Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 58

"Taxila Fão 947#ga niat ?"
Chakravākiva kim chakachakā yate māta. Oh! mother, why are you crying like a Chakravāka bird repeating the sound chaka?
Yakinimahattarā, the holy nun, gave this reply, "TATT ga lasera 1” Nūtana eva chakachakā. yatehantu pratnā. "only those that are new can glitter (chaka also means glitter) but I am old”. Haribhadra accepted defeat and requested her to explain the meaning of the stanza.
Yakinimahattarā said, “It will be better if you obtain an explanation of this stanza from my Gurudev (Preceptor).”
Haribhadra said, “Where is your preceptor? Kindly take me to him at once.” Hearing this, the holy nun set out accompanied by Haribhadra to help him to meet the Gurudev. The holy nun went ahead accompanied by Haribhadra who followed her like a defeated player. After entering the upāshraya (the shelter for Jain ascetics) she saluted the Gurudev with devotion. Haribhadra could understand that the man whom she saluted was her Gurudev.
After Haribhadra explained his desire to know the meaning of the stanza, the Gurudev explained the stanza in great detail. After understanding the meaning of the stanza, according to his vow he became a disciple of that preceptor. He also received deekshã that is a vow to lead a life of austerity and spiritual purity. Gradually, he acquired mastery over the shāstras under the guidance of the Gurudev. Because he possessed exceptional intellectual powers, he very soon became a master of the shăstras. Seeing that Haribhadra deserved it, the Gurudev elevated him to the place of an Acharya (Preceptor) and he became famous as a great Jain Achārya (preceptor). He wrote one thousand four hundred and forty-four works on Jain philosophy. While writing, Vritthi on Avashyak Niryukti (a commentary in Sanskrit), he wrote a detailed and a highly emotional explanation of the stanza Chakki