________________
Thinking aloud ...
It is indeed a blessed occasion for me, today:
Today I have got an opportunity to clear the debts of my teachers and my elders. I am fortunate to inherit the invaluable heritage of spirituality from my respected father, the roots of which were duly watered by revered Tarabai Mahasatiji (my father's sister). She awakened me and the Gujarati Swetamber Sthanakwasi Jain Association was established in Madras. With its establishment came the association and responsibility of serving Jain Sadhus (monks) and Sadhvis (nuns), which brought me closer to them.
Only in 1979, Gujarati sadhvijis came for the first time to south India. All our brothers of the Jain Association approached Bala Brahmacharini, Adhyatma Jogini, revered Lalitabai Mahasatiji of Gondal Sampradaya at Kolhapur and requested her to come to Madras. Coming to Madras meant treading on unfamiliar and unknown pastures and in spite of the language of the South and other problems, they accepted our humble offer and gratified us by giving their consent to come down to South. In due course she came to Madras along with her group of other virtuous sadhvijis.
I was enamoured and impressed by her in the very first acquaintance. Her simple but inspiring speech touched the very core of my heart. She was accompanied by her bright pupils revered Dr. Tarulatabai, revered Jasumatibai and other Mahasatijis. The eloquence and discourses of Dr. Tarulatabai Mahasatiji delivered during the Chaturmasa impressed me very much. My thirst for right knowledge grew intense in her association and I tried to enhance the same. The responsibility of the Association and the blessings of the revered Sadhvijis enabled us to undertake and organise the initiation (Diksha) ceremony of Shwetabai at Madras in 1981.
Jain Educationa international
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org