Comtemporary Jain Legends

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

Page 61

to adopt Dixa at the age of 17 but he could not do so because his parents did not consent. Thus, he was totally detached with worldly lie right from his age of understanding. He used to sit at the clothshop of his father but dealt with total honesty and maintaining absolutely truthful behavior with all. He was careful not to be at lapses of integrity at any stage. Even while working at the shop he kept his mind in the service of the Lord, his prayers, self-study, company of saints and high thoughts. Since he was intending to adopt Dixa, his parents allowed him to observe certain vows, rules and non-eating but directed that he should not leave the house until they were alive. He used to sit at the shop more time but continued to think of eternal element. He was holding the total charge of the shop when elder brother was away for business purposes. He allowed customers to measure by themselves after fixing the price and put the cost-money by his side or write it in the account-book. He was, thus, not much attached with business. He turned the shop as a self-study Centre for himself. Some 15-20 persons used to meet together at the shop at noon and he delivered an impressive lecture to them.
Young Age and Dixa: At the age of 32, he went to the great pilgrimage of SametShikhar. His longing for pilgrimage was very deep. In the memory of this pilgrimage he took vows not to eat ghee and edible oil for the whole of his life. He, thus, started his steps on the way of future mendicantship. On return from pilgrimage he took a vow of only one time dining in a day. His father also took water and meals only for once in a day for 16 years. One day, the father called all his sons and handed them over the burden of house and business. He accepted meditation-death and left the mortal body while muttering the name of Lord Arihant. Satgonda was of 37 at this time. His mother also passed away after three years by adopting meditation-death. She died within twelve hours of sitting for meditation. Satgonda was now free from the bondages of parents.
After this he stayed in house for some years and prepared himself for permanent Dixa. When Digambar Mooniraj Shri Devapa Swamy (Devendra Kirtiji Maharaj) came to Uttoor Village, Satgonda requested before him for Dixa. The learned saint explained him that it was a difficult path to be Nirgranth Dixa-holder (Possessionless mendicant) and by sincere adoption of this Dixa, there is no fear for the soul to turn back to worldly affairs. Then after, as per the advice and guidanc of Gurudev Devapa Swamy, Shri Satgonda took dixa in 1915 AD at the age of 43 in Uttoor village. He left everything after keeping only two clothes to wear and on begging bowl to ask for alms and to eat. He accepted the position of a minor mendicant. Satgonda was now free from the attachments of house and family. He was now worthless man named Shanti Sagar. He kept away his attachments with the region of Bhoj Bhoomi and accepted the whole earth as his own nature place. He was now a spiritual person free from all worldly bondages. He was invested with natural detachment. He now started moving on earth seeking eternal freedom for him and for others. He suffered several large and minor troubles for long time and then he was steady in the quite sea of peace. He, on his way of moving from place to place came to the mountain Girnar that was holy with the footprints of Lord Maharaj Tirthankar Neminath. In this Holy Land invested with the memories of Lord Tirthankar Neminath, Shri Shanti Sagarji Maharaj adopted Elak Dixa as he was very much increased in his feelings of nonattachment. In collecting the material to be a major-vows holder, Maharaj Shanti Sagar greatly increased his spiritual ability. While moving in routine course, Maharaj came over to Parnal village where the celebrations of Panch Kalyan Pratishtha Mahotsava of Lord Jinendra-a big religious rite) were going on Digambar mendicant Shri Devendra Kirti Maharaj was also there. Shri Shanti Sagarji Maharaj requested for Nirgranth DixaPossessionless mendicantship-by placing his head on his feet. The great teacher mendicant Devendra Kirti Maharaj explained him that this was as painful as walking on the edge of a sword, but Shanti Sagarji Maharaj said that he had sufficient power of restraint, celibacy, sympathy, tolerance and
61