Taran Panth
Encyclopedia
The Taran Panth or Taran(a)panthi sect of Digambar Jainism
was founded by Taran Svami in Bundelkhand
in 1505. Taran Svami is also referred to as Taran Taran
, the one who can help the swimmers to the other side, i.e. towards nirvana
.
During this time several reform movements arose in Jainism
. Lonka Shah of Gujarat founded his Dhundhia order in Sam 1508 (1451 CE). The Terapantha (Adhyatma movement) among the Digambaras arose in Sam. 1683 in Agra. The main founders of this movement were Banarasidas
of Agra
and Amarachanda of Sanganer
near Jaipur
.
The Digambara Terapantha movement was against the domination of the Bhattarakas. They opposed worship of various demi-gods and demi-goddesses, which was indulged in by the Bhattarakas. Some Terapanthi practices, like not using flowers in worship, gradually spread throughout North India among the Digambaras. In fact, today, Digambara Jainism in North India is Terapanthi whereas Digambara Jainism in Western (Gujarat) and Southern India (Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) is Bisapanthi.
The Taranpanthis on the other hand traditionally do not have idols in their shrines at all.
The birth name of Taran Svami is not known. He was born in Pushpavati (now Bilahari near Katni) in the Paravar Jain
community. His father was a government official there. His uncle lived in Sironj
, where a Bhattaraka
institution of Balatkara Gana
was present. When he was 8 years old, while accompanying his father to Sironj, he came across Bhattaraka
Shrutakirti. The Bhattaraka persuaded the boy to start attending the lectures where "Samayasara" was discussed. Later Taran Svami organized his group and meditated and preached at Semarkheri (near Siromj M.P.)he take Diksha in Semarkheri and make their Sadhna in Sukha Ji (Damoh Disstrict MP). His chief disciples were Ruiaraman and Kamanavati. His samādhi
is at Nisaiji (Malhargarh) in Dist Ashok Nagar M.P.. A mystical account of his life, perhaps an autobiography, is given in Chadmastha Vani.
The language in his 14 books is a unique blend of Prakrit
, Sanskrit
and Apabhramsha
. Note that at this time Jains
had not been using Prakrit for several centuries. His language was perhaps influenced by his reading of the books of Acharya Kundakunda
.
Commentaries on six of the main texts composed by Taran Svami were written by Brahmacari Shitala Prasad in the 1930s. Commentaries on other texts have also been done recently. Osho
(Rajnish), who was born into a Taranpanthi family, has included Shunya Svabhava and Siddhi Svabhava as among the books that influenced him most.
The number of Taranpanthis is very small. Their shrines are called Chaityalaya (or sometimes Nisai/Nasia). At the altar (vimana) they have a book instead of an idol. The Taranpanthis were originally from 6 communities. TaranPanthis worship to nirakar Aatma (soul)in their temple the follower pray to 14th granths wrote by Taran Swami thats are situated on the Vedi Ji they are called by GRANTH POOJAK.
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
was founded by Taran Svami in Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
in 1505. Taran Svami is also referred to as Taran Taran
Taran Taran
Taran Taran can refer to:* Tarn Taran, a place in Punjab, India* Taran Taran, Pakistan, a place in Punjab, Pakistan* Taran Svami the founder of Taran Panth...
, the one who can help the swimmers to the other side, i.e. towards nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
.
During this time several reform movements arose in Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
. Lonka Shah of Gujarat founded his Dhundhia order in Sam 1508 (1451 CE). The Terapantha (Adhyatma movement) among the Digambaras arose in Sam. 1683 in Agra. The main founders of this movement were Banarasidas
Banarasidas
Banarasidas was a Shrimal Jain businessman and poet of Mughal India. He is known for his poetic autobiography - Ardhakathānaka, , composed in Braj Bhasa, an early dialect of Hindi linked with the region around Mathura. It is the first autobiography written in an Indian language...
of Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
and Amarachanda of Sanganer
Sanganer
Sanganer is a town situated 15 km south of Jaipur, the capital of Indian state of Rajasthan. The town is famous for handmade paper industry, textile printing and for Jain temples. Sanganer prints are one of its own kinds, for the reason that patterns in bright colors are always printed on white...
near Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
.
