the same but was unwilling to bring the same in the sect as they were hard to follow by the other monks.
Contribution
In the middle of the 18th century, Acharya Bhikshu led a reformist movement. A philosopher, writer, poet and social reformer, he wrote 38,000 "shlokas", now compiled in two volumes as "''Bhikshu Granth Ratnakar''". His "Nav Padarth Sadbhav", which advocated a society free from exploitation, and is regarded as a significant philosophical composition that deals exhaustively with the nine gems of Jain philosophy.
Postage stamp
On 30 June 2004,
India Post issued an INR 5 commemorative
postage stamp in memory of Acharya Bhikshu on the occasion of the bicentenary of his death.
See also
*
Jain Vishva Bharti Institute, Ladnun
Jain Vishva Bharati Institute is a deemed university in Rajasthan.
History
JVBI was established with the inspiration of Acharya Tulsi, the 9th Head of the Jain Svetambar Terapanth religious sect, in Ladnun, Dist Nagaur, Rajasthan.
In 20ma ...
References
External links
Terapanth Official WebsiteTerapanth Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhikshu, Acharya
Jain acharyas
1726 births
1803 deaths
Scholars from Rajasthan
Indian reformers
Indian Jain writers
Indian Jain monks
18th-century Indian Jains
18th-century Jain monks
18th-century Indian monks
18th-century Indian philosophers
Rajasthani-language writers