Introduction

Terapanth is a religious sect of Svetambara Jainism. It was founded by Muni Bhikhan(Bhikshu

Swami), who later became Acharya Bhikshu. Bhikshu was originally a member of the

Sthanakavasi ordr and was initiated by Acharya Raghunatha. But he had differences with his guru on

several aspects of religious practices of the Sthanakvasi order and left it. He stressed on Agam

principles and started the practice on his own with 5 monks. On Vikram samvat 1817(28 june 1760)

at kelwa, a small town in Udaipur district of Rajasthan State. This is how he founded the new

Svetambara Terapanthi order.

The terapanthi order is strongly aniconic and has lakhs of followers in many parts of the world.

Bhikshu stressed 13 religious principles, namely,

     1)    Five mahavratas( great vows)

2)      Five samitis(regulations)

3)      Three Guptis(controls or restraints).

His order was therefore as the terapanth or “thirteen – panthan”. He wrote his letter of Conduct in

Rajasthani and it remains the central organising doctrine of the Terapanthi. Bhikshu did Tapasya in

family house of Maniklaji Somavath in his last breadth at Siriyari Rajasthan. Somavatha family retains the place even today.

The Practice of one leader regulating the entire order is a unique feature Terapanthi Jainism. The current leader is the eleventh, Acharaya Mahashraman.

The Terapanth regularity observes a festival known as Maryada Mahotasava”Festival of Conduct”.

This distinctive festival is celebrated every year on the 7^th day of the bright half of the month of Magha by ascetics and sravakas(LAyfolk).