Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 269

The Followers of the Ever Growing One
seem to be mere indifference, lack of goodness and generosity, but which is not so at all!324
क.
We may further note that the present acarya has provided new impulse and inspiration in three different spheres: an attempt, firstly, to emancipate women from the oppressive customs to which in Māravada they were obliged to conform; thus, to enable the sadhvis to live an ascetic life to the full and at the same time help the śrāvikās free themselves from so many prejudices in the human and social dimensions of life, they are strongly encouraged to study. Next, the study of the Scriptures - and thus also of Prakrit and Sanskrit; to these are added literary studies, all sadhvis who are desirous of writing being invited to do so.325 Finally, their horizon extends to all the regions and thus groups of sadhvis are sent out to places as far afield as the Himalayas in the North and the extreme South.
249
Here are some interesting facts concerning the sadhvis under the first three ācāryas.326 Three sisters, young widows, received dikṣā together; two of them, Sadhvi Śri Kuśālāṁ and Sādhvi Śri Mattu, persevered, while the third, Sri Ajbu, had to leave after several years;
324 Cf. P 343-344 regarding this type of approach and the subtle distinctions
that it involves.
325 Many young women candidates for dikṣā pass several years in a studycentre where they receive a course of general instructions; cf. P 469 ff.
326 This period extends from 1764 to the beginning of the XXth c. However interesting and accurate a complete chronicle would be, we can give here only a brief glimpse, such as fits into the whole picture and includes the other spiritual families. To expatiate on the highly detailed history of one of these, even if that particular one has preserved its records intact, would disturb the over-all harmony and would require a special study. The period of office of the 5 following ācāryas goes from 1851 to 1936. Thus the present period starts in 1936 with Acarya Śri Tulasi.