The summer time study circle was being conducted in the august presence of Acharya Maharaj at Varnee House, Moraji, Sagar. The summer was at its peak. By nine in the morning, the sun would be so fierce that it would be difficult to walk barefoot on the road. And that was the time to set out for the ahar round! Very often, Acharya Maharaj would go out into the town for ahar. He rarely had ahar at Moraji House. Pandit Pannalalji, the celebrated man of letters, was staying at Moraji House. Everyday, he would stand at his droorstep trying to catch the eye of Acharya Maharaj as he went on his ahar round. Only rarely did he get the chance to offer ahar to Acharya Maharaj.
One day, during the brief gap between the observance of eeryapath pratikraman and the mid-day samayik, Panditji found his way to the feet of Acharya Maharaj and made his submission with utter simplicity, humility and spontaneity. “Maharaj”, he pleaded, “Now a days, you must not go far for ahar, as the ground gets red hot by then." His intention was obvious to everyone. Acharya Maharaj burst out laughing. To this day, the memory of this incident fills me with boundless reverence towards Acharya Maharaj. The purity of his conduct and his unfathomable learning make even great scholars thirst for his company.
Sagar (1980)
Eeryapath pratikraman -- The rite of pratikraman performed before the midday samayik for the annulment of the transgressions that might have been committed while travelling. It entails recitation of the virtues of the twenty four Tirthankars, a ritual of purification and confession of the transgressions committed