Terapanth Mat Samiksha - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Terapanth Mat Samiksha" by Muniraj Vidyavijay, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Terapanth Mat Samiksha (A Review of the Terapanth Sect) Author: Muniraj Vidyavijay Publisher: Abhaychand Bhagwan Gandhi Publication Year: 1915 (Veer Samvat 2441)

Overall Purpose: The book is a critical examination and refutation of the tenets and practices of the Terapanth sect of Jainism, primarily from the perspective of the Svetambara tradition. The author, Muniraj Vidyavijay, aims to expose what he considers to be un-Jain-like deviations in the Terapanth sect's philosophy and practices, particularly their rejection of idol worship and certain aspects of compassion and charity.

Introduction and Motivation: The author begins by stating that the book is necessary because a sect exists that does not believe in compassion, charity, and idol worship. He notes the Terapanth sect's prevalence in Rajputana-Marwar and the limited presence of his own community's monks in those areas. He believes this leads to the deception of innocent people by Terapanth monks. The immediate impetus for the book was a debate held in Pali, Marwar, between his gurus (Acharya Shri Vijaydharmasurishwarji and Upadhyay Shri Indravijayji) and Terapanth followers. During this debate, the Terapanth representatives were unable to answer 23 questions posed to them, and subsequently provided their own list of questions. This provided the opportunity for the author to compile this book, addressing the Terapanth beliefs, the Pali debate, and answering their 23 questions. The author also issues a challenge, asking Terapanth followers to answer 75 questions based on their own 32 accepted scriptures.

Origin of the Terapanth Sect: The book traces the origin of the Terapanth sect to around the year 1818 (Veer Samvat 1708, though the text mentions 1818 for the sect's start and 1808 for an earlier event). It attributes the sect's founding to Bhikhunji, a disciple of Rughnathji, a monk from the Dhundhak sect. Bhikhunji, despite having a sharp intellect, developed opposing views. A pivotal moment was when Rughnathji tried to retrieve a copy of the Bhagavati Sutra from Bhikhunji after the conclusion of their Chaturmas (monsoon retreat). Bhikhunji's refusal to return the book, and his subsequent perceived mistreatment by his guru, fueled his resolve to establish a new sect.

Key Tenets of Terapanth Criticized: The author details the core beliefs of the Terapanth sect that he finds objectionable:

Rejection of Compassion (Daya) and Charity (Dan):
- Feeding the hungry, giving alms to birds, making water stations, and establishing charity halls are considered outright sins.
- Interfering to save a creature from a predator (e.g., a cat from a mouse) incurs "bhogantray" (hindrance to sustenance).
- One should not desire the continued existence of non-ascetics.
- Saving a dying creature through physical intervention is a sin, with more sin attached to saving than killing.
- True compassion is merely thinking "may their karma break" when seeing a suffering being, not offering material aid.
- Charity is only acceptable to monks; giving to the poor, weak, or suffering is sinful.
- Lord Mahavir himself made a mistake by giving "varsi dan" (annual charity) to non-ascetics, resulting in suffering for them.
- No merit is gained except through monks.
- Giving charity to lay followers (shravaks) is also sinful, as they are considered unworthy.
Rejection of Idol Worship (Murti Puja):
- The author argues against the Terapanth sect's denial of the religious merit in idol worship and temple construction.
- He cites scriptures like Rayapaseni Sutra, Mahakalpasutra (Nandisutra), and Upasaka Dasanga to prove that idol worship, temple construction, and veneration of Jina's relics are sanctioned in Jainism and are considered meritorious.
- He asserts that scriptures explicitly state that those who worship Jina idols are considered "Samyagdrushti" (possessing right faith), while those who do not are "Mithyadrushti" (possessing wrong faith).
Interpretation of Scriptures:
- The author criticizes the Terapanth sect's selective interpretation of scriptures, particularly their reliance on only 32 (or sometimes 45) scriptures while rejecting others like Niyukti, Bhashya, and Tikas.
- He explains the importance of these commentaries for understanding the true meaning of the scriptures, using the analogy of the "Ghee Khichdi" story to illustrate how misinterpretation of Sanskrit can lead to absurd conclusions.

The Pali Debate: The book details a debate in Pali where the Terapanth followers raised questions about the merit of idol worship. The author presents the arguments and counter-arguments, highlighting how the Terapanth representatives were often unable to provide scriptural basis for their claims or were refuted by the author's gurus. The debate also touched upon the interpretation of scriptures and the specific meaning of certain texts related to worship and charity. The Terapanth side also produced a tract after the debate, which the author criticizes for its factual inaccuracies and argumentative style.

Questions Posed by the Terapanth Sect and Their Answers: The book dedicates a significant portion to answering 23 questions posed by the Terapanth followers. These questions primarily revolve around:

The scriptural basis for idol worship, temple construction, and processions (Sangh).
The interpretation of specific scriptural passages related to compassion, charity, and the nature of enlightened beings.
The practices of monks and nuns in the context of Jain scriptures.

The author provides detailed scriptural references and logical explanations to refute each of their questions, demonstrating how their interpretations deviate from the established Jain tradition.

Critique of Terapanth Practices: Beyond the core philosophical differences, the author also questions various practices of the Terapanth monks and nuns, such as:

Their use of long "mukhapatis" (mouth coverings) and the reason behind it.
Their adherence to certain rules regarding food and drink (e.g., not drinking water at night, accepting water from specific sources).
Their interactions with lay followers and nuns, including the perception of burdening householders.
Their use of colored cloths and the justification for it.
Their acceptance of certain types of food or alms.
Their practice of keeping lice from their clothes and using them as foot coverings.
Their claims about their origins and the teachings of their founder, Bhikhunji.

Challenges and Criticisms of Terapanth Logic: The author repeatedly criticizes the Terapanth sect for:

Unilateral Interpretation: Accepting certain scriptures or parts of scriptures while rejecting others that contradict their views.
Misinterpretation of Sanskrit: Distorting the meaning of Sanskrit words and phrases to fit their agenda.
Lack of Scriptural Basis: Failing to provide valid scriptural support for their unique doctrines and practices.
Dogmatism and Stubbornness: Refusing to change their views even when presented with clear scriptural evidence to the contrary.
Dishonesty and Exaggeration: The author accuses them of deliberately misrepresenting facts and distorting events from the Pali debate in their own publications.

The 75 Questions for Terapanth Followers: The book concludes with a list of 75 questions directed at the Terapanth sect, challenging them to provide scriptural proof for their practices and beliefs. These questions cover a wide range of issues, from the historical basis of their name to specific rules regarding their daily conduct, interactions with householders and nuns, and their philosophical assertions.

Overall Tone: The book is written with a strong conviction and a critical, often polemical, tone. The author is clearly passionate about defending what he believes to be the true Jain path and is unafraid to criticize and expose what he perceives as deviations and errors in the Terapanth sect.

In essence, "Terapanth Mat Samiksha" is a scholarly and polemical work that aims to deconstruct the Terapanth sect's ideology by contrasting it with the author's understanding of mainstream Jain scriptures and traditions. It serves as a call to action for both Terapanth followers to reconsider their beliefs and for others to understand the perceived differences and criticisms leveled against the sect.