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256
The Unknown Pilgrims
Sunandā, her revered mother and guruni.348 The pratisthā-mahotsava, the celebration following the erection of the guru-mandira with caranapādukā, took place in the course of a long ceremony, in which the ritual pūjās prescribed for such an occasion were performed one after another, during the end of the dark fortnight of māgha and the beginning of the bright fortnight of phālguna (end of February - beginning of March) 1976. 349
These samādhi-mandiras are all signs that 'the Desert has bloomed again!'
The Names of the Sixteen Satis
Every day the sādhvis not only sing praise to the tirtharkaras, but also utter the Names of the sixteen Satis, Holy Women venerated in tradition for their virtues, especially for their strength of character in remaining faithful to the vow of chastity taken in youth or to their marriage-vow and for their perseverance later on in renunciation. All these Satis except one, Sulasă, received dikşă.
The recitation with deep faith of these holy Names produces the same effect as a mangala. These Names have, in themselves, a purifying and elevating power. We must fully grasp the extreme subtlety of this form of worship: the worshipper does not petition any favour, but firmly believes that the pronunciation of the Name already constitutes a benediction:
Brāhmi,
348 Although the word 'guru' is usually addressed to a muni, it can also be used for a sadhvji but 'gurūni' is much more commonly used; guru-mandira has the same meaning as samadhi-mandira. We must add that the reformed communities, the Sthanakavāsis and Teräpanthis, who perform no temple. worship, do not erect samadhi-mandiras, though this, it goes without saying, in no way diminishes their veneration for the ascetics.
349 The invitation to this pratisthā gave all the details of the forthcoming ceremony.
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