Santbal A Saint with a Difference

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

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between the brother and sister. In a Hindu society the existence of a brother has a very special significance to the sister and more so after father has died. When both met at the time Shivlal came to obtain her permission, Maniben could not utter her words properly but blessed him to seek the welfare of his soul. In the subsequent life she served the Saint Santbal personally for a number of years, with love and devotion.
Shivlal then went to his in-laws family to take their leave as also the leave of his fiancee with whom he was engaged. Her name was Diwali. When both met for the purpose, she could not utter a sentence and stared silently at the ground below. Shivlal reminded her of the lovely story of Nemi-Rajul. Neminath, a cousin of Lord Krishna, is considered 22nd Tirthankar (Prophet) of Jains. Story about him is that he was engaged to Rajul, a beautiful Princess of Mathura. When the marriage of both was fixed, Neminath was going in procession to bride's place for marriage ceremony. On his way he heard the cries of cattle. So he inquired about it and came to know that there was cattle pound where several cattle were herded for slaughter for his marriage feast. This large-scale violence on the occasion of his marriage greatly upset the kind heart of Neminath. Inner search and introspection started in his mind and seeing the futility of worldly affairs, he ordered his charioteer to return back even as his arrival was eagerly awaited at the place of marriage. Neminath, disgusted with the ways of the world, had decided to renounce the worldly affairs and to enter into the order of Jain Saints. When this news was received by his fiancee, the Princess Rajul, she was shocked. Initially she resented at Nemi's action but ultimately she realised the wisdom of the course adopted by her fiance and she also decided to renounce the world by taking Diksha. There is a beautiful episode which describes how she subsequently brought her brother-in-law Rathnemi, who had also taken Diksha, but who accidently met her in a lonely cave of Mount Girnar and became
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