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624
The Unknown Pilgrims
All come to hear her, whatever their religion or caste. They say that Mahāsati has invincible faith in the Namaskāra-mantra to which, whatever the situation, she has recourse. By her ardent devotion to the parameshins and her intelligent interpretation of their teaching, she follows faithfully the path they have traced.
Sadhvi Sri Bālū 82
Bālū means beloved. Sādhvi Sri Bālū was a true Mother and the book which is dedicated to her begins with the poem of a muni addressing "the Mother". The mother of three children, she became a widow after the birth of the third. Belonging as she did to a fervent Terāpanthi family, she would have like, after the death of her husband, to receive dikşā but desired first to bring up the little last -born. When, on a certain day when he was ten year old, he made clear to her his own attraction to the state of vairāgya, she felt herself free. The mother aged forty-three and the son aged ten received dikşā together, becoming Sādhvi Sri Bālū and Muni Sri Nathamala. As an ascetic she became the Mother of all alike: mụnis, sādhvis, śrāvakas, śrāvikās. On this point the testimonies of one and all, after her Departure, are unanimous.83
Since she was already a person of mature years when she embraced the ascetic life, her fervour, her strong faith and her innate feel for the dharma helped her to make rapid progress on the path of renunciation. She did not have responsibility for a group and did not often give pravacanas, but imparted teaching chiefly through her presence and also through her counsel which was full of wisdom and good sense. Her speech was direct and sometimes blunt, owing to her zeal for the dharma, but her heart was large and benevolent. Her life was totally consistent and she lived her asceticism to the full. People were impressed by her glowing faith which expressed itself in veneration towards the ācāryas: the founder of the Terāpanthis, the ācārya who had given her dikşā and the present one. She was always vigilant,
82 This sub-section draws upon Surānā, 1972.
83 Each has contributed his or has testimony or reflections: 8 munis, 12 sādhvis, 15 śrăvakas and śrāvikās; the poems are by 4 munis, 12 sådhvis, 6 śrávakas and śrāvikās.
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