Santbal A Saint with a Difference

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

Page 38

Seeking Permission for Diksha :
Before entering the Jain order of Saints one has to take permission of all near relatives. Lord Mahavira himself delayed his Diksha twice - once on the persuasion of his dear mother, and thereafter on the persuasion of his elder brother. True to this tradition, Shivlal had to obtain the permission of all those who were interested in him. This was surely a very difficult task involving a lot of emotions because when one enters the order, he is permanently lost to the family.
Shivlal's mother's mother Ujam Ma had reared Shivlal throughout his school days and was very fond of him. Hearing the news about Shivlal's Diksha, she had practically lost her balance and was asking every relative to persuade her “Shiva" (as she dearly called him) not to enter into the order of Saints and thus to forsake all of them. She was honestly believing that her “Shiva” had come under the spell of some evil spirit. She called Amritlal, the son of her sister from Jamnagar and asked him to disuade Shivlal. Amritlal, however, persuaded Ujam Ma and impressed upon her that Shivlal was not under the spell of any evil spirit and that he was on the path which would bring glory to the whole family. He called Shivlal to see Ujam Ma personally. When Shivlal came to see her, both wept heartily. Other family members who resisted the idea were persuaded to permit Shivlal to go the way he wished. Shivlal's maternal uncle was another person who could not control his emotions as he had not only educated Shivlal but had seen him being settled in Bombay and Shivlal was respecting him as his elder brother. Shivlal thereafter gave a spiritual discourse at Balambha Upashraya which moved the hearts of every listeners.
Still there remained two important persons whose permission was essential. They were: 1. Maniben, the sister and 2. the lady with whom Shivlal was engaged. There was unalloyed love
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