________________
CHAPTER 4
Total Silence for One Year
River Narmada is one of the holiest and the loveliest of all rivers in India. She has inspired many Saints including Adi Shankeracharya and many others to perform their austerities on her banks. There is little wonder if young spiritual aspirant like Santbal was also attracted by the banks of this river like many others before him. Near the village Ranapur, on the banks of Narmada there is Ashram of Shri Madhavdasji having a cave for meditation. Santbal preferred this place for his Sadhana and alone occupied one dilapidated room. One man sometimes used to remain in attendance, but he did not speak with him also and conveyed his thoughts by writing with a chalk on a piece of a slate.
Days of Silence :
In the initial stages of total silence he lost his weight. But gradually he began to find inner peace as all connections with the outside world were lost.
Recording his own experience he has stated :
“During those days I remained very firm in my beliefs. My determination to cut off all outside connections was so strong that
metimes even people who came to see me from great distances had to wait for two/three days, though they wanted nothing more than seeing me."
25
:
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
