Laghurajswami Biography

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 35

mentioned, "After the morning routine Laghuräjswämi used to go to woods for natural call etc. and come back after two hours. In the evening he used to give religious talks. During the monsoon some people from Charotar area came to see him and to get in his contact."
It is seen from the letter of Ratnaräjshri that Laghuräjswämi was facing several physical problems. "I am sad to know that the great Lord has been facing double/triple afflictions ... There is a letter from Khambhät indicating the desire to see you."
By the end of 1916 he had written, "Lord, at present I am not able to use the tongue and hope that it would start functioning by virtue of your grace... The shelter of your hand is the source of cool shadow to me." About Laghuräjswämi he had poetically mentioned as under.
'I would be at the service of one, who gives up the worldly connections and stays devoted to me. Lord, we are yours and try to behave as you like.... You are our Guru and the source of wholesome contact.'
During the first quarter of 1917 Laghurăjswämi wrote to him, “For a layman the worldly life is a practicality, since, however, Vrundävan is not the world, where is the scope for practicality there?"
"It's a great pleasure to learn from Siddhapur that your tongue has started functioning.... Please do in a way that gives credit to the path of Graceful Lord.... I would not come in the way. I do not have any objection to Popatbhäi's meeting with you. I would be happy, if Jayvijayji, Mohanlälji and others work united and peacefully.... I am looking for retreat and want to come in less contact with liberation-seeking males as well as females.... I also want to restrain the correspondence."
During the latter part of 1917 he wrote, "On account of arthritis I happen to stumble down while trying to stand up or sit down... Our role is simply to observe without getting perturbed. There is no other inconvenience. ... It has not been possible to write because of the tendency to stay within. Letters are received from many places, but it is not possible to give replies. I do not know what happens to them. My mind does not go to what liberation-seekers might be thinking. Peace prevails here, 'Be with your Self, what is the purpose for else?”
14
Before the end of 1917 Laghuräjswämi went to Chäraniyä and after staying there for a month he went to Rajkot. There he performed devotional worship at the place where Shrimad had given up the body. Then he met Ratnaräjshri at Umardashi and proceeded towards Charotar. Since the followers of Chatotar had to face his separation for four years, they had been urging him to return to Charotar. Accordingly Laghuräjswämi thought to go to När. By the time, however, he reached Agäs, the liberation-seekers of Kävithä сame there and took him to Kävithä. Kalyanjibhäi and others had accompanied him up to that place. After staying at Kävithä for about a week he went to När.
Due to the circumstances prevailing four years before, he had to leave Charotar. That situation was now changing and it seemed that the devotional approach was rising again in that area. That was similar to the rise of dawn after the night. Liberation-seekers from other villages also started coming to När in order to see him. Ranchhodbhäi had business partners. With their consent he could stay with Laghuräjswämi most of the time and draw new liberationseekers towards the path of devotion. The physical, verbal, intellectual and monetary resources, which are instrumental in spreading the ascetic force of the saintly being, began to rise spontaneously.
At the insistence of a follower Laghuräjswämi went from När to Simardä. After staying there for a few days he went to Kävitha. There he stayed for about two weeks, during which devotional worship was performed day and night. Before the monsoon period he went back to När and passed the monsoon there. There were many enthusiastic liberation-seekers and Manibhäi also used to come there oft and on. All of them thought that due to the old age and ill-health of Laghuräjswämi, it was necessary to construct a cottage or other residence for him. As such, they opened a monk-servicing account and urged the people to contribute. About Rs. 5000/- were collected for the purpose during that monsoon and in consultation with Ranchhodbhäi it was planned to construct a structure at a convenient place.