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The Unknown Pilgrims
the surrounding climate of the modern 'secularised' age - had the idea, with the co-operation of the sadhvis of her group and the śrávakas of the local samghas, of organising some śiviras for one month of the summer vacation. In these camps they endeavour to impart to young and older Jaina girls the basic tenets of the doctrine in an atmosphere of study, retreat and discipline, though leisure pursuits are not excluded.
Between 1966 and 1972 Sadhvi Nirmalā has organised thirteen such camps, the first ones in Gujarāta and subsequently in Rājasthāna. 86 Well before these camps came into being, some sādhvis had become interested, especially during hte căturmāsya, in the spiritual training of children.87 The Kanya Siviras are the continuation of this tradition. The participants often number more than a hundred, of all ages, from the primary school level to that of college. All live in. Sadhvi Nirmalā is firm in this regard, in order to avoid comings and goings and distractions of any sort. The programme is a harmonious blend of study of the dharma, an initiation into reflective thought, mental concentration and the practice of the chief rites, sāmāyika and pratikramana, in an atmosphere of devotion, musical accompaniment and singing. The camp ends with an examination. Quite a few girls attend the camp several years in succession.
Sadhvi Nirmală aims at giving a solid well-thought-out training suitable for our day and age and at arousing in the girls thereby a sense of belonging to a well-defined, rich and lively tradition. She transmits to them the essentials of the doctrine, a synthesis of the vast culture from which it springs. Later on, on return to their families, they are able to build on these foundations, continue to study and live in this same spirit, go beyond the routine of family obscrvances and affirm their own identity in the world of the school.88
86 From 1966 to 1970 at Ahmadābād and Bhāvanagara, then in the chief cities of Rajasthāna: Jayapura, Jodhapura, Udayapura and other places
87 Mahāsati Mohanadevi, e.g., had started some Bāla Satsangas, devotional classes for children; cf. Hukamadevi, pp. 179-180; 187. 88 I have not had the opportunity of visiting one of these Kanyà Śiviras, but in February 1975 Sādhvi Nirmala convened at Jodhapura, where she then was, a follow-up mccting of 3 days for those girls who had taken part in the
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