Life of Shrimad Rajchandra

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 93

It is mentioned in the scriptures that the Lord was sitting on a Pudhvi Sheelä (stone-slab). Referring to it, he said that the slab on which he was sitting was Pudhvi Sheelä and gave some description thereof. Then he began to read about the description of the slab from Bruhad Dravyasangrah (Greater compilation of the basic substances). He had brought the book from Digambar Jain library of Idar. He read about half of it. That time an extraordinary sense of detachment was prevailing amongst the monks and they felt delighted at heart by virtue of devotion for the true Guru.
As such, Devkaranji said, "Why need we now go to the town?"
Shrimad: "Who asks you to go there?"
Devkaranji: "What is the alternative? Monks also have the stomach"
Shrimad: "To a monk the stomach exists for the sake of social well being. Had there not been the stomach, no monk would go to the populace. He would stay in a cave and would move in the forest with total detachment. In that case, he could not be helpful to the people. The stomach has therefore been given for the well being of populace."
Then he asked the monks, "How is it that the ascetics talk of getting experience of illumination etc. during meditation? As none of us could give the reply, he said:
"An ascetic can visualize whatever he contemplates about during meditation. For instance, if he contemplates during meditation about the soul as being a huge buffalo with size of the tail as large as this slab, the ascetic can visualize the soul of that type. But that is not soul; what knows that, is soul."
After explaining that he give clarification about the subtle alterations in the state of liberated ones and said, “By virtue of omniscience they know about our being seated here. When we move from here, they know that. Alterations thus continue to take place in their state."
By that time it was 1.00 P.M. We therefore walked towards the town along with Shrimad. During the walk as he started chanting the first stanza of Dravyasangrah, a divine tune prevailed roundabout. We were absorbed in the delight emanating from his voice as a snake oscillates his fang with concentration at the tune of a flute. That stanza is as under.
Jivamajivam Davvam, Jinavaravasahena Jena Niddittham; Devindavindvandam, Vande Te Savvada Sirasä
I always bow with my head down to the omniscient Lord, who indicated the nature of the sentient as well as the insentient matter and to whom bow the assemblage of heavenly beings.
The fourth day
In the afternoon he sent Thäkarshi to Upäshray and called for all seven of us. Accordingly we went with him and saw graceful Guide at the foot of the hill. Before climbing up, he sent Thäkarshi to fetch the keys of the temples and meanwhile we sat at his feet. That time Mohanlalji said: “I take more time in tying Muhapatti after the meal and my guru gives me penalty for that." On hearing that Shrimad asked all of us to remove Muhapatti and told us not to tie it within 40 miles of Idar. If anyone asked about that, we were advised to satisfy him by explaining it peacefully.
As Thäkarshi came back with the keys, we were once again asked to go to the temples on the hill and he went back to the town. We went up with Thäkarshi and offered obeisance to the idols in both the temples. Then we visited the cave of Bhuräbäva and the places at the top of the hill where the graceful Guide had moved, where he had concentrated, meditated etc. We were delighted to view those places and therefore circumscribed and devotionally prayed at those