Vidyasagar.Guru

Acharya Maharaj was camping in the main temple of Siwani. The venerable Pandit Sumerchandraji Divakar came for his darshan. There was an extended discussion on metaphysics. As Panditji took his leave, he remarked, "Maharaj, Acharya Shantisagarji Maharaj had once given me a rosary for reciting the mantras. I have it even now.” Panditji was aiming to get a keepsake from Acharya Maharaj as well, but he was quick to parry, “Panditji! In so far as I am concerned, my Acharya Maharaj has made me inordinately wealthy.” This was a play of words on mala (rosary) and malamal (inordinately rich). We all had a good laugh. Underlying this healthy amusement, there was a rare blend of emotions; humble reverence for past Acharyas, pride in the spiritual learning received from them and genuine self-effacement. At the same time, there was an implicit exhortation to Panditji, and indeed to everyone, “You also have the choice of acceding to inestimable riches by taking the great vows. What is the point in telling the beads of your rosary all your life?" Siwani (1991)

The chaturmas at Muktagiri ended happily. Acharya Maharaj arrived at Balaghat along with the sangha, passing through the hallowed ground of Ramtek. Next day, the sangha went to the forest for the morning chores. The group was halted in its tracks by the sight of two tiger cubs playing at the Forest Officer's bungalow. The Forest Officer narrated the story of the discovery of the cubs. Acharya Maharaj heard him with rapt attention and then exclaimed, “O king of the jungle, just as time and circumstances have compelled you to live in a house instead of the jungle, the munis, who would rather wander in the forests without a care in the world, have accepted to dwell in the city. But it is contrary to our nature. We should never forget our true nature, which impels us to roam about freely, unencumbered by clothes, company or cares”. We were privileged to witness this revelation of Acharya Maharaj's fidelity to his true nature and his selflessness. Everyone was overwhelmed by this object lesson in spirituality. Balaghat (1991)

Acharya Maharaj was about to commence his discourse at a religious conference. There was a sudden movement in the crowd and an old woman managed to mount the dais. Before the volunteers could stop her, she bowed low, removed a few gold ornaments and laid them at the feet of Maharaj. This rendered everyone in the assembly speechless. It transpired that the elderly lady was not born a Jain, but certainly was a Jain by conduct. On her first encounter with Acharya Maharaj today, she was so overwhelmed by his conquest of attachment and aversion, his sacrifice and his spiritual endeavours, that she willingly gave up her dearest possessions. Verily, true faith belongs to all. Everyone is free to adopt it. It gives the right perspective and the right knowledge and shows the right path. Muktagiri (1990)

Acharya Maharaj was proceeding towards Muktagiri from Jabalpur. It started raining heavily as we approached Muita en route. After a while, it stopped raining. Maharaj smiled and said as he continued to walk, "O, brother! You already are too tired to continue! But we are not yet tired”. The joke was on the clouds. Every one had a good laugh. This was Acharya Maharaj's way of delivering a sermon What he had said in effect while continuing on his mand was that in rain, snow and sunshine, a seeker should continue to advance on the path of salvation, without thing without halting. A casual remark and yet so profound Muktagiri (1990

After we returned from Tada, we were allowed to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Mahaveer at Sagar. It was a joyous occasion. We were then told to proceed to Katni for the summer sojourn. It was getting hotter day by day. The sun was fierce and the journey long, but the heart was filled with a deep faith. Willing obedience of the guru's command is the touchstone of discipleship. We decided to leave immediately after the observance of the mid-day samayik. When we emerged from the samayik, the sky was overcast. The sun had lost its ardour. We set out on the journey without losing any time and easily covered a distance of twenty kilometers before sundown. This became a set pattern. Everyday, until we reached Katni, the clouds would build up by noon and our journey would become much easier. When we arrived in Katni, we got to know that Acharya Maharaj had been quite concerned about our well being." have given my orders, but it is the month of May. The sun is too fierce. I hope the vihar does not pose any problem". We were overwhelmed by a feeling of wonderment and happiness. The affinity which Acharya Maharaj has towards his disciples is so close and strong that even from a distance, it steadied and sheltered us during our journey. His compassion is indeed boundless. Katni (1989)

