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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian Jain religious leader}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}<br />
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox religious biography<br />
| religion = [[Jainism]]<br />
| sect = [[Śvetāmbara]]<br />
| image = Acharya tulsi.jpg<br />
| alt = Tulsi<br />
| caption = Acharya Tulsi<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1914|10|20|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Ladnun]], [[Rajasthan]], India<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|6|23|1914|10|20|df=y}}<br />
| predecessor = [[Acharya Kalugani]]<br />
| successor = [[Mahāprajña|Acharya Mahapragya]]<br />
}}<br />
{{Jainism}}<br />
[[Acharya]] '''Tulsi''' (20 October 1914 – 23 June 1997) was a prominent [[Jain]] religious leader.<ref>Kurt Titze, Klaus Bruhn eds. (1998) ''Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-violence''. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 144. {{ISBN|978-8120815346}}</ref> He was the founder of the Anuvrata movement<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,820578,00.html "India: Atomic Vows"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. 15 May 1950.</ref> and the [[Jain Vishva Bharti Institute, Ladnun]], and the author of over one hundred books.<br />
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Acharya [[Mahapragya]], Acharya [[Mahashraman]] and Sadhvipramukha [[Kanakprabha]] were his disciples.<ref>Christopher Hugh Partridge (2005) ''Introduction to World Religions''. Fortress Press. p. 185. {{ISBN|978-0800637149}}</ref><br />
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==Biography==<br />
Acharya Tulsi was born on 20 October 1914 in [[Ladnun]], in present [[Nagaur district]] of Rajasthan, to Vadana and Jhumarmal Khater.<ref>{{cite web | title = Haryana to celebrate Acharya Tulsi Jayanti | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Haryana-to-celebrate-Acharya-Tulsi-Jayanti/articleshow/23473829.cms | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202185534/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-03/chandigarh/42663103_1_bhupinder-singh-hooda-noble-cause-monks | url-status = live | archive-date = 2 February 2014 |date= 3 October 2013| newspaper = [[The Times of India]] |access-date = 27 January 2014 }}</ref> Acharya Kalugani, then the leader of the [[Śvetāmbara Terapanth]] association, greatly influenced Tulsi. Tulsi was initiated into monkhood at age 11 in 1925. In 1936, Kalugani nominated Tulsi to be his successor in Gangapur at Rang Bhawan-the house of Ranglal Hiran, making him the ninth Acharya of the Terapanth Sangha.<ref>A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Acharya Mahapragya (2012) ''The Family and the Nation'', HarperCollins. p. 23. {{ISBN|978-8172237271}}</ref> During his leadership of the Sangha, he initiated more than 776 monks and nuns.<br />
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==Scholarship==<br />
In the 1970s, Acharya Tulsi began researching, compiling translations and commentaries on the [[Jain Agamas]]. Acharya Tulsi, along with Yuvacharya Mahapragya, sought to rediscover [[Jain meditation]] and termed it ''preksha dhyan''.<br />
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==Anuvrat movement==<br />
In 1949 he launched the Anuvrat movement<ref>John R Hinnells (2010) ''The Penguin Handbook of the World's Living Religions''. Penguin UK. p. 364. {{ISBN|978-0141035468}}</ref> (anu = small, vrat=vow, Anuvratas are the limited version of the [[Ethics of Jainism#Maha vratas (Major vows)|Mahavrata]]s for the monks), based on the five Jain principles Truth, Nonviolence, Non possession, Non-stealing and Celibacy as applied in their limited version for the lay people. The movement encouraged people to apply the Anuvratas in their personal lives, even when dealing with non-religious aspects of the society. The movement also held that [[dharma]] is not for ensuring happiness in the future lives but also for achieving happiness in the present life.<ref>{{cite news | title=600 pledge high ethics: New Religious Leader in India Effects One-Year Conversion | date=2 May 1950 | newspaper=New York Times }}</ref><br />
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The movement has continued under the leadership of his disciple Yuvacharya Mahapragya. He was raised to the rank of the ''[[acharya]]'' by Acharya Tulsi himself.<br />
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==Institutions==<br />
In 1948 Tulsi established the Parmarthik Shikshan Sanstha, a spiritual training centre for female aspirants who wanted to lead the Jain monastic lifestyle. [[Jain Vishva Bharati University|Jain Vishva Bharati Institute]], an education and research institute was established in 1991 with inspiration from Acharya Tulsi.<br />
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Traditionally Jain monks have been prohibited from travelling overseas.<ref>There are some rare exceptions. See [[Abhayagiri vihāra#King Valagamba and Abhayagiri]]</ref> Tulsi developed the Saman Order around 1980 in an effort to spread the preachings of Jainism worldwide. This order follows the lifestyle of [[sadhu]]s and sadhvis with two exceptions: They are granted permission to use means of transportation. They are allowed to take food which is prepared for them. This order can be termed as the link between the normal households and the Jain monks and nun.<br />
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==As a wandering ascetic==<br />
Jain monks and nuns remain under a vow of moving on foot all their life. In Tulsi's lifetime he covered more than 70,000&nbsp;km.<ref>Acharya Mahaprajna (2000) ''Acharya Tulsi – A Peacemaker par Excellence'', Ladnun, India, Third Edition.</ref> His major wanderings included:<br />
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* 1949: From Bikaner to Jaipur, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and back to Rajasthan.<br />
* 1955: From Rajasthan to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and back to Rajasthan.<br />
* 1958: From Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, again Bihar, Uttar pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and back to Rajasthan.<br />
* 1966: From Rajasthan to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and back to Rajasthan.<br />
