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254
JAIN RAMAYAN
they fasted even for eight days and some times they fasted for a whole month. After performing the fasts, they used to fly to distant places to carry out the completion ceremonies. After the completion ceremony was over, they used to return to the mountain-cave near Mathura.
On account of the efficacy of the spiritual austerities carried out by the Munis, the pestilence disappeared. The power of Chamarendra decreased day by day and finally disappeared. The whole city was pervaded with the spiritual radiance of the Munis. Thus human beings achieved a victory over a god.
Sometime later, the seven Munis went to Ayodhya to carry out the completion ceremony of their tapascharya. They went to the house of Shri Arhad Datta Shreshti for Biksha. Seeing the Munis who had come to his house during the rainy season. Arhad Datta began to think.
"What kind of Sadhus are these who keep travelling during the Chaturmas ?" His mind was filled with many kinds of doubts and fears. He continued to think. "These Sadhus have not been staying at Ayodhya. That is certain. They seem to be some pretenders in the guise of Munis. Yet let me know their whereabouts. It is necessary to know all details about them before coming to any conclusion about them. But what is the use of knowing those details? No. No. It is a sin even to converse with such cheats. So, instead of conversing with them, it is better not to see even their faces." While Arhad Shreshti was thinking thus, his daughter-in-law gave Biksha to the munis.
The Munis, went to the Upashray of an Acharya by name Dhyuti who was spending the Chaturmas in Ayodhya. As soon as the Acharya saw the Munis, he stood up; moved forward a few steps; and received them. He entreated them to be seated and made polite enquiries about their health. The Munis had their food in Acharya Dhyuti's Upashray. Eventhough, the Acharya honoured the Munis, his disciples did not salute them; and instead of honouring them, they ignored them because they
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