GUWAHATI, July 7 - Acharyashri Mahashraman, the supreme head of the Terapanth Jain sect, who is leading a prolonged Ahinsha Yatra of 20,000 km on foot and is currently in Assam, will reach Guwahati tomorrow.
More than 100 monks and nuns are accompanying the Acharyashri. The main objectives of the yatra are to promote harmony, morality and de-addiction to help build a healthy society.
�This is for the first time in the North East that the Acharyashri is on a visit to Assam and will be holding his pious chaturmas (four-month stay) at a newly-built complex at New Airport Road, Guwahati. Lakhs of devotees and people from different walks of society will visit the city during these four months to pay obeisance to Acharyashri,� Nirmal Samsukha, secretary of the organising committee said. Tomorrow a reception is being organised at Mahaveersthal, Fancy Bazar by Shree Jain Swetambar Terapanthi Sabha from 9.15 am.
The Gauhati University and Jain Viswa Bharti University are jointly organising a lecture on �Social Transformation and Harmony� to be delivered by the Acharyashri at the BKB auditorium, GU at 10 am on July 9. An annual award of Rs 1 lakh will be instituted on the occasion, which will be given every year to persons working in the field of social transformation and harmony.
Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Ullhas Kulkarni, Assam Kshetra Pracharak, RSS, will be the chief guest and guest of honour respectively on the occasion. On July 10, the Acharyashri will proceed from Gauhati University to the Chaturmas Sthal, Terapanth Nagar, New Airport Road in a procession. Acharya Mahasharman is also preceptor of the Jain Viswabharti University, Ladnu, Rajasthan. The UGC-recognised deemed university imparts education in Jainology, comparative study of different philosophies, ancient languages like Prakrit, Pali, and Sanskrit, and subjects like Preksha meditation, training in non-violence and science of living.
