NEW STAMP ON AACHARYA BHIKSHU

Dear Sadharmi Bandhu, Sadar Jai Jinendra.   On 30th June 2004, Indian Postal department has issued a multi-colored commemorative postage stamp on the founder of the Jain Swetamber Terapanth Sect, Aacharya Bhikshu. Two special functions were organized to release this Rs.5/- stamp. Vice President of India, honorable Bhairo Singh Shekhavat released this stamp in a function organized at their residence at New Delhi. Second release function was organized at Siriyari (Distt. Pali, Rajasthan) where he had attained Nirvana.   Aacharya Bhikshu was the man of revolutionary ideas who was propelled to react after he made an intense study of ancient texts and became acutely aware of not only their misinterpretation, but also the distorted version of religion prevalent in society. He was born on the thirteenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Ashad in the Vikram Samvat year 1783, in the village of Kantaliya in Pali District, Rajasthan. He took to ascetic life under the guidance of Acharya Raghunathji. He set out from the village of Bagadi expressing his disenchantment with conservative fundamentalists, false beliefs and blind faith and reached Kelba in Mewar, Rajasthan. There he took a vow and established the Terapanth religious Sangha on June 28,1760.   Aacharya Bhikshu was a philosopher saint, perceptive writer, sensitive poet and social reformer. He composed about 38000 shlokas and his writings have been compiled in two volumes as "Bhikshu Granth Ratnakar". Among his compositions, 'Nav Padarth Sadbhav", is regarded as a significant philosophical composition that deals exhaustively with the nine gems of Jain philosophy advocated a society free of exploitation. He was the harbinger of a religious revolution and he plodded to rid society of several evils. Gainful insights can be obtained in the field of governance, sociology and economics from the teachings of Aacharya Bhikshu. He advocated strongly the purity of means achieving the goal. He said neither the fear of punishment nor the temptation of reward can make a religion work. For this a transformation of the heart is essential. He believed that violence committed out of necessity is also violence and quelling weaker beings for the gain of bigger ones was not acceptable to him. He gave to the world knowledge about the different premises of religion and society. He said wherever there is goodness and truth is conducive, irrespective of caste, creed or place to the well-being of the society. Help rendered to the suffering, exploited and helpless was labeled by him as duty, responsibility and social obligation; he gave the clarion call for a revolution in society. Aacharya Bhikshu attained eternal bliss in the Vikram Samvat year 1860 at Siriyari, Rajasthan.   A scanned image of the stamp is attached.   With kind regards,   Yours Sincerely,   -SUDHIR JAIN, Universal cables Ltd., SATNA (M.P.) 485 005. Phone : 07972-257121 to 257125, 257299 Mobile : 9425174190 E-mail : mrsudhirjain@yahoo.com and        mrsudhirjain@hotmail.com -------------------------------------------------------- Website on JAINISM AND PHILATELY : http://www.geocities.com/sudhir000in/jainsim_philately.html