Laghurajswami Biography

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 42

life of a deserving being. Brahmachäriji was so impressed by Prabhushri's explanation of Tali Swachcchand Ne Pratibandh (Removal of self-indulgence and obstacles) that he became eager to get rid of the family-ties and other bondages so as to stay at the service of Prabhushri and pass the life under his shelter. That eagerness can be seen from the following extracts of his letter addressed to his elder brother.
"I have been living for the endeavor to seek and attain Truth. I am now eager to give up everything else so as to deserve full elevation... By giving up the family forever and treating the entire world as the family I want to prepare myself to live for the rest of life as per commands of the Graceful Lord ... After leaving the family if I do not get the instruction to join the Ashram, I do not intend to wander as a mendicant. It would, however, be acceptable to me to resort to the measures that he (Prabhushri) would indicate for deserving the same. Hence I want to talk to him after getting freed from other encumbrances. ... I would be totally satisfied whether he asks me to go to Käshi for further study or entrusts me with the trifling task of ringing the bell or of cleaning the garbage. I know that my well being lies in carrying out his commands. ... I want to spend the remaining years of my life for my benefit, or say, for rendering service to the Ashram or to the world at large. In short I want to give up the home and become a monk in order to undertake the true duty of servicing everyone. ... I have no concept of being a saint, sage or of occupying any position. Since long I have been thinking of remaining at the service of all, of being a truth-seeker. Now I want to do that."
As he gained the consent of his brother, he resigned from the job and adopted servicing Prabhushri after getting his directive. Prabhushri administered to him the vow of celibacy. Thereafter the latter incessantly stayed at his service. In early morning at 3.00 A.M. he would be reading to him Gommatsär and other sacred books. Thereafter he would undertake the devotional ritual and then stay at the service for the entire day. After the evening worship he used to read to Prabhushri up to 11.00 P.M. Thereafter he remained busy writing the diary, extracting quotations, collating, writing, making translations and giving replies to the letters as directed by Prabhushri. If a truth-seeker came to Prabhushri for getting Mantra, he would normally ask Brahmachäriji to do that.
Normally everyone is within the grip of his family religion. It is difficult to give it up and to adopt faith in the eternal true religion explained by the enlightened. The ascetic force of the enlightened, his esteem is, however, so great that it induces the people towards the true religion. Such capability of Prabhushri now became evident. He directed many Jains as well as others towards the true religion. While giving them Smaran Mantra, he induced them to give up seven addictions and seven non-eatable articles of food. He administered the vows for the purpose and turned their inclination towards devotion of the Lords.
Many truth-seekers adopted the vow of celibacy under his inspiration. Some males adopted it for the life and stayed at the service of Prabhushri. Several girls were so impressed that they also adopted celibacy for life. Even some young couples developed detachment for the worldly pleasure. They adopted celibacy and dedicated their lives in spiritual pursuit.
Separate arrangements were made for the male celibates, who had dedicated their lives to Ashram. Similarly separate residence was provided for the celibate females. Many other spiritual aspirants adopted various types of restraints and stayed in the Ashram. There were also a few laymen, who had developed detachment. They started living in Ashram along with their families while observing restraints. They used to lead the life of retirement and spend their time in elevating their spiritual state. A few dozen people thus began to live permanently in Ashram. It thus became the lively abode of wholesome contact and devotion.
With the increase in the number of inmates, Ashram was expanded with construction of additional rooms and buildings. In due course there was constructed a Jain temple with the steeple. Therein were installed Shwetämbar as well as Digambar idols as per instructions of Shrimad. The installation ceremony was performed in the middle of 1928 under the protective umbrella of Prabhushri.
In the basement of the temple there is a Gurumandir, in which was installed the idol of Shrimad along with Aumkär Mantra on the day of the said installation. Shrimad's footprints on the other side had already been installed in 1926. The assembly hall, lecture hall and library building were also constructed in order to accommodate the needs of increasing number of liberation-seekers. Moreover, an idol of Shrimad made of five non-ferrous metals was installed during 1932 in a mini temple above the gateway.