Treasure Of Qualities Introduction to Inspiring Life of Acharya Vijaydharmsuri Maharaj

Author(s): Prashamratnavijay
Publisher: Dharmkrupa Trust

Page 67

15
A visit to Pen...
Pacifies the fire of long-term anger!
Pen is a small village located near the Pune city of Maharashtra. A century ago, it was quite a distant place from the Highway and hence was a part of the interior remote areas of the state. In VS 2006, when Pratapsuri Maharaj had arrived here for the very 1st time, the villagers use to say that they hadn't noticed even single Sadhu Bhagwant in their area from the last 100 years! There were a few Jain residents in Pen surrounded all around by the Maharashtra and Adivasi rural tribes. During his vihar, Pratapsuri Maharaj inspired the Jain Shravak of Pen to construct a Jain Temple in the village and held 'Pratistha' (stationing an idol) ceremony of the Aadinath Bhagwaan and other 2-3 idols. The festival was solemnized with extreme joy and day by day, the villagers started witnessing their prosperity and all round upliftment. The arrival of god's idols lead to the peace and progress of a particular area. The devotees would spend 2-3 hours daily in the morning devoting in front of the wonderful idol placed in the temple by the guidance of Pratapsuri Maharaj. But
48
once after 11 years, the position of idol was shaken a devotee by mistake. There was a need of a new Pratistha again and the ceremonies related to that were organized by the temple Trustees. Dharmasuri Maharaj was requested to provide his convivial presence for the occasion. Hence in VS 2017/1961, he visited Pen again, this time not as a small Maharaj, but as the director of the Pratistha ceremony! Shravak organized a grand procession for his welcome. Everyone was trying to grab his attention towards him for receiving his blessings, but he was busy looking for the person who was missing between the crowd and he was, a Rajasthani Shravak belonging to the Shivganj village. People had already informed Dharmasuri Maharaj that this gentleman might take no part in any of the functions related to the temple, but still Dharmasuri Maharaj was having sight of hope in the heart that at least, today in his shame, he might arrive today. But no! As people had predicted he was absent! Alas, Not only the functions, but also the Temple itself was never visited by the Rajasthani Shravak