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another village.”
The villagers thought that, “such a statement... & that too by a trustworthy girl of our village.” Everybody trusted her false
statement.
An allegation was made against the pious & devoted lady Sitaji. Jainism believes in cause & effect theory. No action occurs without a cause or it can be said that every action is followed by a cause.
In her previous birth, Sitaji didn't confess for her sins therefore, she was blamed. This is how the story goes...
The wife of Brahman Shribhuti, Saraswati, gave birth to a female child. She was named Vegavati. Gradually, Vegavati grew into a young woman and was interested in religious activities. One day she saw Sudarshan sage, involved in meditation. He practiced severe penance and was selfless therefore, all the people in the village used to come to bow him.
Out of spite, Vegavati spread rumors among the villagers, "This saint is pretentious. Why do all of you bow before him with respect? I saw him with a lady in
The next day, nobody came to him except birds. Sudarshan sage was puzzled and wondered about the cause of this. Enquiring with some people, he came to know that Vegavati had spread such a rumour about him. He did not blame Vegavati and thought all this was the consequence of his past deeds. So, by uttering Appanam vosirami' he stood in meditation & he decided to continue it until the blemish was removed. Due to his meditation, the seats of deities trembled and they distorted Vegvati's face. Her face became disfigured and blackish like a coal. Seeing this, her father was shocked. “What disease
Confession : The Path to Self-liberation...85
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