Laghurajswami Biography

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 27

staying at the service of Lallujiswämi. It was therefore decided that all the monks should pass the monsoon of 1910 together at Pälitänä.
Before going to Pälitänä Ratnaräjshri and other monks had been to Mahetaränä on a pilgrimage. There he gave up the Sthänakwäsi dress, stopped tying Muhpatti to the mouth and adopted peacock feather in place of whisk. Peacock feather being less cumbersome and helpful in maintaining vigilance, it was adopted by all the monks. Ratnaräjshri was a good orator. By virtue of his impressive talks he could satisfy the minds of everyone and could effectively counter all sorts of criticism. On account of his presence in that monsoon other monks had thus no reason to worry.
At Mahetaränä Ranaräjshri had adopted five rules. Their significance had been repeatedly discussed among the monks. As such, those rules had become common among them. They were as under.
I shall not hold the name that does not correspond to my attributes.
I shall not be lax in endeavor for developing the required attributes.
I shall not enter into disputes about the nature of soul with so-called mendicants.
I shall not raise objection, if one undertakes devotional service as per his tradition.
I shall not desire to get reward for benevolence towards anyone and shall not desire to get service from one, whose sense of service might have gone down. I shall serve with the sense of servicing, and shall not desire or accept anything done by others without the sense of servicing.
In light of the rule number four if someone worshipped with sandalwood, flowers etc. he had to be allowed to do so. Lallujiswämi had no intention to be worshipped. In order, however, not to be an obstacle in the matter he accepted the same as a bitter peel. Such comfortable distress serves as a test for capability to undergo internal austerity. It became handy to those with hostile attitude in raising distress, obstruction etc. That created tough situation for the monks and became instrumental for them to observe the austerity.
Lallujiswämi and other monks passed the monsoon of 1910 together at Pälitänä. They had decided not to enter into controversy with anyone. As such, they did not respond even when the monks and laymen criticized their strange garb with peacock feather etc. They treated it as unheard and did not keep it in mind.
At Pälitänä a Kutchi person named Shivji had set up Jain Boarding House and had organized there 'Veer Atthai Mahotsav' (Eight days festival for Lord Mahaveer). The monks used to go there and have talks with Shivji; but the significance of their esteem, which arises out of the intimate contact, did not occur to him during that monsoon. He could simply accept them as straightforward and devoted followers of Shrimad. He was, of course, impressed by the talks of Ratnarajshri and considered it significant. Later on he had stayed at Siddhapur Ashram for a couple of months, but his mind did not feel there at rest.
Once a year or so he used to come to Agäs in order to see Lallujiswämi. After 26 years (In 1936) he came to stay there for one month. That time he realized the devotional approach, greatness and broadmindedness of Prabhushri as Laghuräjswämi was known then. When he came in contact with devotees of Dhäman, he could recall the ancient tale of Shrikrishna. Uddhavaji was sent by Shrikrshna to Gokul and had come back highly impacted by the devotional spirit of Gopängnä. Similarly Shivji had been highly impressed by the devotional approach of Lallujiswämi.
Lallujiswämi frequently used to recall the service rendered by Shivji at Pälitänä. The above-said graceful contact for one month seems to have occurred in order to repay that debt. Lallujiswämi could have attracted him to Agäs in his last year for that very purpose. Shivji felt so excited by the devotional approach that he frequently used to sing to liberation-seekers of Agäs the songs like 'Agåsnä Sant' (Saint of Agäs) and 'Mane Malyä Guruvar Jnäni Re' (I got the enlightened Guru) etc. composed by him.
From Pälitänä Lallujiswami and others proceeded towards Khambhät, while Ratnaräjshri went moving around Pälanpur, Deesä etc. For three years thereafter Ratnarajshri was not in contact with Lallujiswämi, but the spirit of devotion that he had gained could not be erased. His devotedness for Shrimad is apparent in his poems like