The congregation in village Tada was planning to hold the elephant chariot festival. A delegation from Tada came to seek the blessings of Acharya Maharaj. He called some of us sadhus and indicated that we were to proceed there. We prostrated at this feet in compliance and the date of departure was set. He summoned us before our departure to caution us. “Look, you have to traverse a number of small villages. Even if only two or three persons approach you for religious instruction, do not turn them away. Religious discourse is as much for one's own uplift as for the welfare of others. Secondly, when you come across any sadhus, who are engaged in the spiritual endeavours prescribed by the scriptures, pay due respects to them and avoid any feelings of attachment and aversion. Thirdly, do not stake your claim to officiate at the ordination ceremony of the Lord during the panchakalyanak. A Tirthankar is self-ordained”. We carefully stored these three pieces of advice in our memory, as if they were the provisions for our journey and set out after taking the blessings of Acharya Maharaj. What transpired on the way was exactly as Acharya Maharaj had anticipated. We passed through a number of small settlements. Discourses were held everywhere. The experience was very enjoyable. We also had the occasion to meet two sanghas of sadhus on the way. We paid them due respects. There was no problem anywhere. The day of the rite of ordination arrived. All the sanghas were seated on the same dais. One of the munis belonging to another sangha had been ordained earlier than I. In my view, he was the right person to conduct the ordination ceremony, but everyone on the dais spontaneously urged me to conduct the rite. Bowing to the common demand, ! conducted the ceremony as cries of “Hail Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj" reverberated. The entire atmosphere was sanctified. My eyes welled up. Questioned about my state, I told my interlocutors about the three pieces of advice given by Acharya Maharaj. They all applauded his farsightedness. Tada (1989)

Acharya Maharaj was on the move alongwith the sangha. At the outskirts of the town of Khurai, they were overtaken by a poor man who was transporting his wares on his bicycle. He came to a halt at some distance from the group and as Acharya Maharaj came abreast, he prostrated himself at his feet. Overcome by emotion, he proclaimed, “Hail Lord Rama!" Acharya Maharaj cast a compassionate glance at him and blessed him, “May your faith grow ever stronger!" And then he continued on his way. Overjoyed, the poor man kept looking at the marching form of Acharya Maharaj with unblinking eyes. When I heard about this incident, I realised that the attachment that we experience towards an evolved soul, who has transcended the feelings of attachment and aversion, does not hold us back. It spontaneously leads us to the blissful state of self-realisation. The form of Acharya Maharaj, which inspires us in our spiritual endeavours and exhorts us to rise above attachment and aversion, must have appeared full of a divine sweetness to the eyes of the cyclist, who was spellbound by that vision. Khurai (1988)

