Taran Panth

The Taran Panth or Taranapanthi sect of Jainism was founded by Taran Svami in Bundelkhand in 1505 CE. Taran Svami is also referred to as Taran Taran, the one who can help the swimmers to the other side, i.e. towards nirvana. The Taranpanthis traditionally do not have idols in their shrines.

The birth name of Taran Svami is not known. He was born in Pushpavati (now Bilahari near Katni) in the Paravar Jain community. His father was a government official. His uncle lived in Sironj, where a Bhattaraka institution of Balatkara Gana was present. When he was eight years old, while accompanying his father to Sironj, he came across Bhattaraka Shrutakirti. The Bhattaraka persuaded the boy to start attending the lectures where Samayasara was discussed. Later Taran Svami organized his group and meditated and preached at Semarkheri (near Sironj M.P.) he took Diksha in Semarkheri and made their Sadhna in Sukha Ji (Damoh Disstrict MP). His chief disciples were Ruiaraman and Kamanavati. His samādhi is at Nisaiji (Malhargarh) in Dist Ashok Nagar M.P.. A mystical account of his life, perhaps an autobiography, is given in Chadmastha Vani.