________________
620
The Unknown Pilgrims
toil, but she had the moral certitude that she had done her utmost to aid, encourage and support the śrāvikās, and for her that sufficed. 78
Mahāsati Sri Pannādevi
In one of the densely-populated quarters of Dilli, on the first floor of an old house, is what is called the sthiravāsa, the permanent dwelling. Here, for the last several years, resides Mahasati Pannādevi with some of her disciples who take turns in waiting upon her. Mahāsati must be about nincty years of age and, like Mahäsatis Candā and Mohanadevi, belongs to the Panjābi branch of the Sthānakavāsis. Like them also, in their footsteps and with similar zeal, she has covered in her journeyings those same regions. Mahāsati is frail, alert, joyful and of a modest spirit.79 For her eightieih birthday, one of her disciples, Mahāsati Saralā, with the encouragement of the samgha, wrote her biography. 80
Mahāsati Pannādevi is a daughter of the ksatriyas of Rājasthāna, a cavalierly warrior class. From her childhood onwards she was in contact with Jainas and sādhvis and showed signs of a precocious intelligence and determination. On her own re-iterated request, she received dikṣā when she was in her tenth year. The pravartini of that day, a highly capable person, saw herself to the education of her young disciple. Mahāsati was outstanding for her indomitable courage and valour throughout numerous vicissitudes, a courage that was inherited from her forbcars and strengthened by her own unshakcable faith, that in its turn was enlightened by her knowledge of the Jaina dharma of which she was a tireless preacher.
78 Cf. P 456 ff. on the subject of the Mahilā Satsangas and Kanyā Vidyalayas that were staricd on Sādhvi Vicaksana and Mahasati Mohanadevi's initiative.
79 I met Mahāsati two times, in 1975 and 1977.
80 This sub-section draws upon Parts II and III of Saralā, 1970; cf. Appendix
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
