48.The tale of the Creation of Achharya Veer Sagar

The tale of the Creation of Achharya Veer Sagar
A person takes a new birth with the change of his heart. Ex­cellence in life is obtained by the creation of esteemed feelings and with the change of heart.

Two youths came to Achharya Shri Shanti Sagar ji Maharaj during his ‘Chaturmas’ with a view to test him. They minutely observed the conduct, behaviour and daily routine activities of Achharya Shri. When no fault was seen, they tried to criticize in some other way because they had come there with that purpose in mind. One of them asked, referring to the Jain treatise, “You are staying in the temple while a Digambar Muni should live in an empty dwelling, in some deserted habitation or in the forest.”

Maharaj Shri kept silent hearing this and affectionately asked, “Where have you come from? Is there an arrangement for food etc. or not?” The visitors told that Shravaks of the congre­gation had invited them for food. Then Maharaj asked, “Which is this tree standing there facing us”. It is a mango tree Maharaj; everyone knows that”. Then, Achharya Shri told, “Pluck and bring two or thre e mangoes, they will be useful to you in your food”. “Maharaj! Where do we find mangoes on the tree in the month of ‘Shravan'l It will bear fruit in its own season (in 'Buisakh -Jyestha )”. Maharaj replied smilingly, “Brother! This is the reply to your question. Where will you find saints living in forest in this "Kaliyug”? Such fearless saints having strong bodily structure could be found in the “Chaturtha Kalu” (fourth period of the two eons of regeneration and degeneration i.e. the ascending cycle and the descending cycle)”.

had understood both, the simplicity and the innocence of Achharya Shri and the helplessness of the saint. So, he returned touching the feet of Achharya Shri.

But the curious youth returned again after preparing his inner-self and joined the congregation accepting vows and absti­nence. And while living an austere way of life, he took ‘Digambar- Diksha' (becoming a digambar saint) in due course of time and absorbed him self in the tough practice of abstinence.

One day that ablest disciple was made the successor of his Guru. Achharya Shri himself bestowed upon him his own status of Achharya. The name of that great saint was Achharya Shri Veer Sagar ji Maharaj. With gratitude from “Sant Saurabha”