________________
Sugandha: Sweet Fragrance
Her pravacanas, of which a selection is given in the biography, are based upon a thorough knowledge of the doctrine which she had the art of explaining in a concrete fashion, appropriately to the actual conditions of life of her listeners. Certain subjets were particularly dear to her and she reverted to them often, especially to ahimsa. She struggled ceaselessly for the emancipation of womankind from cruel and restrictive traditions and showed a lively interest in social service and aid for the poor and despised.
Service to others - it was this that Mahāsati herself performed for the pravartini who was her spiritual guide and then for the pravartini who succeeded. She was always at the service of her sadhvi disciples, whom she guided with maternal and enlightened care. She was intent that they should be abreast of their day and age, open, well-instructed. While giving pride of place to the study of the Scriptures and the doctrine, she always encouraged also broader studies: philosophy, psychology, new trends of thought. In this she was a pioneer and her present day disciples prove the wisdom of her views. As for the śrävikäs in the greater part of the Panjaba where devotion is fervent and Taith firm, they very quickly adopt modern notions in practical affairs, but do not have an innate urge for reflective thinking and philosophical study. Mahāsati endeavoured to guide them in this to them somewhat unfamiliar domain. She alerted their minds and fostered within them the spirit of service to the disinherited, inspiring them with karuņā.
621
One day Mahasati Saralā asked her to give to her disciples a mantra, with the help of which they might be worthy of their guruņi and continue her work. Mahāsati Pannādevi turned towards her, gazed at her seriously and asked: "What is your name?"
The disciple, taken by surprise, replied in a law voice: "Sarala".
The guruni replied: "Sarala! That is my guru-mantra. Your name is Sarală; I myself am saralā, in spirit. That is the most important gurumantra: to be sarala, simple. She who is simple, whose spirit is not crooked, whose heart is free of all craftiness, hypocrisy, deceit, whose words are sincere, this Sarală is loved by all and respected by all."
-
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
