Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 236

would pay their respects to those ascetics by offering them various foods and services. The devotees of those ascetics, with great pride, would praise their teacher in front of the Votaries (Jain laymen) and ask them, “Do any of your teachers have such miraculous power?" Seeing the Votaries fall silent to their question, they would become all the more enthusiastic and boast further, “There is no such magical power or greatness either in your religion or in your Gurus that equals the austerities practised or the miracles performed by our Guru. In fact, our Guru is God incarnate. With face bowed, bow in front of him with devotion.”
The sarcastic words of the devotees of the ascetics hurt the feelings of the Votaries. At that time, rya Samita Sri, the disciple of rya Simhagiri and the maternal uncle of rya Vajra arrived at Acalapura. The group of Votaries venerated rya Samita and later narrated the incidence about the ascetics walking on the river waters as if they were walking on the ground. rya Samita was silent for a few moments. The Votaries pleaded again, "Lord! The influence of Jain religion on the common man is deteriorating. We request you to please come out with an idea by which the Jain Dharma can impress the people more.”
rya Samita S ri replied with a smile, “It is not because of the austerities that those ascetics are walking on the water, but because of the effect of the lotion that they are applying to their feet. They are unnecessarily fooling the innocent people”
The votaries were determined to prove that the supernatural illusion created by those ascetics is not exceptional and so they invited all the saints including their chief for a feast. The next day when all the ascetics arrived for the feast, the votaries started washing the feet of the saints with warm water. The Chief of the ascetics tried to prevent the votaries from washing their feet, but they did not listen to him. “We would acquire great sin, if we offer food without washing the lotus feet of great people like you” - thus saying, the votaries in a seemingly devout manner scrubbed and washed the feet of all the ascetics.
After the feast, the ascetics set out towards their convent. On the pretext of seeing them off with honour, the votaries had already mobilised
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