Muni Tarun Sagar (26 June 1967 – 1 September 2018) was an Indian Digambara monk. His lectures are termed Kadve Pravachan (bitter discourses) because they can be candidly critical of common practices and views.[1] His lectures have been compiled and published in book series also titled Kadve Pravachan. Excerpts from his discourses are often published by newspapers.[2] Unlike most other Digambar Jain monks, his audience often included a majority of non-Jains. His discourses often addressed family or society issues.

Muni Shri 108
Tarun Sagar
Ji Maharaj
Sagar ji in 2012.
Personal
Born(1967-06-26)26 June 1967
Guhanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India
Died1 September 2018(2018-09-01) (aged 51)
New Delhi, India
ReligionJainism
SectDigambara
Religious career
PredecessorAcharya Pushpadantsagar
Initiation20 July 1988
Bagidora, Rajasthan
by Acharya Pushpadantsagar
Websitewww.tarunvani.com

Early life

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Muni Tarun Sagar was born on 26 June 1967 to Pratap Chandra Jain and Shanti Bai Jain, who were themselves inducted into the Digambara sect of Jainism by Acharya Dharmasagar, in a small village of Guhanchi in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, India.[3][4] At the age of 13 he was initiated as a Kshullak and a Digambara monk by Acharya Pushpdant Sagar on 20 July 1988 in Bagidora, Rajasthan at the age of 20.[5] He emerged as a prominent personality when GTV initiated a program called "Mahavira Vani".[citation needed]

He became very sick during his travels in 2007,[6] but at Kolhapur, he resolved to remain a Jain monk. However he started using a doli for conveyance, rather than continue to walk on foot as required.[7]

Discourses

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In 2000, he gave an address from the Red Fort, Delhi. After wandering through Haryana (2000), Rajasthan (2001), Madhya Pradesh (2002), Gujarat (2003), Maharashtra (2004), he arrived in Karnataka in 2006 for the occasion of Maha Mastak Abhisheka celebrations at Shravanabelagola after having walked for 65-days from Belgaum.[8] By this time he had emerged as a "progressive Jain monk" for his criticism of violence, corruption and conservatism, and his speeches came to be called "Katu Pravachan".[9] He agreed to have his Chaturmas in Bangalore.[10]

In 2014, During his Agra visit, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat also came to meet him personally and discussed and listened to the discourse.[11]

Muni Tarun Sagar has often met politicians and government officials as a guest.[12] He has delivered his sermons Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2010 and in Haryana Legislative Assembly on 26 August 2016.[13][14][15]

His 2015 Chaturmas was in Shri 1008 Parshvanath Digambar Jain Mandir, Sector 16, Faridabad.[16] 108 Jain Śrāvaka pairs welcomed Tarun Sagar by washing his feet with 108 kalashas in 108 plates over a 200 feet ramp.[17]

He appeared on the talk show Aap ki adalat hosted by Rajat Sharma on 18 March 2017 where he revealed that in childhood he liked the sweet Jalebi the most.[18] In childhood once going on road he listened to the voice "tum bhi bhagwan ban sakte ho" meaning 'you can also become God'. This was the voice of Digambar Jain monk Pushpdant Sagarji. After hearing these words, Muni Tarun Sagar ji left his home.[19] Rajat Sharma candidly asked many questions, many related to the conduct of a Digambar Jain monk. The Muni answered without being offended, often with humor or reciting verses.

He has been candid in both criticizing and praising politicians, including Narendra Modi.[20]

Views

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International trainer, author and motivational author, Dr Ujjwal Patni posed as Mahatma Gandhi and his wife posed as Kasturba Gandhi at Ahmedabad on 2 October 2012. The '1000 Gandhi' program was organised for Guinness World Records with the blessings of Muni Shri Tarun Sagar Ji Maharaj. Guinness World Records confirmed this as a world record for the most people dressed as Gandhi in one place: 891

Although he belonged to the Digambara sect, he promoted a non-sectarian outlook. In 2013 at Jaipur, he joined the Śvētāmbara monks during his chaturmas. In 2014, he inspired a Dharma Sansad, which was attended by Acharyas of Śvētāmbara Terapanth, Sthānakavāsī and Murtipujaka sects.[21]

