39.The Rare Kindness/Compassion

Chapter -39

The Rare Kindness/Compassion
The birth of a divine child Satgounda in Yelgud village, about four miles away from Bhojbhumi, is an incident to be spe­cially inscribed on the annals of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century. He later became the great Guru of ‘Jain -Shratnan Sangh’ by the name of Achharya Charitra Chakarvarti Shantisagar.

Satgounda was an ascetic-soul by birth. He lived his Grihasth-life as an agriculturist following the “Grihasth-Dharma ” with abstinence, non-violence and by adhering to and following the religion of truth.

An eighty year old Maratha agriculturist narrated an un­forgettable incident to Pandit Summer Chand Diwakar- the au­thor of ‘Charitra Chakaravarti’ treatise- that resounds (indicates) the compassionate personality of Satgounda. The name of this agriculturist Maratha old man was Gan Joyti Damale. To narrate this memoir, he walked to Bhojbhumi, about two miles away from his village.

The old man told, “My agricultural-field was adjacent to the field of Maharaj Shri whom we used to call as Pateel. My financial position was weak while Pateel sahib was ranked among ‘shninants’ (a wealthier class).” He continued “At the time when the crop was ready, thousands of birds used to peck at the grains in my field and when I chased them away, they would peck at the grains in his field.

Maharaj Shri would see the birds pecking at the grains and did not make them fly away as if it was not his field.

One day I said to Pateel sahib, “Why don’t you fly away the birds from the field? If you wish, I will send all the other birds also here.” He said, “Gan bhaiyal You may send them and if these birds eat up all the grains of my field, there will be no I said to Pateel Sahib, “You appear as a saint to me. If you have so much pity on birds, why don’t you keep water on the trees for them? Why do you keep it so low in earthen pots?”

Maharaj Shri said, “Water will not be visible to the birds if it is kept at a higher place, therefore, I keep it low.” Considering this kind of attitude, I used to think that Pateel sahib was an extra-ordinary person who was so merciful towards the birds. Baba Gan Jyoti continued, “It is a fact that whenever the whole crop was ready and we took out the grains, it was al­ways comparatively more yield in his field than the normal. I had actually experienced this glorious effect of kindness.”

Pateel sahib always remained quiet and absorbed in thoughts. He never uttered any needless\pointless incoherent talks. He always said that there was no feeling of spite in agriculture as present in other business fields. He was very simple natured and always spoke in an innocent and honest manner.”