NEW DELHI, June 23: Eminent Jain saint and the propounder of the Anuvrat Movement, Acharya Tulsi, passed away this morning at Ganga Shahar in Bikaner, Rajasthan, following a cardiac arrest. He was 84. He reportedly died during a discourse with his devotees. The Acharya would be cremated tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Born on October 20, 1914, at Ladnun, Rajasthan, he was an acharya of Earapanth, a religious sect of Jains. However, Acharya Tulsi's message was for the whole of mankind. He propounded the Anuvrat Andolan, aimed at building of individual or human character, on March 2, 1949. Building of the society, according to the movement, is the second step. The Acharya undertook padyatras covering lakhs of kilometers all over the country for spreading his message.

The saint had been honoured with several awards for his efforts for peace and moral awakening. He was given the title of Yug Pradhan in 1971 by the then President V V Giri. The Acharya had also received Bharat Jyoti and Vakpati Awards.

In 1993, he was awarded the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. Apart from being a saint, Acharya Tulsi was also a poet, orator and a writer.

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