उत्थान in English means Development/Regeneration and it has a lot of significance when it is understood from personal and other aspects.
Why उत्थान?
Lord Krishna during his verse with Arjuna said that “I am the ultimate and there is nothing what I cannot achieve or get what I want but still I am in this Earth with you and fighting the Battle”, hearing this Arjuna asked “But Why”, Lord Krishna says “I know there is nothing left for me to do, but I am still doing as I want to do Karma and with greater power comes great responsibilities and I don’t want generation to learn that after achieving everything you shall sit idle but you shall be the part of new development and in doing this you are doing Karma and also get purified in all ways and this way to also set an example”
It is उत्थान that has made the saints, great saints. Today at the age of 86 Years, Agam Professor Mahendra Muni instead of putting health upfront is devoting 6 to 8 hours daily to ensure the coming generation understand the Jain Agam and its usefulness to this generation and coming generation. There is not a single iota of doubt that it was the vision of Great Acharya Bhikshu and Terapanth was formed and this went to the fullest development during the period of Ganadipathi Acharya Tulsi and it was the Acharya Mahapragya who in all his life following उत्थान made the Terapanth Samaj to reach its greatness in terms of Literature (no doubt earlier Saints and Acharya were there and in good quality) and now Acharya Mahashraman. उत्थान has its purpose and relevance in all fields. A professional if does not part of उत्थान in his profession, he is bound to fail and same applies to all fields of life.
Best example of advantage of उत्थान was and is Anuvrat and no one can forget what Anuvrat did to India and all public at world at large. The aim of Anuvrat was to make human being better than what he is. Anuvrat was shaped by Ganadhipati Tulsi for the reason to ensure Moral Education and Peace launched this Anuvrat Movement on 02.03.1949 and the first 71 Anuvratis who joined, Ganadhipati Tulsi wrote their name himself. The then President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad said “Acharya Sri, the Anuvrat Movement is very beneficial for the country Anuvrat was named as Anuvrat League earlier and then Anuvrat Movement and this was the idea of Great Spiritual Leader, Ganadhipati Tulsi. It is not that Anuvrat was not known but it was the उत्थान which regenerated/developed amongst the public at the time when there was only violence and such was its impact that Chief Minister, Shri Mohan Lal Sukhadia stated in the House of Assembly, “The House resolves that the Anuvrat Movement launched by Acharya Sri Tulsi is highly commendable”. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan once wrote “There is a general feeling in the country that while we are attending to material progress and doing substantial work in that direction, we are neglecting the human side of true progress. A civilized human being must be free from greed, vanity, passion and anger. Civilizations decline if there is a coarsening of moral fiber if there is callousness of heart. This is unfortunate and to remedy this growing indiscipline, lack of rectitude, egotism, the ANUVRAT MOVEMENT was started by Acharya Tulsi on March 1, 1949. It requires strict adherence to the principles of good life. It is intended to impart education in moral and spiritual values”
Another best example of उत्थान was and is, SATYAGRAHA which was regenerated by Mahatma Gandhi. Satyagraha or non-violence was not new or innovative and this has been known to Jainism since ages but the manner in which Mahatma Gandhi invoked उत्थान among Indians and its result world knows.
पारिवारिक उत्थान, the meaning has all the relevance to understand its significance and if once made part of the life, majority issues are done with and we are moving towards a new vision and mission. Jainism has always paved the way in terms of rich literature and business but without उत्थान being part of life, is not possible.
Let’s all be part of उत्थान
As Acharya Mahapragya’s various books shows great visions for upliftment of individual and society and business too and one of his view was “Learning is important but more important is how you use those learning in your own life and making yourself uplifting and thereby become an example to others”