* 1974: From Rajasthan to Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, and back to Rajasthan.<br />
* 1981: From Rajasthan to Haryana, Delhi and back to Rajasthan.<br />
* 1987: From Rajasthan to Haryana and Delhi and back to Rajasthan.<br />
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In the course of these travels, Tulsi visited numerous communities and preached to Anuvrat-oriented life.<br />
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==Call for Jain unity==<br />
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Acharya Tulsi proposed harmonious cooperation among various Jain sects. To this end, he supported [[Vinoba Bhave|Acharya Vinoba Bhave]] in the publication of ''[[Samana Suttam]]'' a book accepted by all sects.<br />
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==Recognition==<br />
[[File:Tulsi 1998 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Acharya Shree Tulsi on a 1998 stamp of India]]<br />
* Title of Yug Pradhan in 1971 by the [[President of India]] [[V. V. Giri]]<ref>[http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19970624/17550473.html "Jain saint Tulsi dies"]. ''Indian Express''. 24 June 1997.</ref><br />
* Bharat Jyoti Award<br />
* Vakpati Award<br />
* The Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in 1993<br />
* A memorial named Mahashila Abhilekh has been erected in his memory in the village of Todgarh. <br />
* Coins of denomination of five Indian rupees issued in 2013, on the centennial of Tulsi's birth.<ref name="youtube1"/><br />
* On 20 October 1998, the [[Vice President of India|Vice President]] [[Krishan Kant]] released an Indian commemorative three-rupee postage stamp of Tulsi.<ref>[http://iic.ac.in/projects/nic/Contrivers/1998.html Stamps 1998: A commemorative postage stamp on Acharya Tulsi 1914–1997] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140126120448/http://iic.ac.in/projects/nic/Contrivers/1998.html |date=26 January 2014 }}. iic.ac.in</ref> Kant said that the Tulsi gave a new and contemporary direction to the high ideals of Jainism.<br />
* Coins: In 2014, the [[Reserve Bank of India]] issued two coins featuring Acharya Tulsi, five rupees made of nickel-brass<ref name="youtube1">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63u5pWBG7uc 5 Rupees Coin of 2013 Acharya Tulsi Birth Centenary]. Youtube</ref><ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/rbi-to-issue-rs-5-coins-on-acharya-tulsi-birth-centenary-114040401132_1.html RBI to issue Rs 5 coins on Acharya Tulsi birth centenary, Press Trust of India, Mumbai April 4, 2014]. Business-standard.com. Retrieved on 28 November 2018.</ref> and 20 rupees.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140421051419/http://www.indiacoins.org/2014/02/new-coins-released-acharya-tulsi.html Wednesday, February 5, 2014 New Coins Released – Acharya Tulsi]. indiacoins.org</ref> Finance Minister [[P. Chidambaram|Shri P. Chidambaram]] released the commemorative coins to commemorate the birth centenary of Acharya Tulsi at Bikaner.<br />
* '''Acharya Tulsi Marg''':<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x3a0277c310f4efe9:0xd35e0434a9a26823|title=Acharya Tulsi Marg|website=Acharya Tulsi Marg|language=en|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref> [[Salkia]] School Road, the most important road of Uttar Howrah, was renamed after the ninth Acharya Ganadhipati Acharya Tulsi of Śvetāmbara Terapanth Dharma Sangh on 9 February 2020. The programme was inaugurated by Cooperative Minister Arup Rai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patrika.com/kolkata-news/salkia-school-road-became-acharya-tulsi-marg-5756683/|title=सलकिया स्कूल रोड हुआ आचार्य तुलसी मार्ग|website=Patrika News|date=10 February 2020 |language=hi|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref><br />
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==Acharya Tulsi Award==<br />
* Acharya Tulsi Kartitva Puruskar is an honour bestowed by the All Indian Terapanth Mahila Mandal. This award acknowledges any notable contribution by any woman or organization of women in the fields of religion, women empowerment, science, education, literature, arts, cultural studies, administration, social welfare etc.<br />
* This award was conceptualized in 2003 and till now awardees include Smt. Purnima Advani, the then president of Rashtriya Mahila Ayog, Smt. Kiran Bedi, the first woman IPS of India, Smt. Savitri Jindal, former member of Parliament of Haryana and a leading industrialist, and to Smt. Nilima Khaitan, the chief executive of Seva Mandir, Udaipur.<br />
* Sumitra Mahajan, past speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha has been nominated as awardee for 2019 for her outstanding contribution to society. She has been elected to the Lok Sabha eight times, one of only three members to do so. She is also the longest serving woman member. In the 2014 general elections, she amassed 4,66,901 votes and won a seat by the highest margin of votes in Madhya Pradesh.<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Acharya Bhikshu]]<br />
* [[Ladnu Jain temple]]<br />
* [[Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Institute and Research Centre]]<br />
* [[Jain Vishva Bharti Institute, Ladnun]]<br />
* [[Akhil Bhartiya Terapanth Yuvak Parishad]]<br />
* [http://www.abtmm.org Akhil Bhartiya Terapanthi Mahila Mandal]<br />
* [http://www.AcharyaTulsiAward.com Acharya Tulsi Award Website]<br />
* [[List of religious leaders in 2007]]<br />
* [[List of Jains]]<br />
* [[Sadhvi Kanakprabha]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Commons category|Tulsi (Jain monk)}}<br />
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{{Jain Gurus}}<br />
{{Jainism topics}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tulsi, Acharya}}<br />
[[Category:People from Rajasthan]]<br />
[[Category:1914 births]]<br />
[[Category:1997 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Jain acharyas]]<br />
[[Category:Indian founders]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Jain monks]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian Jain writers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Jain monks]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian monks]]<br />
[[Category:Jain reformers]]<br />
[[Category:Śvetāmbara monks]]</div>LaurenToliver