Santbal A Saint with a Difference

SR No.: 001181
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 152
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Biography
File Size: 9 MB

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Strict Adherence to Rules during Padyatra :
Meeraben is the lady who moved with the Saint on foot along with Manibhai Patel from place to place covering great distances among unknown people. She has recorded her experience in a small booklet titled Santbal — Mari Ma (Santbal — my mother) in Gujarati. Following account shows how meticulous the Saint was in observing the rules prescribed by the scriptures for a Jain Muni, even in the most adverse circumstances.
Santbalji, Meeraben and Manibhai were moving towards Calcutta. They were approaching a village fixed for their stay. They had covered about twelve miles on foot in burning hot summer. The place and people were unknown. At a little distance
from that village they noticed a small "hotel" and opposite to it :: was a dilapidated Dharmashala. The party decided to put up at
that Dharmashala. But no human being was visible in the roundabout area. For making further arrangement of water and food, Manibhai went to the village, took a round but could not notice any person. On his return they were at a loss to understand how the problem of "hot" water for the Saint could be solved. As a strict adherent of the practice, which a Jain Saint is expected to follow, Santbal did not take water, either for drinking or for washing his clothes, which was not once boiled, and which was not made “Achet” (not containing germs).
Such problems were not new for them when they moved in strange places and unknown people, but nature always provided some solutions. This time Manibhai borrowed one utensil from the "hotel" and boiled in it some water for the Saint. Next problem was to get food. All the members of the party, including Santbalji, had made a rule not to accept food from those who were not vegetarian and were alcoholic. But as you go east, this becomes very difficult because, there, fish-eating is considered vegetarian. By and large the people in the Indian rural area are
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