IOverview
The Svetambara Terapanth is an aniconic branch of white-clad Jainism, founded by Acharya Bhikshu on 28 June 1760 at Kelwa in Rajasthan. Its most distinctive feature is that the entire order follows a single acharya, who chooses and appoints his successor.
The Terapanth resembles the Sthanakvasi in rejecting image worship, accepting 32 Agamas and having its mendicants wear the muhpatti at all times. It differs in its centralized organization, its common discipline for the whole order, and its 20th century social movements such as Anuvrat and Preksha meditation.
The name is shared by a Digambara sub-sect, but the two groups are unrelated.
IIOrigins and History
Acharya Bhikshu was born on 1 July 1726 at Kantaliya in Rajasthan and ordained in 1751 under Acharya Raghunath of the Sthanakvasi. After close study of scripture he concluded that the order had drifted from the original teaching. His teacher agreed but was reluctant to impose such demanding reforms on everyone. Bhikshu left.
There are two explanations of the name. The usual one is that the movement began with thirteen monks, thirteen lay followers and thirteen rules, tera being thirteen in Rajasthani. The other reads it as hey prabhu yeh terapanth, O Lord, this is your path.
- 1760Founding28 June, at Kelwa, Rajasthan.
- 1803Death of Acharya Bhikshu30 August, at Siriyari, Rajasthan. He left a code of conduct for the order and the work Nav Padarth Sadbhav.
- 1865First Maryada MahotsavAn annual festival of the order's discipline. According to The Avenue Mail, the 2022 festival at Bidasar was the 158th.
- 1936Acharya TulsiBecomes the ninth acharya at the age of 22.
- 1949Anuvrat movementLaunched by Acharya Tulsi to bring small vows to everyone.
- Around 1980The saman and samani orderA grade of renunciants permitted to use vehicles and travel to teach.
- 1991Jain Vishva Bharati InstituteAn education and research institute at Ladnun, Rajasthan.
- 2010Acharya MahashramanOn 23 May becomes the eleventh acharya, after Acharya Mahapragya's death on 9 May.
IIITeachings and Distinctive Features
The Terapanth sees itself as a return to the original teaching of scripture, keeping the vows exactly as written and not relaxing them to suit circumstances. Following one teacher is explained as the way to maintain a shared discipline and avoid each group practicing in its own way.
On scripture and worship the Terapanth matches the Sthanakvasi: no image worship, 32 Agamas, worship of the mind. In the 20th century it made two widely known contributions:
- Anuvrat, the small vows, a scaled-down version of the mendicants' great vows written for people of any faith: no violence, honesty in business, restraint in consumption.
- Preksha dhyan, a meditation of perception, reformulated by Acharya Tulsi and Acharya Mahapragya from older Jain meditative practice.
No. The Digambara Terapanthi are a branch of the sky-clad tradition that arose in 17th century Jaipur in opposition to the bhattarakas, and they still worship images. The Svetambara Terapanth is an aniconic branch of the white-clad tradition founded in 1760. They only share a name.
IVPractice, Rites and Daily Life
Male mendicants are called sadhu or muni and female mendicants sadhvi. They go barefoot, use no vehicles and wear the muhpatti. Each rainy season, groups of mendicants stay put for four months in places assigned by the acharya. All assignments, including rainy season residences, are the acharya's decision.
The saman and samani order created around 1980 under Acharya Tulsi stands between mendicants and lay people. Its members keep most of the vows but may travel by car and plane and accept prepared food, which allows them to teach abroad.
| Occasion | Content |
|---|---|
| Maryada Mahotsav | The annual festival of discipline, when mendicants gather, hear Acharya Bhikshu's code read again and receive the year's assignments. |
| Paryushan | Eight days of repentance and fasting, shared with the other Svetambara branches. |
| Chaturmas | Four monsoon months when mendicants stay in one place and lay followers come to hear sermons. |
VOrganization and Distribution
A single acharya heads the whole order. The current one is Acharya Mahashraman, born on 13 May 1962 at Sardarshahar in Rajasthan, the eleventh in the line. From 2014 to 2022 he walked more than 50,000 km through India, Nepal and Bhutan on his Ahimsa Yatra. Alongside the acharya, a Sadhvi Pramukha leads the female mendicants, currently Sadhvi Vishrutvibha since 15 May 2022.
On the lay side there is the Terapanth Mahasabha along with youth and women's associations. Major institutions include the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute at Ladnun and Anuvrat and Preksha centers.
The branch is strongest in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Kolkata, with centers in several countries thanks to the saman order. There are no reliable dated figures on membership.
VIIn Vietnam
There is no significant Terapanth community in Vietnam. Samans do teach abroad, but no source found records a Terapanth center or association active in Vietnam.
VIISymbol of the Branch
No symbol of its own is recorded with a source for this branch, so the library uses the common symbol of the path.
VIIIOther Branches of Jainism
Svetambara Murtipujakaश्वेताम्बर मूर्तिपूजक Śvetāmbara MūrtipūjakaThe largest Svetambara branch, white-clad.
Digambaraदिगम्बर DigambaraThe second major stream.
Sthanakvasiस्थानकवासी SthānakavāsīAn aniconic Svetambara branch, going back to Lonka Shah in the 15th century and formed in the 17th century by Lava of Surat.Svetambara Terapanthश्वेताम्बर तेरापंथ Śvetāmbara TerāpanthAn aniconic Svetambara branch founded by Acharya Bhikshu on 28 June 1760, splitting from the Sthanakvasi.Uses the common symbol of the pathKanji Panth (Mumukshu)कानजी पंथ Kānjī PanthA lay movement following Kanji Swami (1890 to 1980), a former Sthanakvasi monk who turned to the Digambara path in 1934, centred at Songadh, Gujarat.Uses the common symbol of the pathTaran Panthतारण पंथ Tāraṇ PanthA Digambara branch founded by Taran Svami in 1505 in Bundelkhand.Uses the common symbol of the pathIXSources
The library cross-checks the sources below. Where they disagree, the page gives both.
?Quick Questions
Why is it called Terapanth?
The common explanation is that it began with thirteen monks, thirteen lay followers and thirteen rules, tera meaning thirteen. Another reading takes the name as your path, from the phrase hey prabhu yeh terapanth.
What is the Anuvrat movement?
A movement launched by Acharya Tulsi in 1949 to bring small vows, a scaled-down form of the mendicants' great vows, to people of any faith. It covers nonviolence, honesty and restraint in consumption.
Who leads the Terapanth today?
Acharya Mahashraman, the eleventh acharya, who took office on 23 May 2010. He is known for his Ahimsa Yatra, a walk of more than 50,000 km from 2014 to 2022.