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release him and said that he would go on fast if he is not freed from jail. The Brahmin was atonce, set free. What a surprising forgiveness and non-violence on the part of Acharya Shri Shanti Sagarji! Once Acharya Shri was performing Samayik (religious rite) in a cave. At this time, thousands and crores of red ants came up on his body and began to suck his blood by severely painful biting. Acharya Shri did not move for about two hours and went on suffering this pain. Afterwards, some Shravakas saw this and they removed the ants by throwing sugar nearby. Maharaj Shri opened his lips only after all the ants were gone away from him. AcharyaShri was performing noon-Samayik in the cave named Kagnoli. At this time a dangerous black snake came over his body and wrapped him. The snake was for more than 20 minutes in this position pressing the body of Acharyaji. Acharyaji, however, maintained Mauna- (non-speaking) and meditation. There have been many such instances in the life of Acharyaji wherein he has been proved to be victorious over rigorous physical pains and mental worries. AcharyaShri had created deep impressions on common people by religious preachings and restrained life. Rulers of Sangli, Faltan, Kolhapur, Pratapgadh, Idar, Dholpur and other states used to come to see him. Even several European officers were also attracted towards Acharyaji. His preachings were highly philosophical; his thinking was of the highest level. He considered people of all religious equally. His disciples had also created very good impressions on the people.
Demise in Meditation: Acharya Shri Shanti Sagarji adopted ultimate vow of Yam-Sannllekhana fast unto death at the closing years of his life. He accepted death bravely. His welcome death was as good as putting up a golden pot on the top of temples. He had adopted 12 year vow of Parmotkrushta-Bhakta-Pratyakhyan named Sannllekhana in the presence of Lord Jinendra in the Gajpantha region and he had stopped taking food since then. Sweets, ghee and salt were discarded right since he had adopted Mooni-Dixa and after some years, he had stopped taking even fruits and vegetables. When his eye sight began to weaken in 1955 AD, he thought that it was then different for him to observe several vows like kindness to animals and several rules of daily routine life. He had, therefore, started preparations to adopt Sannllekhana Vow-fast unto death. In the first eight days, he took only two bits of food every day. Thenafter he took only juice from black grapes for another eight days and after that he used to take water only. He took water at an interval of four days and sometimes after five and six days. This continued for about two months. When he was absolutely weak and unable even to stand without help from someone, he adopted Yama-Sannllekhana called IngitiMaran-Sanyas. He, thus, stopped taking water till the end of his life. He did not take services from others even in his total weakness and continued to be in meditation of soul-salvation and muttering religion phrases and hymns. People were coming for his Darshan-viewing from all corners of India. In these days he was at Kunthalgiri holy place in Sangli District of Maharashtra. More than one lac of people took his Darshan within two months. People considered them to have been purified with his Darshan and held that their lives were fulfilled. Acharya Shri Shanti Sagarji Maharaj breathed his last. It was September 18, 1955 AD. He had touched JinendraMurti with his hand just before five minutes of his passing away and had moved his head towards his feet. He was muttering "Namah Siddhebhya: -"-respects to the Absolute when he breathed last. Acharya Shri Shanti Sagar was an ideal mendicant. This clear from the facts of his life. He had observed rigorous vows and restrained life with total celibacy for about forty years. He had won over his senses and had captured anger, greed, attachments, sensuality, pride desires with six enemies. He remained in peace at all moments of his life. He was in absolute peaceful state even after 55 days
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