________________
Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV ASHADH 4-12 V.S. 2054
SADHVI SHIYALVATI
"For as long as the flowers in this garland remain fresh you will know that my character is
intact," Shiyal said to her husband who was going abroad. Shiyalvati was beautiful, courteous and intelligent. She also had the ability to understand the language of animals and birds. Once upon hearing the words of a bird, she set off at midnight toward a cemetery with a pot in her hand. Her father-in-law saw this and suspecting her character, decided to send her back to her parents' home. He was surprised the next day, seeing her talking to a crow on the road. Shiyal, following the orders of the
crow, started dig
ging under a tree
and there found four pots of gold. Her father-in-law forgave her and she returned to their
house. Eventually,
word of Shiyalvati's deeds spread to the king. The king sent
an envoy to her house to test her
character. Shiyalvati made a bed and dug a pit underneath it. She invited the
king's envoy as a guest. The disguised guest,
thinking that he
was successful,
laid down on the bed, and fell at once into the pit. The king was pleased and made Shiyalvati his sister. Later on, under the influence of a Jain acharya, she renounced the world. Truly a person's character is like a flower: it has a pure essence. If it is soiled, it is spoiled. To keep our character pure and safe forever is our duty and religion.
Jain Education International
117
For Private & Personal Use Only
Stories Of The Sadhviji
www.jainelibrary.org