The rites of panchakalyanak had just been concluded. An elephant drawn carriage, on which an image of the Lord had been placed, was about to commence the circumambulation of the festival grounds. As many as two to three hundred thousand people had assembled for the occasion. The holy grace of Acharya Maharaj had made this possible. The circumambulation was completed without a hitch and on schedule. Maharaj, accompanied by the sangha, took the seat of honour on the dais. Everyone was eager to hear his words of benediction. At this juncture, a group of volunteers came up on the dais and said to Acharya Maharaj in voices choking with emotion, "What happened today was extraordinary. Your blessings have wrought a miracle. Given our acute resource constraints, it was not possible for us to provide water to such a vast multitude. We had despaired after making our best efforts. The local administration had sunk four or five wells, but the effort was in vain,, as they did not yield much water. How much water could we have brought by tankers? But just as the elephant chariot started on its round, the well, which, with your blessings, had been sunk close to the spot where the chariot was stationed. struck a rich aquifer. The entire gathering slaked its this while the circumambulation was completed. Thus, this daunting problem was solved by your grace and blessings. Truly a miracle!" Acharya Maharaj heard them patiently and then said in a totally detached manner, “Brothers! It is ordained that in this Pancham Kal, the sangha composed of four elements shall ensure that the Faith endures. What do I have to do with it? The hardest of tasks can easily be accomplished with the aggregated goodwill of hundreds of thousands. How could so many blessed souls, each one of whom has the potential of attaining salvation, return thirsty from this hallowed ground? - Let everyone's thirst be quenched -. It is only by the dint of such mutual goodwill that success has been achieved in today's undertaking. I have only been a means to this end”. We were all amazed to hear this statement. It is our singular good fortune to have come across an Acharya who desires nothing and shuns fame, adoration and material gain. Nainagiri (1987) Pancham Kal -- According to the Jain chronology, the current era, which is the fifth era of the descending time scale. It has a fixed duration of 21,000 years. Though no Tirthankars are born in this era, the Faith endures, thanks to the efforts of the sangha, which has four constituents viz. muni, aryika, shravak and shravika. Panchakalyanak – The celebration of the five most significant milestones in the life of a Tirthankar, viz. conception, birth, ordination, enlightenment and liberation.

A great elephant chariot festival was being organised on the occasion of the installation of an image of Shri Jinendra. It was the first time that Acharya Maharaj had conducted the ordination ceremony of aryikas. A vast multitude bore witness to the ordination of eleven aryikas and twelve kshullaks conducted from the same platform. Each and every grain of the soil of that spot was sanctified by the footfalls of Acharya Maharaj. In 1978, in this hallowed ground, I had seen him absorbed in spiritual endeavours in the company of just four or five disciples. Today, eight or nine years later, my heart rejoices to see that though he is in the midst of a vast assembly of forty six munis, aryikas, ailaks and kshullaks, he is as unattached and focused on his self as he then was. Next morning, overcome by emotion, we urged him at the time of Acharya worship, “Maharaj, do give us some message today.” He looked at us for a moment and then said to us with great affection. “You are all exalted souls. Thanks to the merits accumulated in the past, you are advancing together on the path of the Faith. Always maintain the balance between action and withdrawal as you strive for salvation. When you engage in action, you should assume that everyone is marching together on the path of liberation and your first duty is to help one another. But at the time of samayik, you must disengage yourself from one and alliamo consider yourself absolutely alone. You should realise that your ultimate duty is to dwell within your self. This is my brief message to you all.” This precept gladdened our hearts. We realised that day that for Acharya Maharaj, precept and practice are one; he only has given us what he has lived every moment of his life. Nainagiri (1987) Aryika – The highest stage that a female Jain ascetic can attain.

After the chaturmas at Aharji, Acharya Maharaj, accompanied by the sangha, proceeded to the hallowed ground of Nainagiri, where we passed the winter. One day at noon, Acharya Maharaj unexpectedly summoned us. Muni Shri Yogasagar and I went to him. Acharya Maharaj announced. "I have decided that two or three of you sadhus should leave together for Sagar. The change will be good for your health Besides, it will give you the opportunity to spread the Faith. The time has now come for you to strike out on your own and gradually learn everything." That was the first occasion for us to be given such a responsibility in the sangha. Naturally, we were a little nervous, as we had never given it a thought. Having dedicated our lives to his service, we were exclusively engaged in spiritual pursuits, with not a care in the world. We were nonplussed. The question of disobeying the Guru's command did not arise, but it was not easy to persuade the heart to accept it. The heart was full of sorrow We pleaded “Maharaj, what can we do without you? How can we live far from you?" Acharya Maharaj became grave. “Will you be far from 'my heart?” he asked. “That can never be. Not even in a dream.” We answered at once. He started laughing. Then he said, “Go, my blessings are with you. Do not be nervous. Concentrate on matters spiritual. A disciple who follows my command is always very close to me, even if he is far away physically. But if someone in my immediate circle were to disobey my orders, he will be far removed from my heart.” To this day, I have not felt the physical distance that separates me from him. I always find him very close. Truly, unwavering obedience to the Guru is the essence of proximity Nainagiri (1986)

