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[ Ananda, the Ideal Shravaka
danger in preserving it: and when it is lost it causes extreme
grief to the possessor. The life of its devotees is always in danger. Even the wife and children and other relatives of the wealthy man pray to God for his early death. Wealth is at the root of all such troubles." (3) He was a great donator. Whoever came to his door never returned with unfulfilled desires. He received one and all very warmly and served them with all his heart. (4) He lived in order to per. form his religious duties and did not perform his religious duties in order to live. ( 5 ) He followed the motto' Simple living and high thinking and that was why his life had become so cheerful. ( 6 ) He was a devotee of Ahimsa (Doctr. ine of non-injury to living beings ) and his faith was not only theoritical but also practical. He was really an ideal worshipper of the Doctrine of Ahinsa.
Shivananda, the wife of Gathapati Ananda, had accepted the vows of a Sravika a pious house lady together with her husband. The twelve vows meant to be observed by a layman or a Shravaka can be accepted by any body without any consideration of time, place or position in the society. Thus both husband and wife devoted themselves heart and soul to the welfare of mankind.
KAMADEVAJI BECOMES A SHRAVAKA
Once Lord Mahavira went to the city of Champa and delivered a course of religious lectures there. His audience included the Jains and non-Jains, all of whom liked his tea. chings very much. But the only man who tried to understand the instructions of the Lord and to mould his life according to them was Gathapati Kamadevaji. He was a great capitalist of his time. Possessing eighteen crores of gold coins. He was so
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