Jain Journal 1995 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 10

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JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995
meal. This is also called "Antaraya" (obstruction). Inspite of the many precautions taken by Śrāvakas (followers of Jainism) nearly for a year there were enough obstructions while taking food. She was not getting even one meal per week without Antaraya. It is due to this she became very weak and was even anameic. This had not affected Mother's willpower. But the Acarya became worried at her condition. Nobody had heard of the Acarya discussing any Mantra of Tantra. But as a treatment for this trouble, he directed the Mother Āryikā to hymn one line of Śantimantra everybody. But the mother humbly, but at the same time firmly, refused to do this. This was the first and last order of her teacher which she denied to obey. The Ascetic Mother's reply was straightforward: "Is it worth repeating this word for a piece of bread?" Acarya always used to admire her firmness. This problem subsided automatically in course of time.
As per the rules of the sangha, immediately after dikṣā, the mother's regular study of sastras started. Śrutasagara ascetic taught her Jaina Karma-theory while Ajitasāgara ascetic taught her Sanskrit and grammar. Regarding the study of Jaina mathematics and the theory of the Satkhandagama, Brahmacāri Ratanchand Mukhtyar guided her. By hard work the Mother became a good scholar in these fields.
6. The beginning of literary endeavours
Immediately after she became thorough with the Jain Agamas and Karma-theory, she started literary works and thus did service to Lord Jina. In this direction she achieved success and one began to expect many more fruitful works from her in future also. After writing short articles for the common people, she successfully completed the commentary work in Hindi on the famous Jaina Cosmological work the Trilokasāra of Acārya Nemicandra Siddhanta (c. 11th century A.D). The Mother gave simple explanation for many of the difficult aspects in the work. Her talent was very well-exhibited here. After this she translated the well-known Sanskrit work Siddhantasāra Dipika of Bhaṭṭāraka Sakalakīrti Acārya into Hindi. This work consisting of nearly four thousand verses was made available to the public for svadhyāya (self-study).
After completing these two works, she took up the difficult task of translating into Hindi the well-known Prakrit work the Tiloyapannatti of Yativṛṣabhācārya (c. 4th-5th centuries A.D). This work was previously translated into Hindi by Pandit Balchandra Shastri. This was edited by H.L. Jain and A.N. Upadhye and was published by Jivarāja Granthamālā, Sholapur, in two volumes (1943, 1951). These books are now out of print. This is one of the most ancient Jaina texts