Muni Tarun Sagar has expressed his views on Islamic traditions too. He once said that Love Jihad is a conspiracy to convert Hindu girls into Muslims.[22][23] He has also raised his opposition to the Islamic practice of Triple Talaq.[19]

His other discourses were on:

Works

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Newspaper articles

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He has got many of his articles published in newspapers. Some of them are:

  • Jealousy fetches you nothing[40]
  • Don't be egoistic because of your money![41]
  • Dharma seems necessary?[42]
  • I am not Anti-Pandit but Anti-Hypocrisy[43]
  • Where there is bickering, there is hell[44]

There is a famous discourse on The Crematory by him.

"श्मशान गांव के बाहर नहीं, बल्कि शहर के बीच चौराहे पर होना चाहिए । श्मशान उस जगह होना चाहिए जहां से आदमी दिन में 10 बार गुजरता है ताकि जब- जब वह वहां से गुजरे तो वहां जलती लाशे और अधजले मुर्दों को देख कर उसे भी अपनी मृत्यु का ख्याल आ जाए और अगर ऐसा हुआ तो दुनिया के 70 फ़ीसदी पाप और अपराध शब्द खत्म हो जाएंगे। आज का आदमी भूल गया है कि कल उसे मर जाना है तुम कहते जरूर होगी एक दिन सभी को मर जाना है। तुम कहते जरूर होगी कि एक दिन मर जाना है, पर उन मरने वालों में तुम अपने आप को अपने को कहा गिनते हो?" Means "The cemetery should not be outside the village, but on the intersection between the city. Cremation should be in place from which man passes ten times a day so that when he passes through there, seeing the burning flame and the dead body, he should also consider his death and if this happens then 70 per cent of the world's sin And the word 'crime' will end. Today's man has forgotten that tomorrow he is going to die, you must say that one day everyone is going to die, but in those who are dying do you count your own self?"[45]

Another famous comment was about cross border terrorism while addressing haryana assembly.

"पहली बार जो गलती करे वो अज्ञान, दूसरी बार जो गलती करे वह नादान, तीसरी बार जो गलती करे वह शैतान, बार बार जो गलती करे वह पाकिस्तान, ओर हर बार जो क्षमा करे वो हिंदुस्तान।"[46]

Awards and titles

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He has been declared a state guest in Madhya Pradesh (2002), Gujarat (2003), Maharashtra and Karnataka. He got the title of krantikari (revolutionary) at a religious gathering in Karnataka, and Rashtra Sant in 2003 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.[5]

Legacy

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On 29 July 2012, in Ahmedabad, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, presented the Tarun Kranti Puraskar to him.[47]

Reception

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While he was in Karnataka, journalist Seetharam, in his column "Suttha Mutha" ridiculed Jainism and Jain Muni Tarun Sagar in the eveninger Karavali Ale, who was charged under sections 153 (A), 153 (B) and 295 (A) of Indian Penal Code.[48]

In August 2016, Tarun Sagar was invited to address the Haryana Assembly by both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress party members.[49][50] He talked about social and political issues and evoked applause and laughter from lawmakers.[51] The event caused a number of tweets critical of Muni Tarun Sagar because of his nudity.[52] Most notable were the tweets by Vishal Dadlani, the musician and a leading AAP supporter,[53] and the Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala.[54] As a result, 27 police complaints were filed against Dadlani and Poonawala.[55]

The AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal quickly disassociated with Dadlani's comments stating "I met Shri Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj last year. Our family regularly listens to his discourses on TV. We deeply respect him and his thoughts...Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj is a very revered saint, not just for Jains but everyone. Those showing disrespect is unfortunate and should stop".[55] Dadlani, realizing his mistake, vowed to quit politics and apologized 33 times on-line.[56][57][58] Tarun Sagar defended the right of Dadlani to criticize him.[59][60] In the same regards both Vishal Dadlani and Tehseen Poonawalla were fined of Rupees 10 lakh each for their remarks and tweets with warning not to repeat such instances in future by the Apex court of Justice.[61]

