04.Ardent devotion of Bhimshaw

CHAPTER - 4

Ardent devotion of Bhimshaw
> Entire dedication towards your “A radhya ” (reverent idol/ hero) is devotion.

> The passionate veneration of a devotee takes the God into his heart.

> Reproachful argument has no place in devotion.

> One develops intense desire to attain divinity by renounc­ing his self towards devotion.

> There is no existence of egoism in devotion; what remains is only eulogy of devout.

> The Ganga of devotion emerges from the Gangotri of modesty.

> Devotion is rational and purposeful. The doors of the Dis­crimination-Science open through it.

Achharya Shanti Sagar ji Maharaj was in Kognoli vil­lage. The ‘Chaturmas’ (a period of four months of rainy season during which movements of Jain saints are restricted to a par­ticular place so that the vow of non-violence can be observed properly and correctly) was approaching. The residents of nearby villages were making frantic attempts to take Achharya Shri to their respective villages to witness its soil being transformed into sandal-dust by his holy feet. Was there anyone among these vil­lagers who did not want to be privileged enough to have the for­tune of serving his reverent Guru for full four months? Requests along with offering of ‘Shriphal’ (coconut) at the feet of Guru continued. Achharya Shri was about to take his final decision. All eyes were focused on his decision. Shravakas of Nasalpur village were also among those who did not want to be deprived of the good fortune of serving Achharya Shri. Among devotees he was full of devotional power on one hand, he also had a remark­ably strong built and physical power. He did not hail from the Jain community, but he took a firm decision to take this great saint to his village after having been mesmerized by his first meeting with the Achharya Shri.

Achharya Shri was engrossed in meditation in a cave on the outskirts of the village. It was early morning, the time of ‘Brahm Muhuraf, and Maharaj Shri had just begun the Samayik (Samayik is a religious ritual in which a devotee concentrates on religious themes for a duration of at least 48 minutes quietly sitting or in a standing posture without speaking or making any movement) when Bhimshaw and his friends arrived there. While offering his prayers to Maharaj Shri, God knows how an idea struck to him, perhaps out of his ardent devotion to Achharya Shri who would neither speak nor resist during the time of Samayik. Hence, he used his physical power coupled with his dedicated devotion to the Achharya Shri.

Bhimshaw lifted Maharaj Shri along with his seat, kept him on his sturdy shoulders, and left immediately for Naslapur. He reached Yamgami village, about 12 kilometers away, at sunrise.

Achharya Shri broke his silence with the advent of morning rays. He uttered “O gentleman! Now let me get down”. Seeing the ardent devotion of Bhimshaw with his courage reaching a pinnacle, Achharya Shri smiled. All fatigue of Bhimshaw vanished with that smile of Achharya Shri. Back there, not finding Achharya Shri in the cave of Kognoli, all Shravaks of the village become worried and started searching him. They finally arrived at the place where Achharya Shri was seated. They requested him for his ‘Chaturmas’ in their respective villages. Achharya Shri smiled and pointing at Bhimshaw said, “Bhimshaw is there. His devotion has driven me here”. Thus Chaturmas was fixed at Naslapur.

> The excess of power is established in devotion.

> The strong feeling of devotion generates additional power in a person.

> It is the living effect of devotion and reverence that children-infants and old persons complete their 27 kilometers long journey of Sammed-Shikharji on foot with ease.

> Determination power doubles when compounded with devotion. The mystery that the power remains in the devotion of a person is unfolded by the above incident.

> Devotion makes even God emotional; then how can the compassion of a saint remain unmoved in the heat of devotion?

> The active elements of devotion and reverence transform the life of a person. Without veneration, the knowledge is an unnecessary burden and the conduct is hypocrisy.

> A revolution can not be launched without veneration or reverence.

> Achharya Shri became helpless against the devotion of Bhimshaw. Selfless devotion i.e., devotion without the fruit of hope, has unimaginable effect.