Laghurajswami Biography

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 23

indulge in pleasure or lamentation? While resorting to equanimity, forbearance and patience and with faith in soul as laid by the enlightened, if we avail the operative Karma, we do not acquire new ones and those acquired earlier are stripped off. However much we may wish, the embodiment is not going to continue after the age span is over. In that case why indulge in hurting the soul by remaining in delusive attachment for the destructible embodiment? Whatever happens, do not keep the mind in any aspect other than soul. By keeping the mind elsewhere this soul has wandered in worldly life for infinitely long period. Now direct the inclination towards what has been heard from the saintly person, what he has said regarding the importance of soul and about Atmasiddhi. Resort to the pure nature and maintain continual awareness. That is worth doing. If you do that much, you purpose will be served, you will attain the ecstatic death."
That nun also had got the faith that whatever the great man said was true; that was worth resorting to and that constituted the path of liberation. In his absence also she used to ponder over his instructions and to abide by the same. She frequently used to say, "This is not my settee, these are not my clothes, this body is not mine. Nothing belongs to me; everything is to be left behind. The soul as realized and experienced by the enlightened is true; it is eternal, blissful and worth resorting to.” She survived for twenty-one days on water. Lallujiswämi used to see her daily and nourished her spirit with right instructions of maintaining patience and forbearance. He also used to read to her the letter of Six Fundamentals, Atmasiddhi, Apporva Avasar etc. and advised her to firmly remain at the shelter of saint and to retain the sense of Self. Later on, he had said on many occasions that she had died in quietude and was destined to a higher state of existence.
Since her fast unto death continued for twenty-one days, everyone in the village knew about it. Driven by animosity towards Jainism, one of them wrote to the Government that one woman was starved to death. Thereupon the District Collector had been there to inquire in the matter. The village people told him that it was the case of voluntarily giving up of food by the nun. Their religion stipulates for adopting such a vow at the time of impending death. Lallujiswämi used to go to her for that very purposes and no force was exerted on her. Thus they courteously gave farewell to the Collector by satisfying his mind.
On the way back Lallujiswämi proceeded towards Gujarat by the same route of hills and forests that he had traversed for going to South. This time also he encountered hardship similar to what he had experienced while going to South. Chaturlälji and Mohanlälji were with him. The former was moving ahead with the bowls for alms and other articles of use, and the remaining two were following him. The distance between the two had increased by the time they came near Kosambä. All of a sudden, two aborigines turned out. One of them pulled the shoulder of Chaturlälji from behind and felled him down. All the bowls that he had were broken down. Then one of the attackers got over Chaturlalji's feet and the other on his chest. Thereupon Chaturlälji collected all his strength, threw them off his body and stood up. While he was then reproaching them while holding their hands, Mohanlälji arrived. As the attackers noticed that Lallujiswämi also was following, they adopted the mild attitude and entreated to let them go. Meanwhile Lallujiswämi arrived; he gave them the right advice and let them go.
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While thus undergoing different types of experiences on the way the monks reached Narodä and passed the monsoon of 1903 there. During that period liberation-seekers from Ahmedabad and other places used to go there for getting in contact with the monks. After the end of monsoon the monks went on a pilgrimage to Ränakpur near Sädadi in Märwäd. As one animus person came to know of their plan, he went to Sädadi and told the people that some Sthänakwäsi monks were to arrive there, but they should not be offered food, water etc. because they had diverted from the path. He convinced the people that giving help to those monks would involve Mithyätva (the wrong perception).
When the monks arrived at Ränakpur, they went to the temple for bowing and devotion and then went for alms. Not only did they fail to get any food in alms, they did not get even water. Some persons were taking bath with warm water. One monk asked for that water, but they declined to offer it. The next day also the monks had the same experience. Thereupon other monks thought to move from that place; Lallujiswami was, however, of firm opinion that the true mode of renouncement lay in facing the hardships that come over; to be frightened of the hardship or running away from that is cowardice. On the third day too they did not get even water. They had thus to observe three days' fast without water.