Death

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Tarun Sagar took Santhara (fasted to death) on 1 September 2018 at age 51 after a long illness.[62]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "कड़वे प्रवचनों का पहला कार्यक्रम सेक्टर-27 के रामलीला ग्राउंड में कल", bhaskar.com, 23 July 2016
  2. ^ "जन्म को सुधारो, मृत्यु सुधर जाएगी: तरुण सागर 11306912". jagran.com.
  3. ^ a b "Shivraj Singh Chauhan fit for PM, Jain muni says at RSS function", The Times of India, 14 October 2013
  4. ^ "Muni Shri 108 Tarunsagar Ji Maharaj", Jainmunilocator.org
  5. ^ a b c d "Beyond the Haryana address: Tarun Sagar, the Jain muni who speaks his mind, finds an audience", The Indian Express, 30 August 2016
  6. ^ "I am healthy, says Jain muni Tarunsagar". The Hindu. 15 February 2007.
  7. ^ [कड़वे प्रवचन, जैन मुनिश्री तरुणसागर, Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd, 4 Jul 2016]
  8. ^ "I couldn't resist the magnetic attraction of Bahubali: Jain muni". The Hindu. 17 January 2006.
  9. ^ "Jain seer gets warm welcome". The Hindu. 6 March 2006.
  10. ^ "Briefly". The Hindu. 16 May 2006.
  11. ^ "आगरा में भी किए थे तरुण सागर महाराज ने कड़वे प्रवचन, सरसंघचालक मोहन भागवत से हुई थी मुलाकात". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Jainism practises what it preaches". The Hindu. 14 January 2007.
  13. ^ "Jain saint uses wit to prick conscience of politicians", The Tribune, 27 August 2016
  14. ^ "When Another Jain Monk Addressed A State Legislative Assembly And There Was No Controversy", Huffington Post, 29 August 2016
  15. ^ "Muni delivers 'Kadve Pravachan' in Haryana Vidhan Sabha", Business Standard, Press Trust of India, 26 August 2016
  16. ^ "C.M.Haryana Khattar with Jain Muni Tarun Sagar Maharaj at Jain Mandir in faridabad", abtaknews, archived from the original on 25 July 2015
  17. ^ "200 फुट लंबे रैंप पर 108 जोड़ों ने पांव धोकर किया मुनिश्री तरुण सागर का स्वागत", Dainik Bhaskar, 18 April 2016
  18. ^ Jain Muni Tarun Sagar in Aap Ki Adalat With Rajat Sharma, IndiaTV, Mar 18, 2017
  19. ^ a b "Every third Indian is corrupt, says Jain Muni Tarun Sagar in Aap Ki Adalat", India Tv, 17 March 2017
  20. ^ "Modi apologize from wife: Tarun Sagar". jagran.com.
  21. ^ "देश की राजधानी दिल्ली में जैन एकता का अनुपम अवसर : 80 जैन साधु-साध्वियों के मध्य लगी धर्म संसद", ABTYP Jain Terapanth News, 14 September 2014
  22. ^ "तरुण सागर के लव-जिहाद संबंधी बयान पर गरमाई सियासत", jagran.com
  23. ^ "हिंदू लड़कियों को मुस्लिम बनाने की साजिश है लव जिहाद", Amar Ujala, 11 May 2015
  24. ^ "मौत और भगवान का ध्यान रखो". jagran.com.
  25. ^ "सौ के फेर में नहीं पड़ें". jagran.com.
  26. ^ "संत की शरण में भागवत". jagran.com.
  27. ^ "जैन मुनि ने कड़वे ढंग से बताई कई अहम बातें", amarujala.com
  28. ^ "जैन मुनि ने शराब और मांस त्यागने को कहा", amarujala.com
  29. ^ "RSS may step out of khaki shorts, get into designer trousers", Hindustan Times, 31 January 2016
  30. ^ "RSS changes its style from shorts to trousers", The Hindu, 4 November 2015
  31. ^ "Revolutionary Saint showering blessings", The Times of India, 25 June 2012
  32. ^ Sharma, Lalit (10 August 2015), "Rajasthan high court bans Jain ritual of fasting unto death", Hindustan Times, Jaipur, archived from the original on 11 August 2015
