Book Title: Jains Through Time
Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

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Page 163
________________ The Jains through Time 164 down about five feet, when water began to who had come out to find Sadhvishri seep through into the hole. As the well got Chandanaji and to protect the other sadhvis. deeper, so did the problem of paying the This outrage against such a holy person workers' wages. There was no money for revealed the utter ruthlessness and them, but Sadhvishri, a woman of fiendishness of the dacoits. After this awful tremendous faith, believed that everything experience, the sadhvis were left with no would be settled by some means or other change of clothing, nor any food other than She sustained the work at a steady pace. a khichari of red wheat. But the holy Ganges of their enthusiasm, instead of drying up, The Path of Heroes is a Path of flowed yet faster, and the inner Gangotri Thorns glacier of their commitment remained as Though the path was thorny, the ground pure as ever. uneven, and the days ahead difficult, Sadhvishri never tired, forging ahead at When they heard about the disaster, many every stage. At eleven o'clock on the night of the devotees gathered round and cried of 11 April 1974, the group of sadhvis was out, "Abandon Rajgir!" At that time attacked by a band of dacoits. Breaking Gurudev was in Benares on his way to down the door of the women's residence, Rajgir. He heard the news of the calamity these cloaked and hooded men, some that had befallen the sadhvis. His heart full wielding guns and some carrying heavy of compassion, he immediately sent a letter sticks, entered with fearsome shouts and to Sadhvishri with a disciple. It said, "Leave carried off every single moveable object. Rajgir. We will choose some other place." They forced the sadhvis to hand over the Sadhvishri replied to the Gurudev's keys to the office safe and cleared that out as message, “Pujya Gurudev, you know that well. As they left the house, these violent your every word is my command! But a men beat that model of gentleness, decision once made cannot be altered. Gurumata Shri Sumati Kunwarji Maharaj, Whatever has begun here with your blessing Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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