It was time for the rite of commencement of chaturmas. Kshullak Sumatisagarji was very keen to be ordained a muni. He had practised austerities for long and had grown old. Having regard to his feelings, Acharya Maharaj gave him the sacrament. Now he took the name of Muni Vairagyasagar. For the next few months, he meticulously observed all the great vows and then, realising that the end was near, requested Acharya Maharaj to administer the ultimate vow of sallekhana to him. The regime prescribed for a muni's ahar is matchless. It is not easy to follow the rigorous discipline with equanimity, regardless of the state of one's health. One day, as Muni Vairagyasagarji stood up after the rite of welcome to have a drink of water, the water ran through his cupped hands. Acharya Maharaj was standing close by. “Take a glass, if you so wish”, he offered. We were all surprised to hear this, but then realised that it was the moment of examination. A seeker, who has opted for sallekhana, is put to test every moment of his life. Despite his extreme age and infirmity, Muni Vairagyasagarji declined the offer like a true holder of the great vows. With great serenity, he renounced all food and water for the rest of his life and entered the final phase of sallekhana, called the yam-sallekhana. Acharya Maharaj blessed him with a smile and hoped that all of us would pass this examination, but he cautioned that we might have to prepare for it all our lives. Aharji (1985)

Acharya Maharaj stayed in Durg along with the sangha for eighteen days. The day of departure arrived. Maharaj went to the temple before setting out for vihar. Somehow, the congregation got wind of it. Immediately, every one rushed to the temple. The moment Maharaj started climbing down the stairs after the darshan, the shravaks clung to his feet. Some of them lay down on the steps, blocking his way. The clock ticked away. The crowd grew larger and more insistent. The intensity of the congregation's affection for someone who has transcended all attachments was wondrous to behold. However, Acharya Maharaj was determined to set out for vihar that day. There was no question of staying on. Despite the delay, the vihar took place. The congregation followed after him for a long distance. The wish in every heart was that Maharaj ought to have stayed a little longer. At the same time, there was a realisation that the hallmark of a seeker thirsting for liberation is his resolute march on the path of spiritual progress, like the incessant motion of a river flowing into the ocean. Durg (1984)

After the sojourn in Kolkata, Acharya Maharaj and his sangha arrived at the pilgrimage centre of UdayagiriKhandagiri in Orissa. We stayed there for a few days and then headed for Raipur via Sambalpur. En route, we stopped at an unfamiliar place called Angui, where there were no Jain households. The local populace had never seen any Jain monks and hence, there was a natural curiosity on its part. After the proceedings of ahar had been conducted, we thought of camping in the grounds of the local High School, but the children were quite noisy and the shravaks accompanying us urged us to proceed to a nearby dharmashala for our samayik. They were afraid that the children might create a disturbance. After the samayik, a large crowd gathered near the dharmashala. The shravaks were on edge. Anything untoward could have happened. In that charged atmosphere, they requested Acharya Maharaj to invoke the powers of mantras and control the situation Unthinkingly, I also endorsed the suggestion. Acharya Maharaj did not say anything to the shravaks, but he looked at me and said, “Have you forgotten about spiritual contemplation? The practice that matters is that of equanimity. A sadhu has to be above retaliation and preemption. Realise the infinite power of the soul. Have faith in the impact of the conquest of attachment and aversion Come, let us move on.” And then calmly, he began to climb down the stairs. The entire sangha followed in his wake. The crowd parted as Acharya Maharaj advanced. We were all astonished. That magical impact of the practice of equanimity is vividly imprinted in my memory to this day and provides succour to me. Angul (1984) Dharmashala- A charitable inn.

