Victory
Toll of Akshar-Purushottam in Vadtal:
The
congregation of the full-moon day of Chaitra was fast approaching.
Swamishri was not in a position to go to Vadtal for this congregation
due to his illness and everyone felt that because of the mischievous
sadhus something unusual might happen in Vadtal. But Swamishri
had already prophesied: "A meeting has been convened in
Vadtal against us, but all of them will quarrel among themselves
and nobody will be able to harm us." From Chansad Kalidasbhai
and other devotees left for Vadtal with the permission of Swamishri.
After they left, Swamishri called Galbhai and asked him : "Do
you have the courage to pronounce the victory call of Akshar-Purushottam
at the meeting in Vadtal?" Who would have the courage to
stand against such a stubborn opposition? But Galbhai was of
a different mettle He replied : "I have the courage, if
you so desire and direct me." Swamishri said: "Alright
then hail the victory slogan in the congregation on the full-moon
day." Excited with the prospect of hailing the victory
slogan, Galbhai immediately left for Vadtal.
As soon as Acharya Maharaj arrived in the congregation of the
full-moon day, Galbhai hailed the slogan of victory to Sahajanand
Swami, which was responded to by all. Then he hailed the slogan
of victory to Akshar-Purushottam, which was also responded to
by all, but immediately, thereafter, they realised that a mistake
was committed. But what could be done then? All were angry with
Galbhai. But due to his gruff voice, large eyes and gigantic
frame, no one could utter a word, though mentally they were
cursing him.
As they were all burning with rage, the meeting dispersed without
any discourse. Once again on every asana (seat) the same discussion
began among the sadhus: "How can the disciples of the Shastri
dare do such a thing? The Shastri should surely be driven out
of Vadtal; otherwise, he will disorganise the satsang."
Although outwitted in the morning, some of them convened a meeting
in the afternoon. Bhimjibhai raised a question at this meeting
: "How is it that no one takes Shastri Yagnapurushdas to
task, although he has despatched from Sarangpur thousands of
rupees to Vadhvan in a big box and lent support to the construction
of the temple there?"
As soon as Kalidas heard this, he got up and retorted : "Aren't
you ashamed of hurling such a mean accusation against a sadhu
who has increased your annual income from two or three thousand
rupees to twenty two thousand rupees, who has radically transformed
the beauty of the Sarangpur temple and who has built the bungalow,
the guest house and the silver gates? You are censuring a saint
who is endowed with all the saintly virtues. Kothari Gordhanbhai
also knows that the Shastri is entirely above fault and yet
he does not say anything but merely listens to such accusations
quietly."
Hearing this, the Kothari immediately said: "This is a
mischief of the sadhus and Bhimji. The Shastri is above board."
With these words the Kothari left the place. Thereafter, the
sadhus accused one another and quarrelled among themselves.
Swamishri's words proved true and there did not arise any trouble
at all.
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