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DISCOURSE 20
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tain any ill-feeling or evil thoughts about those Sadhvis who are engaged in spiritual activities, who are absorbed in studies and meditation; who show devotion to and render service to their spiritual heads and seniors with dedication and who protect their chastity with constant care and awareness.
In the Dharmashasan expounded by the Paramatma Jineshwardev Sadhvis also have an important place. We can find Sadhvis carrying out many lofty austerities. Even today there are many Sadhvis who have performed thousands of Ayambils. We can also see many Sadhvis who have memorised thousands of slokas and who every day engage themselves in spiritual studies. We can see many Sadhvis who render service to spiritual seniors with devotion and politeness. In these days, when life abounds in physical and sensual passions, it is not an easy task to spend life renouncing all the means of worldly pleasures and carrying out vows and austerities strictly. You must love and adore such noble Sadhvis.
In our Dharmagranthas, we can read about the great Sadhvis Bramhi and Sundari etc. who lived during the time of Bhagwan Rishabhadev, who showed the path of Kevaljnan to Bahubali. Brahmi and Sundari did it! Who transformed Haribhadrasoori, the author of Dharmabindu from a priest to a great muni? Who established dharma in the heart of Haribhadrasoori, the priest? That historic thing was done by a great Sadhvi by name Yakinimahattara. Such a tremendous scholar as Haribhadrasoori gave the place of mother to her and in all the works he wrote, he introduced himself to his readers as Yakinimahattarasunu or the spiritual son of Yakinimahattara. I suppose you know this story relating to Haribhadrasooriji.
From the Audience: No. We do not have the opportunity of hearing such stories.
Maharajashri : Do not worry. I will narrate the story to you. All of you hear that great story during this Chaturmas. But you will not gain anything by merely hearing the story. After hearing it, you must contemplate upon it and assimilate it. After hearing the story, whether you are in your houses or
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