The chaturmas at Eesari was over. Acharya Maharaj decided to attend the Parshwanath festival held every year in Kolkata on the occasion of Kartik Purnima? But as it behoves an atithi, he proceeded in the direction of Kolkata without informing anyone. The congregation was abuzz "The path is strewn with difficulties. There are no shravak households to offer hospitality on the way. It is a very disturbed area. One can not predict how the people of Bengal will behave. Maharaj should not go there". The shravaks coming from Kolkata echoed these apprehensions. “It is not safe to venture into the province of Bengal. We would love to have you there, but are afraid of the consequences”, they submitted. Acharya Maharaj smiled as usual, raised his hand in benediction and continued on his way. He marched on without interruption. The songs of benediction sung by the followers had a reassuring effect and the distance of three hundred and fifty kilometers was easily covered in ten days. On the eleventh day, when Acharya Maharaj entered Kolkata along with his sangha, there were thousands to welcome him, heads bowed in salutation of his iron will. That day, the metropolis of Kolkata was blessed by the footfalls of a great Digambar Jain Acharya. The facility with which he traversed the passage from Bara Mandir to Belgachhiya, which was lined by thousands of devotees, was a revelation to the common man. The onlookers considered themselves fortunate to behold a great Jain Acharya escorted by numerous monks, who formed the core of a massive procession. The multitude that had lined the passage, as well as the eyes peeping out of the windows of the houses en route, feasted themselves on the pristine beauty of a childlike nirgrantha monk in the attire of a newborn. And thereafter, they had appetite for no other spectacle. Truly, the firm resolve of a godly shraman, who has conquered the desires of fame, adoration, gain and the like, automatically brings about the propagation of the faith, as he moves from place to place in his chariot of the true knowledge. Kolkata (1983) Kartik Purnima -The full moon of the eighth month of the Indian lunar calendar It usually falls in the month of November, fifteen days after Deepavali, the festival of lights.

In his last days, Jinendra Varnee had accepted Acharya Maharaj as his guru and had entrusted himself to his care for the final sacrament of samadhi-maran. Before the process of sallekhana could begin, Acharya Maharaj suddenly left Eesari one day without informing anyone. He proceeded to Naina Ghat for a pilgrimage to Parshwanath Tonk. The pilgrimage took the whole day and it was evening by the time he returned to Eesari. Since all this had happened without prior notice, Varneeji passed the day in great anxiety, not knowing when Acharya Maharaj would return. As soon as Acharya Maharaj returned to the hermitage at Eesari, Varneeji prostrated himself at his feet. With tears in his eyes, he said to Acharya Maharaj, choking with emotion, “Maharaj, you left me alone without informing me. My heart was so full of anxiety. You are my sole support. You have to take care of everything in the final hour of my life." For a fleeting moment, Acharya Maharaj grew serious and then he said with a smile, “Varneeji, autonomy is the hallmark of sallekhana. You alone can take care of your emotions. Keep your potential alive. I am but a means to your end." This is the way Acharya Maharaj steadies and supports every committed disciple of his. Ever vigilant in respect of self-discipline, he is constantly instructing his disciples in the science of spiritual advancement. But he does so without any personal involvement. That is his unique quality. Eesari (1983) Tonk - A small temple on a hillock.

