Santbal A Saint with a Difference

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir

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article of necessity which is not of immediate use. They cannot put on stitched clothes nor can they use or possess any article of toilet.
Many of these practices are admirable and condusive to a strictly saintly existence. But with the passage of time some of them have not only became obsolete but result in unhygienic conditions and unnecessary torture of the body. However, any change in the later type of practices was vehemently resisted by the whole Sect.
Shri Nanchandraji Maharaj, a versatile Jain Saint who was influenced by the thinking of Shrimad Raichandji, Gandhiji and thinkers like Chhotalal Harjivan (Sushil) and Vadilal M. Shah and whom Santbalji accepted as his “Guru". He was a great reformist, a great orator, a poet and a dramatist and had great hold over Jains as well as non-Jains of the day.
Santbalji was greatly influenced by him and after entering into the order by taking "Diksha” under Shri Nanchandraji Maharaj, he deeply studied all religious scriptures under the guidance of his “Guru”.
It was in 1937 after undergoing deep meditation in loneliness on the banks of the holy river Narmada for long one year constantly remaining under the vow of total silence (Kasta Maun) that he came out with a statement about some deeply-rooted traditions which all Jain saints were expected to observe strictly. This statement contained the following salient points. He said -
1. He would accept alms (Bhiksha) offered with love and devotion by anyone who was completely vegetarian and nonalcoholic irrespective of his caste, creed or religion.
2. He believed that all living beings stood on equal footing and hence the acceptance of customary respect from others resulted only in the increase of the ego in one self. He, therefore, requested
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