I am The Soul Part 02

Author(s): Tarulatabai Mahasati
Publisher: Shri Gujarati Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Association

Page 10

Reflections of 'The Self'
It is a matter of great joy that revered Tarulatabai Mahasatiji selected the Atmasiddhi Shastra for her lectures during the Chaturmasa of Samwat 2041.
Jaina sadhus and sadhvis are constantly on the move, they stay in a place for four months during the chaturmasa. Sermons are delivered everyday in the morning for four consecutive months. Each day a new topic is introduced and commented upon avoiding repetition. A work or two is selected in accordance with one's taste and ability to comment upon. The Uttaradhyayana Sutra, Dasavaikalika Sutra, Jnatadharma Katha Sutra, Kalpa Sutra, Yogadrasti Samuccaya, Samaradityakatha, Yogashastra, etc. may be taken up during the discourse. Smaller the work, greater is the demand on art and ability to comment and analyse its meaning.
Revered Tarulatabai Mahasatiji selected Atmasiddhi Shastra, a work in 142 couplets for her lectures, which goes to prove her eloquence. It is not an easy task to deliver lectures on the above work, which is highly spiritual and philosophical in its content. Any one can deviate from the topic and pass the time of the sermons. Only a person who has read widely, practises meditation and other spiritual pursuits alone can analyse and comment upon a subject of this kind. One of the Jaina sadhus, late Tattvananda Shri Vijayji Maharaj some times chose the “Namaskara Mahamantra' for the chaturmasa sermons. He used to comment upon the nine padas of it from different stand-points, avoiding repetition and bringing to light a new meaning of the same. The audience found his discourses interesting and inspiring.
Revered Tarulatabai Mahasatiji has secured Ph.D., from the Bombay University. She made a comparative study of the spiritual literature of saint poets and this proves her interest in