It was a wintry day. Acharya Maharaj, accompanied by the sangha, reached the village of Banda before sundown. The sangha stayed for the night in a hall above the temple. The thatched roof of the hall was ruined. It had several windows, which let the draught in. The door had no glass panes and it made little difference whether it was open or shut. The night got progressively colder. The sadhus only had a straw mat apiece. No one had opted for the comfort of a bed of dried grass. It was too cold to lie down; we passed the night sitting up. Next morning, after we had paid our obeisance to Acharya Maharaj, he asked us with a smile, “The night was very cold. What were the thoughts that went through your mind? Tell me.” We were at a loss for words, but gathered the courage to say, “Maharaj, it was very cold indeed. We were thinking that another mat would have been welcome.” Hearing this, the face of Acharya Maharaj lit up with joy. He said, “See, this is the power of renunciation. None of you even thought of any of the things that you have renounced to protect you from the cold. This is what I expected of you all. Always be vigilant with regard to renunciation. Be careful that the thought of taking something that you have renounced never enters your mind.” This exhortation of his will keep us on track all our lives. Banda (1982)

During that chaturmas, besides study, reflection and contemplation, the entire sangha also got the opportunity to witness four sallekhanas from close quarters and learn from them. The task requires great alertness and caution. Sallekhana is the ulltimate test of a seeker. It is not easy to control one's emotions and maintain their purity. The undertaking can be accomplished only if there is the right combination of merits accumulated in past births, present efforts and favourable external circumstances. While having his ahar, a seeker, who had undergone the final sacrament of sallekhana, had an inexplicable craving for apple, a food that he had already renounced. Acharya Maharaj took stock of the situation and instructed that the desired fruit be given to him. The fruit was served, but the emaciated body of the seeker could manage to get very little inside. Most of it fell out. This caused him great sorrow and remorse. He unburdened himself at the feet of Acharya Maharaj and solemnly renounced everything for the rest of his life Thereafter, his mind was tranquil and pure till the very end. He breathed his last articulating the Great Mantra. By the grace and guidance of Acharya Maharaj, the spirit of true renunciation pervaded his whole being. Once again, he was firmly established in himself. We bowed with reverence before the qualities of a perfect niryapak ingrained in the personality of Acharya Maharaj. Nainagiri (1982) Niryapak - An Acharya, who officiates at the final sacrament of samadhi-maran or sallekhan

I fell ill within two months of my ordination. I found it difficult to have ahar and would throw up soon after. Acharya Maharaj kept a watch over the proceedings of ahar. Even from a distance, he would constantly shower his grace on me. Once, at the outset of ahar, I had a suspicion that there was a strand of hair in my cupped hands. The shravaks, in unison, tried to convince me otherwise. Perhaps, they had uttered a falsehood out of concern for my illness. In that crucial moment of decision, I looked up to Acharya Maharaj who was standing close by, but he turned his face away. I thought that he was saying to me, “You have taken the great vow. Eshana-samit is your essential attribute. It is for you to decide. Your conduct should be like that of a lion, who does not seek help from any one." What was there for me to decide? The strand of hair was very much there. The pollution warranted termination of the ahar, as the scriptures ordain. Acharya Maharaj smiled and blessed me profusely. I passed the day in peace in spite of the illness. Acharya Maharaj had done us a great favour by giving us this object lesson on the meaning of self-discipline as well as true affection. Nainagiri (1982) Eshana-saniti – Observance of utmost vigilance while accepting ahar to ensure that it is impeccable and untainted by violence of any kind. This is one of the essential attributes of a sadhu.

During the chaturmas, three of us sadhus were ordained as munis shortly before the festival of Paryushan. We repeated all the vows administered by Acharya Maharaj and pledged lifelong obedience to him. After the sacrament, we followed him to the Parshwanath temple situated on the hillock. As we bowed at his feet, he blessed us with great delight and said to us in grave tones, “Look, you have now adopted the marks of Shree Jinendra; the external sign of nakedness and the internal state of absence of ties and complexes of any kind. It is now your ultimate duty to take good care of your emotions and thoughts, alongwith the marks of Shree Jinendra. I am just a means to the attainment of your objective". We were astonished to find that the conduct of Acharya Maharaj was untainted by any presumption of being the actuator. The key to spirituality lies in the discharge of one's duty after shedding all presumptions of being the prime mover. Spirituality is not contained in scriptures, nor limited by definitions. Even today, seekers such as Acharya Maharaj live spirituality every moment of their lives. Nainagiri (1982)

