Acharya Mahapragya: A Journey to Wisdom

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Acharya Mahapragya (1920-2010)-the tenth Acharya of the Jain Swetambar Terapanth- was a divine presence. One of the most revered Jain thinkers, he was often hailed as a 'modern Vivekananda'. He delved deep into the inner world and devised Preksha Meditation, a scientifically tested system to know the self. He was also a scholar of Indian and Western philosophy and religion, a prolific writer and the brain behind the Jain Vishva Bharati University.
Born in a village in Rajasthan, he became a monk at the age of ten and received his education under Acharya Tulsi, who launched the Anuvrat Movement in 1949 to rid the world of hatred. Acharya Mahapragya himself undertook the Ahimsa Yatra in 2001, traversing more than 10,000 km on foot. This remarkable feat won him the Communal Harmony Award in 2004.
Acharya Mahapragya: A Journey to Wisdom traces his growth from little Nathmal, who would fly into a rage and refuse to eat, to his asceticism, which earned him the name of Mahapragya- the very embodiment of wisdom and inner peace. It offers insights into his thoughts. on science and spirituality, and the philosophy of anekanta. Comprehensive, timely and accessible, this is a much-needed examination of a towering figure whose relevance is not confined to the faith he belonged to.

Innumerable human beings who come into this world leave its precincts 'unwept and unsung'. They do nothing to distinguish themselves from others and remain engrossed in the struggle to make ends meet. They appear unnoticed and vanish from the planet without making any contribution. No one ever thinks of them or remembers them. Only a few of them make their mark and leave behind a legacy of uniqueness.
The story of Acharya Mahapragya's life is a glorious story of ascetic refulgence. The journey of his life begins from a small village called Tamkor in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. At that time, this village didn't have even the most basic amenities like electricity, roads, a school, a dispensary nor were there any means of communication or transport. During the rainy season, the village remained virtually cut off from the rest of the state. In such an ambience of underdevelopment and ignorance, Acharya Mahapragya was born on 14 June 1920.
Though he was given the name of Indrachand during the naming ceremony, he was renamed as Nathmal since his nose was pierced and a ring inserted into it as part of the ritual to ensure his longevity. We wonder if the secret of Acharya Mahapragya's long life lay in this occult practice or it was sheer coincidence. I am convinced beyond doubt that the secret of his longevity lay in the calmness of his mind which he had attained by prolonged meditative practices and austerities.
When the child Natthu was hardly two and half months old, his father died. What astonishes me is that a child born and brought up in such adverse circumstances, without any formal schooling, develops his pragya (intelligence or sagacity) to so great an extent that he is widely recognized as mahapragya (a man of great wisdom). His ascent to the pinnacle of ascetic radiance was gradual and phenomenal. He grew up under the shadow of his devout mother. In those days things were extremely cheap. The child Natthu's family had all the basic resources to live comfortably, but the loss of his father at this tender age was in itself a great disaster. His mother evinced extraordinary qualities of patience and perseverance and brought her children up in such a way that they hardly felt the vacuum.
She was a pious woman who woke up early in the morning and began her routine with a samayika (a Jain spiritual practice which enjoins a practitioner to abstain from all sinful activities for a period of 48 minutes). During this period she recited aloud a hymn in praise of the 24 Tirthankaras composed by the most revered Jayacharya, the fourth Acharya of Terapanth Religious Order. She also sang songs eulogizing Acharya Bhikshu's virtues and the true path shown by him. The child Natthu, who remained in his bed, listened to these devotional songs and imbibed the spirit enshrined in them.

It is very important to record the great deeds of noble souls. While this record must be objective, accurate and authentic in its content, it must also capture the true spirit and motivation of the propagator. This three-part book by Dr S.L. Gandhi on Acharya Mahapragya excels on both counts.
When I reflect on my association with Acharya Mahapragya, three phases come to my mind. I met him in connection with the Foundation for Unity of Religions and Enlightenment of Citizenship- (FUREC). We together wrote the book The Family and the Nation. I myself got influenced by his life dedicated to the principles and practice in accordance with the doctrine of Terapanth and its stress on thirteen (‘tera’ in Hindi) religious principles, namely, five great vows, five regulations, and three restraints.
I had many personal sittings with Acharyaji. We come from two different religions but we were unanimous in our belief that society cannot be purged without an inner transformation of man. Acharyaji confided in me, ‘The ideational phase of my movement is over. It is time I gave it a programmatic and practical shape. Let us transform the movement into a fitting instrument of constructive activities.' That is how FUREC was born in Surat on 15 October 2003 in his presence.
Acharyaji told me, 'Kalam you are Anuvrati. You follow all five small vows for leading an upright life, namely, Satya (abstention from lying), Ahimsa (non-injury to anyone), Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), Achaurya (not taking what is not earned or rightfully given) and Brahmacharya (Chastity).
" Acharyaji taught me 'Preksha Dhyana', the ancient Jain technique of meditation. It was of great help in combining knowledge from our scriptures, modern science and my experience. I realized, 'No country can emerge powerful without peaceful coexistence and it is impossible for a country to ensure peaceful coexistence of its people without restraint and discipline."
I am sure this book will serve the purpose of preserving the details of Acharya Mahapragya's distinguished life and his thoughts. This compendium is, indeed, a timeless guide for everyone to attain inner completeness and to reduce inner discord. It is indeed a modern agama.