Impact on Monkeys
Chapter-25
Achharya Shanti Sagar Ji Maharaj was an image of placid peace/calmness. Not only human beings but the “Tiryanch Paryay Jeev” (animals) too would become calm and quiet for some time in his presence, forgetting their inborn nature by the influence of his equitable and placid dispositions. This projection of the dispositions was due to his unique penance and saintly personality.
The congregation of Achharya Shri was returning to Vindhyachal province after completing Shri Sammed Shikhar Ji pilgrimage in 1928. The dense forest surrounded the Vindhya region. At the time of cooking food, the congregation reached a place which was dominated by a troop of monkeys.
There was no such place where the food could be cooked without any disturbance from the monkeys and the congregation could be offered food according to the rites (“Ahar-Vidhi A time of dire difficulty arose before Seth Gendamal Ji Zaweri, the head of the congregation, because the suitable place for staying was at least at a distance of 14 miles. But time was not sufficient to reach there.
The head of the congregation approached Achharya Shri and requested, “Maharaj Shri! This place is greatly disturbed by monkeys. How should we manage for food, etc?”
Maharaj Shri said smilingly, “You people enjoy sweet juice and poories, feed those items to the monkeys as well.” Saying so, he became silent. A dispassionate smile was blooming on his face.
Shravaks of the congregation cooked the food taking great pains and efforts for its safety. But people were apprehensive of the monkeys snatching morsel from the hands of Achharya Shri. In such a situation, “Antraī’ (obstruction in taking food by a Jain Muni) would happen. Shravaks could not perceive any solution.
Maharaj Shri performed the purification and as soon as he went out for Aahar-Charya (taking food), hundreds of monkeys unexpectedly became calm. Sitting silently at a distance, they watched Achharya Shri having his Aahar (food). People were pleasantly surprised to see such a change that occurred in the monkeys within moments.
Achharya Shri’s Aahar was completed uninterrupted. As soon as Achharya Shri returned after taking food, the disturbance of the monkeys resumed. Now, how to deal with them? Shravaks started feeding chapatis (breads) to the monkeys. While on one hand they fed chapatis to the monkeys and on the other they themselves took food and water.
This unthinkable influence of the self-elevation was seen for the very first time that the monkeys were watching the Aahar- Vidhi (the manner in which the food is taken) of Achharya Shri forgetting their capriciousness and naughtiness as if mesmerized by some incantation.
The incomparable splendour of the spiritual-effect was worth seeing. The influence of Achharya Shri’s transcendental conduct dominated the topic of conversation among the members of the congregation.
