Laghurajswami Biography

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 24

By that time a Sangh (Group of religious people on a pilgrimage) from Khambhät arrived at Ränakpur. Before taking food they thought of offering the same to some monk, if there be any. When they came to know that Lallujiswämi and other monks were there, those people respectfully called the monks and devotionally offered food and water.
After completing the pilgrimage the monks moved from Märwäd and came to Palanpur. Pitämbardäs Mehta, the chief of Sthänakwäsi sect of that place, came to see them. While talking to them he learnt that the monks had been on a pilgrimage. He thus made out that they had changed the faith. Sthänakwäsis do not believe in worshipping the idols and do not go to temples. In order therefore to reproach the monks he said, "Monks, nuns, laymen and lay women are the only four abodes of pilgrimage; from where did you get the fifth? If the monks start moving this way, how can the lay people retain their faith? Where is the scope for monastic code, when you behave contrary to the words of Lords?" He thus said a lot out of excitement and irritation, but the monks remained silent.
At night Pitämbardäs thought, 'Today I bitterly talked to the monks, but they did not utter a word and held forbearance. In scriptures it is said that Indra (Heavenly king) had praised the forbearance of Nami Räjarshi by pointing out that he had overcome anger as well as arrogance. Today those words became manifest to me. The monks showed evident forbearance. I indulged in terrific anger, showered bad words; but they remained unaffected. In the morning I should better beg their pardon. Accordingly he went to the monks early in the morning, devotionally bowed to them and begged their pardon.
From Palanpur Lallujiswämi and other monks went to Pälitänä and from there to Junagadh to climb Mt. Girnär. The ascent was tough, yet several pilgrims were going up to the fifth Tunk (Summit). Lallujiswami was ahead of them and was encouraging them to climb up. Meanwhile he noticed a cave. It was said that an ascetic used to stay there earlier, but since then no one could pass the night in the cave. In spite of being forbidden, a monk once stayed there overnight; he was found in a bad state in the morning and he died. On hearing it Lallujiswämi thought to stay there overnight; though forbidden by the liberation-seekers he stayed in the cave together with Mohanlälji. Others climbed down the hill and went to Junagadh.
During the night both the monks started reciting devotional songs. Meanwhile there arose a thundering noise as if the rocks were rolling down. Thereupon the monks started reciting the songs aloud. After a while they heard thunders similar to the lightening strikes. The monks did not direct attention thereto and enthusiastically continued the devotion to Guru. Thereafter they passed some time in question-answers. Mohanlälji was asking the questions and Lallujiswami was replying. During the latter part of the night Lallujiswämi spent the time in meditation, while Mohanlälji continued to chant the Mantra. In the morning they came out and inquired about the terrific sounds, but they did not get any clue. Thereafter they spent the second and third night also there, but did not come across any problem as in the first one.
After leaving Junägadh Lallujiswami went to Dhandhukä and passed the monsoon of 1904 there. During that time Ambälälbhäi and other liberation-seekers from Viramgäm, Ahmedabad and Vatäman had gone there to get in contact with him and stayed there for 15 days on the occasion of Paryushan Parva. Some of them were absorbed in devotion and its impact stayed with them till the end of their lives.
The leading persons of Bhävsär community belonging to Sthänakwäsi sect of Dhandhukä once came to Lallujiswämi and expressing their faith in him they asked, "Is it necessary to believe in idol? Is idol worship specified in the scriptures? We do not know about it, yet do not go to temples. We would abide by your advice." Lallujiswämi replied, "The scriptures specify the idols; the idol worship is beneficial and insisting on not going to temples needs to be given up. We also go to temple for devotion and bowing. You should better know about it at length during some wholesome contact."
Accordingly the thirty Bhävsär families changed their faith from Sthänakwäsi to Deräwäsi (Temple goers), but on account of the loss of right contact thereafter they reverted to the original faith. While changing the faith they should have gone for self-awakening. That was left out and what actually happened was similar to a person, who would move from one side to the other during the sleep, but does not wake up.
Dhärashibhäi, who was a student of Karma philosophy, had been to Dhandhukä for getting in contact with