This incident took place before the rite of commencement of the third chaturmas of Acharya Maharaj at Nainagiri. The rains had not set in and it was very hot. One day, as I was performing the samayik outside the Water Temple in the last hour of the night, I was stung by a poisonous insect. The pain was excruciating. I could not perform the samayik properly. Acharya Maharaj was quietly observing the proceedings from close quarters. The last hour of the night seemed interminable. By day break, the pain abated. Bowing at the feet of Acharya Maharaj, 1 submitted that because of unbearable pain, I could not retain my equanimity and it affected the performance of the samayik. Acharya Maharaj said to me with utmost gravity, “A sadhu is expected to endure privations and ordeals placidly: Only then is it possible to erode the accumulation of past karmas. It also is not proper to compromise the prescribed observances. You must retain your equanimity. Go now and give up all rasas. This shall be your penance.” Everyone was surprised that a compassionate Acharya like him had given me a penance to perform, even though I was suffering. In fact, the true kindness of an Acharya manifests itself in teaching his disciple how to vanquish ordeals of all kinds, avoid laxity of conduct and inculcate self-discipline. Nainagiri (1982)

After leaving Sagar, Acharya Maharaj arrived in Nainagiri alongwith the sangha. The rains were yet to begin. The villagers were thirsting for water. One morning, when Acharya Maharaj came out of the temple for ablutions, the headman of the village came up to him. With great reverence, he placed his forehead at his feet and humbly said to him in the dialect of Bundelkhanda, “Master! You are going to stay here for four months. It has not rained at all this year. Have mercy on us. We must have rain." Smilingly, Acharya Maharaj blessed him and went on his way. No one gave any importance to this incident, but by sundown, clouds started gathering in the sky. Next morning, the rain commenced. It was the first rain of the season. It rained without a break for three days. Everything was drenched. The tank around the temple was full to the point of overflowing. On the fourth day, the headman came again and prostrated himself at the feet of Acharya Maharaj. Overcome by emotions, he said, “Master! I had not asked for so much! Enough is enough. You have been too generous." Acharya Maharaj blessed him in his normal manner and returned to his self-contemplation. I kept wondering whether it was just a coincidence or the grace of Acharya Maharaj. 'Be that as it may, it left a deep impression on my mind. Nainagiri (1982)

The sangha passed the winter in the hallowed pilgrimage centre of Bina-Baraha (Deori), while engaged in spiritual pursuits. Following the instructions of Acharya Maharaj, we stayed in an open verandah and devoted ourselves to the collective study of Moolachar and Samayasar. We made considerable progress on the path of self-realisation. In the last week of January, we arrived in the sanctified territory of Koniji. Barely a few days later, I found myself in the grip of a serious illness. The suffering was unbearable. Acharya Maharaj was my sole support during that period of distress and I was able to get a grip over myself by looking at him in moments of pain. One day, around noon time, he was proceeding to conduct the study of Moolachar. Seeing my pain, he stopped for a while and said, “You have studied Samayasar; try to recall it. Do not forget that the power of the soul is limitless. The disease is dependent on this body; you should stay healthy and alert in spirit. I will be back in no time after the study of Moolachar.” I was overwhelmed to see that he had feelings of such spontaneous affinity towards an insignificant disciple. My eyes welled up. Many a prostration is due to a religious preceptor, who is so merciful to his disciples. Koniji (1982) Moolachar- A Prakrit work of 1252 verses on the code of conduct for sadhus by Acharya Battakar in the 2nd century. 73 Samayasar- A seminal spiritual work containing 415 Prakrit verses by Acharya Kundakunda (127-179 A.D.). It reveals the true nature of the Self .

