CHENNAI: Nearly 700 people from the Jain community in the city visited the Cantonment school at Pallavaram on Saturday to pay obeisance to Acharyashri Mahashraman, Sri Pragyasri. Covering over 2,900 kilometres by walk, the spiritual leader started from Kolkata on November 2017 and reached the city.
Shri Jain Swethambar Terapanth Sabha Trust organised the Ahimsa Yatra at Pallavaram in which followers, including women and children participated. Also, a rally was conducted from Saidapet to Pallavaram in which many skits and plays highlighting the three aims of life were performed. Being the 11th spiritual leader of the Jain Svetambara Terapanth sect, the munis and sadhvis have come to the city after 50 years with an aim to spread the message of non-violence.
“The three main aims followed by the Acharya is to eradicate discrimination, follow humanity and morality which is decreasing of late in society and to highlight de-addiction,” said Sanjay and Prince Katariya, members of the organising committee. Mukhya Niyojika Sadhvi Vishrut Saminik Vibhag (who has been a sadhvi for over 25 years ) said once during a similar gathering at Rajasthan many farmers had given up smoking by throwing away their cigarettes.
Sharing her thoughts to becoming a Sadhvi , she said, “Though, my family was not very religious, I chose to become a Sadhvi. I grew up in Rajasthan where girls were getting engaged at the age of 16. I wanted to engage myself in doing service. Though it came as a shock to my family, later they were happy with my decision,” she added.
“The spiritual leader along with other followers would start walking everyday by 6 am and cover up to 15 to 30 kilometers carrying the message of peace,”said Sonia and Kushi Katariya organising members. Acharya Mahashraman is expected to stay in the city for four months at Madhavaram from July 21.