Influential Jain Muni Tarun Sagar passed away on Saturday. He was 51. He breathed his last at 3 AM at Radhapuri Jain Temple in Krishna Nagar of east Delhi after a prolonged battle with jaundice. He had stopped taking his medication and opted for Santhara - the Jain ritual of fasting to death. He enjoyed a massive fan following even outside the Jain community and was known for his nationalist views.
Tarun Sagar was greatly respected by various politicians including PM Modi, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje. Born on June 26, 1967, in Dahoh district of Madhya Pradesh, the renowned Digambar Jain monk has a huge following in the Jain community. He was popularly known for his sermons titled 'Kadve Pravachan'. He accepted celibacy and decided to lead a life of a monk in the year 1981.
His last rites will be performed in Uttar Pradesh's Muradnagar later in the day. PM Modi expressed his condolences, writing: "Deeply pained by the untimely demise of Muni Tarun Sagar Ji Maharaj. We will always remember him for his rich ideals, compassion and contribution to society. His noble teachings will continue inspiring people. My thoughts are with the Jain community and his countless disciples.”
Other leaders also paid their tributes.
He had hit headlines in 2016 when he had been invited to the deliver a lecture at the Haryana Assembly.
On asked about his massive fan following, he had once told Zee Hindustan: " I am not acceptable every where. But I believe there are a large number of people who have affection for me. In my sermons, I don’t talk about any religion, any community, I talk only about life and everyone loves to live. That is the reason people live me. These days, people have scarcity of two elements: smile on face and happiness in life. I speak in both these elements and people not only listen to it but also choose it."
BJP Maheish Girri tweeted his condolences writing: "Woke up to shocking news of Pujya Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj taking Maha Samadhi in early hours today. I pay my tributes to the great saint and philosopher who inspired thousands to follow the path of truth, uprightness and nationalism."
Union Minister Suresh Prabhu also tweeted writing: "Extremely sad,earn about untimely, unfortunate. Jain Muni Tarun Sagar’s passing away,early hours today. He was only 51years old.His short life will always be remembered for his rich contribution to society.Its personal loss to me, having known him very closely,blessed by him."
On becoming a muni, he had told Zee Hindustan in an exclusive conversation: “ I took sanyas at a tender age of 13...In the history of 2000 years, this is for the first time anyone has taken deeksha at such a young age. I think this is all because of resolves of previous birth that I took the course of Lord Mahavir.”
He had also hit out against ‘fake fabas’ and said on Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s arrest: “ I had said that rapist babas are dangerous than Bin Laden...they are murdering religious beliefs... Akhada has released list of 14 fake babas...I say there are not 14 but 14000 fake babas...after exploring only we can get to know what kind of mischiefs are going on in the name of religion. There is no code of conduct for these babas and that is why such accidents are happening.”
