History of Terapanth and Ladnun

Heritage of the Ancient Town

Evidence of Ladnun's antiquity is scattered across many pages of history. A mention is found of the establishment of a Buddhist monastery here during the era of Emperor Ashoka. In particular, this town has been a land of penance for the Jain faith, where both the Digambara and Shvetambara traditions had a deep presence and dominance. It is believed that Samprati, the great-grandson of Emperor Ashoka, had a vast Jain temple built here, the ruins of which still exist today in the sanctum of the present Digambara Brihad Jain Temple. A Saraswati idol of the eleventh century, renowned across the world, is also a priceless heritage of this town's history.

Capital of the Terapanth Religious Order

Along with being the birthplace of the epoch-making Acharyashri Tulsi, Ladnun holds the distinction of being the capital of the Terapanth religious order. In the lap of this town of nearly one hundred thousand people, numerous institutions dedicated to education, research, spiritual practice, service, literature, and culture have flourished. Education, research, spiritual practice, service, literature, and culture — with these seven positive endeavours, and in keeping with the expectations of the age, diverse, multi-dimensional activities remain ceaselessly dynamic here. Through Preksha meditation, literary creation, natural therapy (naturopathy), and an Ayurvedic pharmacy, many dimensions in the direction of spiritual practice, service, and health are systematically in motion. The Vardhaman library (a treasury of knowledge) with the largest number of copies here is a great heritage of scriptural knowledge.

Ladnun — Why the Capital of Terapanth?

Ladnun is renowned in history as the land of penance, the land of spiritual practice, and the land of pilgrimage of the Terapanth religious order. Many timeless pages of the order have been written on this very sacred land. The principal records that reflect its distinctiveness are as follows —

• A land sanctified by the touch of the feet of Acharyashri Bhikshu, the original founder of Terapanth.
• Jayacharya established a service centre here, where a residence centre for aged sadhvis has been functioning for nearly 155 years; Shrimad Jayacharya established Ladnun as a distinctive region of Terapanth.
• The 30th Chaturmas (Yogakshem Year) of the Acharyas of Terapanth is under way here, and 25 Maryada Mahotsavs have also been held here.
• The arrival of ten Acharyas of Terapanth took place in this town.
• The election of the seventh Acharya, Dalganee, by the monastic community of Terapanth took place right here.
• This is the land of accession to the office of Acharya of two Acharyas — Acharya Dalganee and Acharya Kaluganee.
• Acharya Dalganee and Acharya Mahapragya composed their letters of succession right here.
• The letter nominating his successor (Yuvacharya Mahashraman) was submitted by Acharya Mahapragya to his guru Acharya Tulsi right here.
• The distinction of being the birthplace of the epoch-making Acharyashri Tulsi.
• The motherland of three Sadhvi Pramukhas (Sadhvi Pramukha Ladan, Kanakprabha, and Vishrutvibha).
• The land of initiation of three Acharyas (Acharya Magharaj, Manaklal, and Tulsi).
• The inauguration of a new arrangement in the religious order by Acharya Tulsi, and the appointment of Muni Muditkumar to the office of 'Mahashraman' and Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha to the office of 'Mahashramani'.
• The holding of a Yogakshem training year on the occasion of the 75th year of Acharya Tulsi, at which 84 saints and 292 sadhvis were present.
• Many records of penance and fasting were established on this land.
• The samani order was inaugurated right here.
• The grand memorials of the seventh Acharya Dalganee, the service-minded Munishri Champalal, Acharyashri Mahapragya's worldly sister Sadhvi Malu, and the long-penancing Sadhvi Panna are located here.
• The 121-prahar Paushadh of the layman Sumermal was completed right here.
• A centre of institutions dedicated to education, service, research, coordination, spiritual practice, literature, and culture.
• The world's first Jain university is located right here.
• The 'Parmarthik Shikshan Sanstha', the centre for the education and training of the Mumukshu and Upasika sisters, is right here.
• The holding of an Amrit Mahotsav on the occasion of the 50th year of Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha in the office of Sadhvi Pramukha, and the place where Acharyashri Mahashraman addressed her as 'Mother of the Order'.
• Accepted as the 'Capital of Terapanth' by the most reverend Acharyashri Mahashraman.