  33. ^ "CM presents 'Tarun-Kranti Puraskar' to Baba Ramdev, Vijay Darda and JITO", narendramodi.in, 29 July 2012
  34. ^ "पांच हस्तियों को तरूण क्रंति अवार्ड". patrika.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  35. ^ "Business Series Download". ujjwalpatni.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  36. ^ "Muni Tarunsagar's 'Kadve Pravachan' burrows through hearts", Daily News and Analysis, 10 August 2012
  37. ^ Tarunsagar 2014.
  38. ^ "Indian media: Interest in 'militant' arrest", BBC, 19 August 2013
  39. ^ "Shortest woman releases biggest book". The Hindu. 19 August 2013.
  40. ^ "ईर्ष्या से कुछ नहीं मिलता", Navbharat Times
  41. ^ "कडवे प्रवचन : धन का अहंकार न करें!", hindi.webdunia.com
  42. ^ "धर्म जरूरी लगता है?", satsanglive.com
  43. ^ "मैं पंडितों का नहीं उनके पाखंड का विरोधी हूं : मुनि तरुणसागर", satsanglive.com
  44. ^ "जहां तर्क है, वहां नर्क है : मुनि तरुणसागर", satsanglive.com
  45. ^ "'कड़वे प्रवचन' देने वाले तरुण सागर का निधन". BBC News हिंदी. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  46. ^ Off Centre: Tarun Sagar Maharaj on Pakistan, retrieved 28 February 2019
  47. ^ "In pictures: Narendra Modi, Tarun Sagar Maharaj, Baba Ramdev, Vijay Darda". deshgujarat.com. 29 July 2012.
  48. ^ "Journalist, wife in judicial custody". The Hindu. 5 March 2007.
  49. ^ "Vishal Dadlani's sarcastic tweet on Jain monk Tarun Sagar backfires, musician vows to quit politics", India Today, 28 August 2016
  50. ^ "Jain leader Tarun Sagar's address in Haryana Assembly", The Indian Express, 1 September 2016
  51. ^ "In address to Haryana assembly, Jain monk talks about Pakistan, sex ratio". Hindustan Times. 27 August 2016.
  52. ^ "Monk, in nude, addresses Haryana assembly, leaves Twitterati furious over misogynist anaology". India Today.
  53. ^ "Apologizing For His Tweets Yet Again, Vishal Dadlani Writes An Open Letter For Monk Tarun Sagar". The Times of India. September 2016.
  54. ^ "Punjab, Haryana HC refuses to stay arrest of singer Vishal Dadlani, Congress activist", The Indian Express, 15 September 2016
  55. ^ a b "Hurt religious sentiments: 27 police complaints over Dadlani, Congress leaders remarks against Jain guru", India Today, 29 August 2016
  56. ^ "Vishal Dadlani again apologises to Tarun Sagar for his remarks", The Economic Times, 1 September 2016
  57. ^ "Vishal Dadlani Meets Jain Monk Tarun Sagar To Apologise, Says 'We Are Friends Now'", NDTV, 21 September 2016
  58. ^ "Dadlani Granted Anticipatory Bail, Court Says Complaint Made Only to 'Humiliate' Him", The Wire, 23 September 2016
  59. ^ "Nothing To Forgive, Says Jain Monk About Vishal Dadlani; Police Disagrees". ndtv.com.
  60. ^ "VHP condemns Vishal Dadlani's remarks on Jain monk Tarun Sagar", The Indian Express, 31 August 2016
  61. ^ "Tweets on Jain monk: HC quashes FIR against Vishal Dadlani, Tehseen Poonawalla; fines them Rs 10 lakh". May 2019.
  62. ^ "Jain Monk Tarun Sagar Passes Away at 51". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 September 2018.

Sources

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