The Digambara Terapantha movement was against the domination of the Bhattarakas. They opposed worship of various demi-gods and demi-goddesses, which was indulged in by the Bhattarakas. Some Terapanthi practices, like not using flowers in worship, gradually spread throughout North India among the Digambaras. In fact, today, Digambara Jainism in North India is Terapanthi whereas Digambara Jainism in Western (Gujarat) and Southern India (Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) is Bisapanthi.
The Taranpanthis on the other hand traditionally do not have idols in their shrines at all.
The birth name of Taran Svami is not known. He was born in Pushpavati (now Bilahari near Katni) in the Paravar Jain
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
community. His father was a government official there. His uncle lived in Sironj
Sironj
Sironj is a city and a municipality in Vidisha district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.-Geography:Sironj is about 120 km north of Bhopal, the capital of Central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. Although it lies in the Vidisha district and is about 85 km from Vidisha town, which is the...
, where a Bhattaraka
Bhattaraka
A Bhaṭṭāraka is the head of traditional Jain institutions. They are responsible for training of scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing the endowments, presiding over the installation ceremonies and running of Jain institutions....
institution of Balatkara Gana
Balatkara Gana
Balatkara Gana is an ancient Jain monastic order. It is a section of the Mula Sangh. It is often termed Balatkara Gana Sarasvati Gachchha....
was present. When he was 8 years old, while accompanying his father to Sironj, he came across Bhattaraka
Bhattaraka
A Bhaṭṭāraka is the head of traditional Jain institutions. They are responsible for training of scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing the endowments, presiding over the installation ceremonies and running of Jain institutions....
Shrutakirti. The Bhattaraka persuaded the boy to start attending the lectures where "Samayasara" was discussed. Later Taran Svami organized his group and meditated and preached at Semarkheri (near Siromj M.P.)he take Diksha in Semarkheri and make their Sadhna in Sukha Ji (Damoh Disstrict MP). His chief disciples were Ruiaraman and Kamanavati. His samādhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
is at Nisaiji (Malhargarh) in Dist Ashok Nagar M.P.. A mystical account of his life, perhaps an autobiography, is given in Chadmastha Vani.
The language in his 14 books is a unique blend of Prakrit
Prakrit
Prakrit is the name for a group of Middle Indic, Indo-Aryan languages, derived from Old Indic dialects. The word itself has a flexible definition, being defined sometimes as, "original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual", or "vernacular", in contrast to the literary and religious...
, Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and Apabhramsha
Apabhramsha
Apabhraṃśa is a term used by Sanskrit grammarians since Patañjali to refer to dialects that deviate from the norm of Sanskrit grammar. The term in Sanskrit literally means "corrupt" or "non-grammatical language". It is used as a cover term for the dialects forming the transition between the late...
. Note that at this time Jains
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
had not been using Prakrit for several centuries. His language was perhaps influenced by his reading of the books of Acharya Kundakunda
Kundakunda
Kundakunda is a celebrated Jain Acharya, Jain scholar monk, 2nd century CE, composer of spiritual classics such as: Samayasara, Niyamasara, Pancastikayasara, Pravacanasara, Atthapahuda and Barasanuvekkha. He occupies the highest place in the tradition of the Jain acharyas.He belonged to the Mula...
.
Commentaries on six of the main texts composed by Taran Svami were written by Brahmacari Shitala Prasad in the 1930s. Commentaries on other texts have also been done recently. Osho
Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh)
Osho , born Chandra Mohan Jain , and also known as Acharya Rajneesh from the 1960s onwards, as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh during the 1970s and 1980s and as Osho from 1989, was an Indian mystic, guru, and spiritual teacher who garnered an international following.A professor of philosophy, he travelled...
(Rajnish), who was born into a Taranpanthi family, has included Shunya Svabhava and Siddhi Svabhava as among the books that influenced him most.
The number of Taranpanthis is very small. Their shrines are called Chaityalaya (or sometimes Nisai/Nasia). At the altar (vimana) they have a book instead of an idol. The Taranpanthis were originally from 6 communities. TaranPanthis worship to nirakar Aatma (soul)in their temple the follower pray to 14th granths wrote by Taran Swami thats are situated on the Vedi Ji they are called by GRANTH POOJAK.