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.
Edited by Vidyasagar.Guru