Jains Through Time

Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 98

The Jains through Time
99
the spiritual path. His contribution to the discovery, did not himself shirk from development of society was not only undertaking even the most severe practice revolutionary but also epoch-making of tapa. Upadhyaya Shriji continued his Enraptured by his wisdom and erudition, meditation undaunted, surrounded by lions, Jain society endowed him with the title of tigers and other wild beasts. It was as if the "Upadhyaya'. The University of Agra divine rays of friendship made the awarded him the honorary degree of atmosphere overflow with love and *D.Litt.' In recognition of his service to the fearlessness. During this period of nation, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime contemplation, Mahavir's message of Minister of India, conferred upon him the welfare for all, that had once echoed title of Rashtrasant (National Saint). And in through these very mountain ranges and all this approbation, it seems as if the awards awakened a spiritual consciousness in many themselves, because they adorned his people, stirred Gurudev from within. It was glorious person, were vouchsafed greater in those blessed moments that Pujya worth.
Gurudev made an iron resolve; he decided
to reach out to each and every human heart He spent a chaturmas (a four-month period), with Mahavir's message of compassion - a in the Saptparni cave on the Vaibhargiri message that is today sadly confined to a Hills in the Rajgir region. There he led the relatively small number of people. A promise life of an ascetic, observing a vow of silence like his, made with total sincerity and and spending many hours in meditation. He commitment, can never go unfulfilled. also subjected himself to long periods in the Today Veerayatan symbolises the vow made scorching heat of the sun. Onlookers were by that pious saint. bewildered at seeing that a saint of such high scholastic ability could also follow the Ordinary beings dream in their sleep, but path of meditation and the austere life. This great men and saintly souls dream even spiritual being, who always spoke about self- while they are awake. Nurtured by