The chaturmas at Muktagiri was over. Acharya Maharaj was proceeding towards Ramtek alongwith the sangha. One day, while on our way to village Ambara, we had to halt in a field outside the village as it had become quite dark. There was a platform made of sorghum stalks in the field and we decided to rest there for the night. Accordingly, we performed the rite of pratikraman and set down for the observance of samayik. It was the month of December. The cold was intensifying. At nine o'clock in the night, the shravaks came looking for us when they got to know that. Arbarkavaarani wasa camping in the fields. They did their best to be of service. The place was without any cover and the bed of straw was hard. In spite of all these discomforts, Acharya Maharaj sat motionless in the posture of meditation. He showed absolutely no desire for mitigation of any kind. Around midnight, he lay down on his side to give some rest to his tired body. The sadhus in the sangha had of their own volition decided that they would rest after Acharya Maharaj had retired for the day. Hence, we also lay down to rest. As it was getting colder, some of the shravaks covered us with sorghum straw, which was at hand. We observed the proceedings passively, without any reaction. The shravaks were satisfied, thinking that they had provided us some relief from the cold. But, the relief was illusory. In fact, the weight and the jaggedness of the straw only had added to our discomfort. The mettle of a true sadhu is tested when he maintains his equanimity through privations and ordeals and remains steadfast in the contemplation of the self. So, we endured everything in silence. The shravaks returned the next morning and removed the straw. We thought that the ignorance of the shravaks should be dispelled, but decided against it when we saw the affectionate and innocent smile on the face of Acharya Maharaj. A little later, after we had gone some distance from our resting place, Acharya Maharaj remarked, “Last night, we were lucky to get an opportunity to rid our self from some of the accumulated karmas by enduring the suffering engendered by them. One should take full advantage of such an opportunity”. We were all astonished at this statement. Our hearts overflowed with reverence and humility and mentally, we prostrated before him. In this age, it is a rare privilege to find shelter at the feet of a seeker, who is adorned by the three jewels of true faith, true knowledge and true conduct and who is always eager to rid his soul of the accumulations of karmas. Ambara (1980)

The rainy seasons was about to end. On the eve of Deepavali, Acharya Maharaj commenced his meditation which lasted through the night. He opened his eyes at the crack of dawn, exactly when Mahaveer Swami had attained nirvana. He looked at us for a moment and said in a voice heavy with emotion, “Bhagwan Mahaveer attained nirvana years ago. A day will come when we will find salvation, too. But when will that day come?". As he uttered these ambrosial words, his eyes peered into the horizon and a divine peace reigned over his visage. We were rendered speechless. For a moment, he seemed to have severed all worldly bonds and immersed himself in the bliss of self-realisation. There is no doubt that this insatiable thirst for salvation will soon liberate him from the cycle of birth and death. Muktagiri (November, 1980)

During those days, we were engaged in the study of the scriptures and spiritual texts. While we did our best to grasp the finer points of faith as expounded by Acharya Maharaj, many a question remained unsolved for want of understanding. One day, we mustered the courage to approach him and seek the answers to the questions which had been vexing ús. Acharya Maharaj, was absorbed in his study. We paid our obeisance and sat down by his side. All of a sudden, the realisation that we know the answers to all our questions dawned on us. Not wanting to waste his time, we bowed to him again and took our leave. Acharya Maharaj looked up, as if to inquire whether we had any questions. What could we say? Overwhelmed with reverence, we told him with a catch in our voice that by his grace, our questions had turned into solutions. We requested him to bless us that we should find the resolution of all the issues of this life at his feet. He smiled and went back to his study. Blessed is the Acharya, whose glance, untainted by attachment and aversion, has the power to provide the solution to every question, even before it is articulated. Today, as I observe that other seekers also find the solutions to their questions at his feet, I recall the lines of Poojyapad Swami. “One, who, seated in the assembly of munis, expounds the path of liberation through the very form of his body, without having to utter a word.”. Muktagiri (September, 1980)