Acharya Shri Mahapragya

Acharya Shri Mahapragya (14 June 1920 – 9 May 2010) was the tenth Acharya, supreme head of Jain Swetembar Terapanth group. Acharya Shri Mahapragya (“Acharya”) was a highly venerable saint, yogi, spiritual leader, philosopher, author, orator and poet.

Respectfully and honorably known as Gurudev, the Godly Teacher, Acharya was not merely a Person but also a Purpose, not just a Being but also a Belief. He was not a reservoir of wisdom but its very fountain-source. The former (reservoir) may not always have fresh and clean water, which the latter i.e. the source would always possess. Such a source alone has the capacity to quench the thirst of innumerable persons. Paradoxically, Acharya Mahapragya acquired the power of not only quenching but also created such thirst in the people.

Becoming a Jain monk at the age of ten and each step taken towards spiritual development, Mahapragya played a major role in Anuvrat movement launched by his Guru Acharya Tulsi in 1949. The movement later functioned under Mahapragya's leadership since 1995. Acharya Mahapragya formulated the well organized Preksha meditation system in the 1970s. Mahapragya developed the "Science of Living" education system which is a practical approach for the balanced development of a student and character building.