Home > Society > Religion in India > Acharya Mahapragya
Acharya Mahapragya
Mahapragya is the tenth Acharya of Terapanth who was conferred the epithet of Jain-Yoga Punaruddharka by Gurudev Tulsi.

Share this Article:

Acharya MahapragyaAcharya Mahapragya is the tenth Acharya of Terapanth. He was born in a small and serene village of Tamkor in the Jhunjhunu District of Rajasthan. He was born on 4th June 1920 to father Tolaram and Mother Baluji. He was named as Nathmal. His father died when he was an infant of one and a half months.

Early Life of Mahapragya
In those times there was no school in Tamkor. Thus the only means of education was to attend a tutor`s school. Sardarsahar was his uncle`s native place. Nathmal used to visit Sardarsahar quite often with his mother but the prospect of education was equal to none. Once Nathmal met Acharya Shree Kalugani whose profound personality left an intense impact on Nathmal`s mind. Thus he and his mother requested Acharya Shree for accepting them as his pupils. The saint accepted their request and the child and with his mother left the narrow path of ignorance and joined the highway that lead towards enlightenment. The path they chose to take reaches out to every door, varying from end to infinity, from immortality to eternity and from spirituality to enlightenment. Nathmal was thus initiated into an ascetic life at the age of ten.

Later Life of Mahapragya
Acharya Mahapragya and Acharya Shri Tulsi shared an extraordinary and loving relationship between themselves. Acharya Mahapragya from the very beginning remained very dedicated towards Acharya Tulsi. In the year 1955, Acharya Tulsi nominated him as the Chief Secretary of Terapanth. Acknowledging the spectacular knowledge and erudition of Acharya Mahapragya, once again Acharya Tulsi conferred on him the epithet of "Mahapragya" (a great seer) at Gangasahar, in the year 1978. On 4th February 1979 he was again nominated as the successor-designate, at Rajaldesar and his name was changed to "Mahapragya." It was from then onwards that he came to be known as "Yuvacharya Mahapragya." He was also conferred the epithet of Jain-Yoga Punaruddharka by Gurudev Tulsi. It was bestowed upon him in recognition of his distinctive researches in the field of Jain Meditation and Yoga.

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


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Religion in India


Religion in Indus Valley Civilization
Religion in Indus Valley Civilisation included Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Details about the religion in Indus Valley Civilization have been gathered from archaeological artefacts.
Shaivism Religion
Shaivism is the second largest “religious community” in modern India with its roots deeply seated in the Hindu Vedic belief.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is among the more popular denominations of Hinduism, with its own distinctive ideas about spirituality and morality. Vaishnavism concentrates on worshipping god Vishnu and of his incarnations.
Hinduism Religion
Hinduism is more of a philosophy which is a way of living according to the understanding of the principles of Vedas and Upanishads.
Islam
Islam is a religion that beliefs in Allah as the one and only God and creator of the Universe. Islamic law or Sharia is characterised by the five pillars of Islam which comprise the essential duties of every Muslim.
Christianity
Christianity is a religion based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and it is the largest religion in the world.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy that encompasses a wide variety of beliefs, practices and traditions that are chiefly based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha and its later disciples.
Jainism
Jainism chronologically preceded the religion of Buddhism. It is considered as one of the oldest religions of India. Jainism in India shared with Hinduism and Buddhism. It is an integral part of South Asian religious belief and practice, but it is not a Hindu sect and not a Buddhist heresy, as earlier scholars believed.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, closely related to Judaism, Christianity and Islam was founded by Zoroaster.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion started by Guru Nanak in land of Punjab in 15th century A.D.