2014 - Acharya Tulsi Birth Centenary | Commemorative Coin

The first commemorative coin for the year 2014 was released on occasion of Birth Centenary of Acharya Tulsi. An unconventional ₹20 coin was issued, deviating from the usual ₹100 denomination, to commemorate the Birth Centenary.

Acharya Tulsi (October 20, 1914 – June 23, 1997) was a distinguished Jain Acharya, renowned for founding the Anuvrata movement and the Jain Vishva Bharti Institute in Ladnun. An accomplished author with over one hundred books to his credit, he had notable disciples in Acharya Mahapragya and Sadhvi Kanakprabha.

Born in 1914 in Ladnun, in the present Nagaur district of Rajasthan, to Vadana and Jhumarmal Khated, Tulsi's spiritual journey was profoundly influenced by Acharya Kalugani, the then leader of the Terapanth Sangh. Taking monk's vows at the tender age of 11, Tulsi emerged as a prominent leader within the Terapanth group in 1936 when Kalugani nominated him as his successor. During his tenure, Tulsi played a pivotal role in initiating more than 776 monks and nuns into the sangha.

In 1949, he initiated the Anuvrat Movement, emphasizing the application of the five Jain principles—Truth, Nonviolence, Non-possession, Non-stealing, and Celibacy—in their limited form for the laypeople. The movement encouraged individuals to incorporate Anuvratas into their personal lives, extending their application beyond religious contexts to various aspects of society. Tulsi's vision for the movement emphasized that Dharma is not solely for ensuring happiness in future lives but also for achieving happiness in the present life.

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